Abstract: An elastic clip installation system includes a loading tray on which an elastic clip to be installed is loaded and a pickup device picking up the elastic clip from the loading tray. The pickup device includes a pair of clamping claws and a holding claw. The clamping claws grip the elastic clip from a left side and a right side of the elastic clip. The holding claw holds the elastic clip at a predetermined position on the loading tray to prevent movement of the elastic clip when the elastic clip is gripped by the clamping claws.

Abstract: A resistance spot welding electrode cap contains a groove at the center of the welding contact interface. During welding, because of the groove, the area of contact between the electrode cap and a metal workpiece to be soldered is reduced. In the initial stage, the overall heat generation is concentrated on the outer ring of the weld point and heat dissipation becomes slower, helping a weld nugget to form from the outside to the inside. Due to the presence of the groove, the metal workpiece expands toward the groove at the center of the electrode, thereby increasing the size of the weld nugget and reducing splash and deformation. In comparison with conventional electrode caps, the welding current required to form weld points of the same size is lower, saving on electricity costs, and weld points obtained using the same current have higher strength and stability with fewer welding defects.

Abstract: A method of laser welding together two or more overlapping metal workpieces (12, 14, or 12, 150, 14) included in a welding region (16) of a workpiece stack-up (10) involves advancing a beam spot (44) of a laser beam (24) relative to a top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up along a first weld path (72) in a first direction (74) to form an elongated melt puddle (76) and, then, advancing the beam spot (44) of the laser beam (24) along a second weld path (78) in a second direction (80) that is opposite of the first direction while the elongated melt puddle is still in a molten state. The first weld path and the second weld path overlap so that the beam spot of the laser beam is conveyed through the elongated melt puddle when the beam spot is advanced along the second weld path.

Abstract: A method for joining together metal workpiece (12,14 or 12,150, 14) includes forming a laser weld joint (66) in a workpiece stack-up (10) that fusion welds two or more overlapping metal workpiece (12,14 or 12,150 or 14) together. The laser weld joint (66) has an initial top surface (76). Once the laser weld joint (66) is formed, the method calls for impinging the laser weld joint (66) with a laser beam (24) and moving the laser beam (24) along the initial joint (66) including the initial top surface (76). The laser beam (24) is eventually removed from the laser weld joint (66) to allow the melted upper portion (78) of the joint (66) to resolidify and provide the laser weld joint (66) with a modified top surface (84) that is smoother than the initial top surface (76). By providing the laser weld joint with a smoother modified top surface, residual stress concentration points are removed and the laser weld joint is less liable to damage seal strips.

Abstract: A device and associated method for joining, via a laser welder, a first workpiece to a second workpiece is described. This includes arranging the first and second workpieces in a stack, including overlapping a portion of the first workpiece with a portion of the second workpiece. The laser welder generates a first laser beam and coincidentally controls the laser welder to traverse a desired weld path that is disposed on the top surface of the first workpiece. The laser devices generates a second laser beam and coincidentally controls the laser welder to traverse the desired weld path. Generating, via the laser welder, the first laser beam includes operating the laser welder at a pulsed operation and at a first power level. Generating, via the laser welder, the second laser beam includes operating the laser welder at a continuous operation and at a second power level.

Abstract: A method of laser spot welding a workpiece stack-up (10) that includes at least two overlapping steel workpieces (12, 14, 150) is disclosed. The method includes directing a plurality of laser beams (24, 24?, 24?) at the top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up to create a molten steel weld pool (92) that penetrates into the stack-up. The molten steel weld pool is then grown to penetrate further into the stack-up by increasing an overall combined irradiance of the laser beams while reducing the total projected sectional area (88) of the laser beams at a plane of the top surface of the workpiece stack-up. Increasing the overall combined irradiance of the laser beams may be accomplished by moving the focal points (66, 66?, 66?) of the laser beams closer to the top surface or by reducing the mean angle of incidence (86) of the laser beams so as to reduce the eccentricity of the individual projected sectional areas of the laser beams.

Abstract: A method for laser welding a plurality of battery foils to a battery tab that does not include ultrasonic welding and includes clamping the plurality of battery foils and the battery tab together. Each of the plurality of battery foils has a thickness that is between 0.004 millimeters and 0.03 millimeters. The battery tab has a thickness that is between 0.1 millimeters and 0.5 millimeters. The method further includes laser welding the plurality of battery foils to the battery tab.

Abstract: A method of laser spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes at least two overlapping steel workpieces, at least one of which includes a surface coating, is disclosed. The method includes directing a laser beam at the top surface of the workpiece stack-up to create a molten steel weld pool that penetrates into the stack-up. The molten steel weld pool is then grown to penetrate further into the stack-up by increasing an irradiance of the laser beam while reducing the projected sectional area of the laser beam at a plane of the top surface of the workpiece stack-up. Increasing the irradiance of the laser beam may be accomplished by moving a focal point of the laser beam closer to the top surface or by reducing an angle of incidence of the laser beam so as to reduce the eccentricity of the projected sectional area of the laser beam.

Abstract: A multicolored aglet connected to a shoelace has a unit slice, a pattern layer, and a white background layer. The unit slice is formed into two aglet bodies that are respectively sheathed on two ends of the shoelace, and has a mounting portion. The mounting portion of the unit slice is stuck to an outer side of the unit slice. The pattern layer is printed on and covers the inner side of the unit slice excluding the mounting portion, and is located between the unit slice and the shoelace. The white background layer is printed on the pattern layer and is located between the pattern layer and the shoelace. A method for producing the multicolored aglet is also provided.

Abstract: A resistance spot welding electrode cap contains a groove at the center of the welding contact interface. During welding, because of the groove, the area of contact between the electrode cap and a metal workpiece to be soldered is reduced. In the initial stage, the overall heat generation is concentrated on the outer ring of the weld point and heat dissipation becomes slower, helping a weld nugget to form from the outside to the inside. Due to the presence of the groove, the metal workpiece expands toward the groove at the center of the electrode, thereby increasing the size of the weld nugget and reducing splash and deformation. In comparison with conventional electrode caps, the welding current required to form weld points of the same size is lower, saving on electricity costs, and weld points obtained using the same current have higher strength and stability with fewer welding defects.

Abstract: A method of laser welding a workpiece stack-up (10) of overlapping steel workpieces (12, 14) involves heat-treating a region (64) of the stack-up (10) followed by forming a laser weld joint (66) that is located at least partially within the heat-treated region (64). During heat-treating, one or more pre-welding laser beams (68) are sequentially directed at a top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up (10) and advanced along a pre-welding beam travel pattern (70) so as to reduce an amount of vaporizable zinc within the stack-up (10). Thereafter, the laser weld joint (66) is formed by directing a welding laser beam (82) at the top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up (10) and advancing the welding laser beam (82) along a welding beam travel pattern (84) that at least partially overlaps with a coverage area of a pre-welding beam travel pattern (70) or a shared coverage area portion of multiple pre-welding beam travel patterns (70).

Abstract: A method of laser welding a workpiece stack-up (10) that includes at least two overlapping metal workpieces (12, 14) comprises advancing a laser beam (24) relative to a plane of a top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up (10) from a start point (84) to an end point (86) along a beam travel pattern (78) at a high laser beam travel speed of greater than 8 meters per minute. The two or more overlapping metal workpieces (12, 14) may be steel workpieces or they may be aluminum workpieces, and at least one of the metal workpieces (12, 14) includes a surface coating (40). Advancing the laser beam (24) along the beam travel pattern (78) forms a weld joint (76), which includes resolidified composite workpiece material derived from each of the metal workpieces (12, 14) penetrated by a molten weld pool (80), that fusion welds the metal workpieces (12, 14) together. The relatively high laser beam travel speed contributes to improve strength properties of the weld joint (76).

Abstract: A method of laser welding a workpiece stack-up (10) that includes at least two overlapping aluminum workpieces comprises advancing a laser beam (24) relative to a plane of a top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up (10) and along a beam travel pattern (74) that lies within an annular weld area (82) defined by an inner diameter boundary (86) and an outer diameter boundary (84) on the plane of the top surface (20). The beam travel pattern (74) of the laser beam (24) surrounds a center area encircled by the annular weld area (82) on the plane of the top surface (20) so as to force entrained porosity inwards into a region of the weld joint (72) beneath the center area on the plane of the top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up (10).

Abstract: Semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a base substrate and a first dielectric layer on the base substrate. The first dielectric layer contains a first trench and a second trench passing therethrough, and a width of the second trench is larger than a width of the first trench. The semiconductor device further includes a first gate dielectric layer and a first gate electrode in the first trench. A first recess is on the first gate dielectric layer between the first gate electrode and the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further includes a second gate dielectric layer and a second gate electrode in the second trench. A second recess is on the second gate dielectric layer between the second gate electrode and the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further includes a first protection layer in the first recess and a second protection layer in the second recess.

Abstract: A method of laser spot welding a workpiece stack-up (10) that includes at least two overlapping steel workpieces (12,14), at least one of which includes a surface coating (40), is disclosed. The method includes directing a laser beam (24) at the top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up (10) to create a molten steel weld pool (90) that penetrates into the stack-up (10). The molten steel weld pool (90) is then grown to penetrate further into the stack-up (10) by increasing an irradiance of the laser beam (24) while reducing the projected sectional area (86) of the laser beam (24) at a plane of the top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up (10). Increasing the irradiance of the laser beam (24) may be accomplished by moving a focal point (62) of the laser beam (24) closer to the top surface (20) or by reducing an angle of incidence (82) of the laser beam (24) so as to reduce the eccentricity of the projected sectional area (86) of the laser beam (24).

Abstract: A method of laser spot welding a workpiece stack-up (10) includes initially forming at least one hole (74) in the workpiece stack-up and, thereafter, forming a laser spot weld joint (86). The formation of the laser spot weld joint involves directing a welding laser beam (24) at the top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up to create a molten steel weld pool (98) that penetrates into the stack-up, and then advancing the welding laser beam relative to a plane of the top surface of the workpiece stack-up along a beam travel pattern (102) that lies within an annular weld area (90). The beam travel pattern of the welding laser beam surrounds a center area (96) on the plane of the top surface that spans the at least one hole formed in the workpiece stack-up. The workpiece stack-up includes at least two overlapping steel workpieces, at least one of which includes a surface coating of a zinc-based material. This method can minimize porosity within the weld joint.

Abstract: Semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a base substrate and a first dielectric layer on the base substrate. The first dielectric layer contains a first trench and a second trench passing therethrough, and a width of the second trench is larger than a width of the first trench. The semiconductor device further includes a first gate dielectric layer and a first gate electrode in the first trench. A first recess is on the first gate dielectric layer between the first gate electrode and the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further includes a second gate dielectric layer and a second gate electrode in the second trench. A second recess is on the second gate dielectric layer between the second gate electrode and the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further includes a first protection layer in the first recess and a second protection layer in the second recess.

Abstract: A method of laser welding a workpiece stack-up (10) that includes at least two overlapping steel workpieces (12, 14) comprises directing a laser beam (40) at a top surface (26) of the workpiece stack-up to form a keyhole (56) surrounded by a molten steel weld pool (58). The laser beam is conveyed along a predefined weld pattern that includes one or more nonlinear inner weld paths (66) and an enclosed outer peripheral weld path (68) surrounding the one or more nonlinear inner weld paths. During conveyance of the laser beam along the one or more nonlinear inner weld paths, the keyhole fully penetrates through the workpiece stack-up from the top surface of the stack-up to the bottom surface (28) of the stack-up. The method produces weld joints between the steel workpieces that do not have an intentionally imposed gap formed between their faying surfaces.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and fabrication method are provided.

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up comprising overlapping first and second steel workpieces is disclosed, wherein at least one of the steel workpieces comprises an advanced high-strength steel substrate. The workpiece stack-up is positioned between a pair of opposed first and second welding electrodes. A cover is disposed between at least one of the first steel workpiece and the first welding electrode or the second steel workpiece and the second welding electrode at an intended weld site. The workpiece stack-up is clamped between the first and second welding electrodes at the weld site such that at least one of the weld faces of the first and second welding electrodes presses against the cover. The first and second steel workpieces are welded together by passing an electrical current between the first and second welding electrodes at the weld site.