Granted Patent B2

US 9,221,115 · App. 13/975,671 · Granted Dec 29, 2015

Abstract

Claims (37)

1. A soldering iron, comprising:

a soldering tip configured to be heated by a laser beam traveling at least partially along a laser path in the soldering iron;

an energy converter configured to absorb the laser beam and coupled to the soldering tip for heating the soldering tip;

wherein the energy converter is releasably connected to the soldering tip such that the energy converter may be non-destructively disconnected from, and reattached to, the soldering tip.

2. The soldering iron of claim 1 , wherein the energy converter is in direct contact with the soldering tip.

3. The soldering iron of claim 1 , wherein the energy converter comprises a thermally conductive material.

4. The soldering iron of claim 1 , wherein the energy converter is at least partially enclosed by the soldering tip.

5. The soldering iron of claim 1 , wherein the energy converter has a concave surface which faces the laser beam.

6. The soldering iron of claim 1 :

further comprising a light conductor disposed in the soldering iron and configured to convey the laser beam;

wherein the light conductor comprises an exit opening disposed at a constant distance from at least on one of the energy converter and the soldering tip.

7. The soldering iron of claim 1 , wherein the energy converter is produced from one or more of aluminum, iron, steel, stainless steel, silver, gold, nickel, copper, glass, ceramics, gel, a crystalline material, and liquid.

8. The soldering iron of claim 1 , wherein the energy converter includes a conical absorption surface.

9. The soldering iron of claim 1 , wherein a focus of the laser beam falls before, on, or behind a laser beam-absorbing surface of the energy converter.

10. The soldering iron of claim 1 , wherein the energy converter is at least partially coated.

11. The soldering iron of claim 1 , wherein the energy converter is at least partially black and/or roughened.

12. The soldering iron of claim 1 , wherein the energy converter mounts to the soldering tip via a screw-type connection.

13. A soldering iron comprising:

a soldering tip configured to be heated by a laser beam traveling at least partially along a laser path in the soldering iron;

an energy converter configured to absorb the laser beam and coupled to the soldering tip for heating the soldering tip;

a laser source disposed in the soldering iron.

14. The soldering iron of claim 13 , wherein the laser beam is conducted from the laser source onto the energy converter directly.

15. A soldering system, comprising:

a soldering station;

a soldering iron;

a line connecting the soldering station to the soldering iron;

wherein the soldering iron comprises:

a soldering tip configured to be heated by a laser beam traveling at least partially along a laser path in the soldering iron;

an energy converter configured to absorb the laser beam and coupled to the soldering tip for heating the soldering tip;

wherein the soldering iron further comprises a laser source disposed in the soldering iron.

16. The soldering system iron of claim 15 , wherein the energy converter is in direct contact with the soldering tip.

17. The soldering system of claim 15 , wherein the energy converter is at least partially enclosed by the soldering tip.

18. The soldering system of claim 15 , wherein the energy converter has a concave surface which faces the laser beam.

19. The soldering system of claim 15 :

wherein the soldering iron further comprises a light conductor disposed in the soldering iron and configured to convey the laser beam;

wherein the light conductor comprises an exit opening disposed at a constant distance from at least on one of the energy converter and the soldering tip.

20. The soldering system of claim 15 , wherein the laser beam is conducted from the laser source onto the energy converter directly.

Assignments (16)