Method and apparatus for material processing

Abstract

An apparatus processes a surface of an inhabitable structure. The apparatus includes a laser base unit which irradiates an interaction region with laser light, the laser light removing material from the structure. The laser base unit includes a laser generator and a laser head coupled to the laser generator. The laser head includes a containment plenum which confines and removes material from the interaction region. The containment plenum includes a rubber seal which contacts the structure and which substantially surrounds the interaction region, thereby facilitating confinement and removal of material from the interaction region, and providing reduced disruption to activities within the structure. The apparatus further includes an anchoring mechanism releasably coupled to the structure and releasably coupled to the laser head. The apparatus further includes a controller electrically coupled to the laser base unit. The controller transmits control signals to the laser base unit in response to user input.

1 . An apparatus for processing a surface of an inhabitable structure, the apparatus comprising:
 a head adapted to provide energy waves to an interaction region, the energy waves removing material from the structure, the head comprising a containment plenum which confines and removes material from the interaction region, the containment plenum comprising an interface portion which contacts the structure and which substantially surrounds the interaction region, thereby facilitating confinement and removal of material from the interaction region and providing reduced disruption to activities within the structure; and   an anchoring mechanism releasably coupled to the structure and releasably coupled to the head.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the head comprises optical elements adapted to receive laser light from an energy wave generator and to direct laser light to the interaction region. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the containment plenum is further adapted to reduce noise and light emitted out of the containment plenum from the interaction region. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the containment plenum comprises an extraction port which provides a pathway for removal of the material from the containment plenum. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the interface portion comprises a seal. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the head comprises one or more sensors which senses one or more of the following: whether the head is in contact with a surface of the inhabitable structure, and whether the head is coupled to the anchoring mechanism. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the head comprises a nozzle fluidly coupled to a compressed gas supply, the nozzle adapted to direct a compressed gas stream to the interaction region. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises one or more resilient vacuum pads coupled to at least one vacuum generator. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a detector coupled to a controller and adapted to detect embedded material in the structure while processing the structure, and to transmit detection signals to the controller, the controller adapted to avoid substantially damaging the embedded material by transmitting appropriate control signals to the head. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the detector is adapted to detect embedded material by using light emitted by the interaction region during processing. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring mechanism is releasably coupled to a surface within the inhabitable structure. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring mechanism is releasably coupled to the surface being irradiated by the head. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the surface being irradiated is within the inhabitable structure. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for processing a surface of an inhabitable structure with reduced disruption to activities within the structure, the apparatus comprising:
 means for providing energy waves to an interaction region of the structure to remove material from the structure;   means for confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region, said confining means comprising an interface portion which substantially surrounds the interaction region; and   means for anchoring said apparatus, said anchoring means being releasably coupled to the structure and releasably coupled to said means for providing the energy waves.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the means for providing the energy waves to the interaction region comprises laser optical elements adapted to receive laser light and to direct said laser light to the interaction region. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the means for anchoring said apparatus comprises one or more resilient vacuum pads coupled to at least one vacuum generator. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the means for anchoring said apparatus is releasably coupled to a surface within the inhabitable structure. 
   
   
       18 . A method of processing a surface of an inhabitable structure with reduced disruption to activities within the structure, the method comprising:
 releasably coupling an anchoring mechanism to the structure and to a head;   providing energy waves from the head to the surface, the energy waves interacting with the structure in an interaction region to remove material from the structure; and   confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the confining and removing of material comprises providing a containment plenum which contacts the structure and which substantially surrounds the interaction region. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising reversibly assembling and disassembling the anchoring mechanism with the head to facilitate transportation of the anchoring mechanism and the head to a location in proximity to or within the structure.