The latest entry in Specialty Applications section on our website updates our laser micromachining work to help develop invisible hole backlighting applications.  Our customers in automotive, aerospace, medical equipment and computer products that utilize user-friendly displays, are finding that data overload is creating a dangerous situation for operators.  Control panels are becoming confusing and distracting…a bad combination when someone is driving a car or operating equipment.

 

To solve this problem, new types of displays are now being developed that are invisible to the naked eye when not in use.  Request the data, and illumination from behind reveals a series of micro holes to show the specific control, but only when it is needed. 

 

Key to manufacturing this type of control panel, of course, is the ability to produce large numbers of very small holes.  Potomac’s expertise in laser micro hole drilling is ideal for this application. We can rapidly drill 1,000s of closely spaced holes measuring <20um in diameter with <50um spacing into metals, opaque plastics, or coated materials with the most optimized surface finishes and colors suitable for consumer displays. We also have processes to laser machine thin, fragile materials without cracking or chipping.  Most importantly, we can laser micromachine with the high precision, resolution and accuracy required to produce the high light intensity needed for bright, sharp patterns that stand out on the product’s display.  After all, ability to quickly and easily find a button or switch in many applications is critical to user safety.

 

We’re especially excited to see another laser micro hole drilling application that is having impact on people’s quality of life! To read the entire R&D Notebook entry, please go to Invisible Hole Backlighting.  There you’ll find technical specs and details about the application.

 

For another take on this cool new invisible hole backlighting for displays, take a look at our featured article in Shop Floor Lasers recent issue.