Welding Patents (Class 219/121.63)
  • Patent number: 11839930
    Abstract: A method for welding components includes the following steps: providing a first component and a second component; bringing together the two components; welding the two components by use of a laser beam, wherein a plurality of welding impulses are generated through the repeated activation and deactivation of the laser beam, with each welding pulse being interrupted by welding-free rest intervals in which the laser beam is deactivated, wherein a local welding area is generated by each welding pulse, in which material of the two components is melted and fused in a locally limited manner, wherein individual welding areas of those generated by the welding pulses overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maik Hammer, Johann van Niekerk, Alexander Grimm
  • Patent number: 11841535
    Abstract: A method of laser fusing an optical fiber to a silica element, such as another optical fiber or other, wherein the optical fiber is laterally fused to the silica element. The silica element may be another optical fiber or any other optical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: O'FIBERTY TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Francois Gonthier
  • Patent number: 11833614
    Abstract: An assembly of a device for three-dimensional printing by metal deposition comprising a conduit for guiding a metal wire and opening inside an enclosure under an inert atmosphere. The device has means for injecting an inert gas into the conduit of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Terence Grall, Cédric Pierre Jacques Colas, Hugo Jean-Louis Sistach
  • Patent number: 11808981
    Abstract: Laser light splicing of optical fibers with laser light outside of the peak absorption band of the optical fibers, for example splicing of silica optical fibers at wavelengths smaller than about 9 ?m. In some variants, the product of the absorption coefficient at ambient temperature of the optical fibers at the wavelength of the laser light with the power of the laser light is smaller than the product of the peak absorption coefficient at ambient temperature in the absorption band by the power required to splice the optical fibers with light at the peak absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: O'FIBERTY TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: François Gonthier
  • Patent number: 11786967
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an additively manufactured part with high temperature strength and high ductility that can be suitably used for hot forging even in the temperature range of 800° C. or more, and a manufacturing method therefor. The manufacturing method for the additively manufactured part in accordance with the present invention includes an additive manufacturing step of using composite powder containing ceramic and metal and having voids therein to form a composite material containing the ceramic and the metal by repeating steps of melting and solidifying the composite powder; and a remelting step of remelting the surface of the composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PROTERIAL, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Ogata, Shuho Koseki, Tadashi Furuya
  • Patent number: 11786992
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a molded product that can reduce problems on a reinforcing plate during pressing. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the method of manufacturing a molded product includes welding a first metal plate overlaid with a second metal plate to the second metal plate; and pressing the first metal plate and the second metal plate together. In the pressing, a base surface and a wall surface are formed on the first metal plate; the wall surface is disposed to cross the base surface. In the welding, a first welding is performed on a reinforcing portion of the second metal plate that is overlaid on an area of the first metal plate that is formed into the wall surface; and subsequently, a second welding is performed in a direction crossing a direction of the first welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Muto, Keigo Yasuda, Koji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11731216
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (2) for working a surface (4) of a workpiece (6) by means of a laser beam (8), comprising a laser system (12) for providing the laser beam (8) and a plasma nozzle (14), which is designed to produce an atmospheric plasma jet (16), wherein the plasma nozzle (14) has a nozzle opening (24, 24?), from which a plasma jet (8) produced in the plasma nozzle (24, 24?) exits during operation, wherein the laser system (12) and the plasma nozzle (14) are arranged in relation to each other and designed in such a way that, during operation, the laser beam (8) exits from the nozzle opening (24, 24?) of the plasma nozzle (14) together with the plasma jet (16). The invention further relates to an assembly (100) having such a device and to a method for operating said device (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Plasmatreat GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Buske
  • Patent number: 11666767
    Abstract: A method of forming a medical device lead connection element is described. The method includes positioning an end portion of a lead filar to overlap a lead end connection element such that the positioning creates mutual interference between the lead filar and the lead end connection element, and forming an interference configuration. Then melting the end portion of the lead filar to form a weld joint and allowint the end portion of the lead filar to move towards the end connection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Janzig, Robert J. Davies, Seth M. Humphrys, Richard T. Stone
  • Patent number: 11562990
    Abstract: A system for performing a direct transfer of a semiconductor device die includes a first conveyance mechanism to convey a first substrate, and a second conveyance mechanism to convey a second substrate with respect to the first substrate. The first substrate includes a first side and a second side, and the semiconductor device die is disposed on the first side of the first substrate. The second conveyance mechanism includes a first portion and a second portion to clamp the second substrate adjacent to a first side of the first substrate. The first portion of the second conveyance mechanism has a concave shape and the second portion of the second conveyance mechanism has a convex counter shape corresponding to the concave shape of the first portion. The system also includes a transfer mechanism disposed adjacent to the first conveyance mechanism to effectuate the direct transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Rohinni, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Huska, Cody Peterson, Clinton Adams, Sean Kupcow
  • Patent number: 11554434
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fusing a solder material deposit by means of laser energy, in which laser radiation emitted from a first laser source is applied to the solder material deposit in a first application phase by means of a first laser device (11) and laser radiation emitted from a second laser source is applied to the solder material deposit in a second application phase by means of a second laser device (12), said first laser source having a lower laser power than the second laser source, a switch being made from the first application phase to the second application phase by means of a switching device (30) and said switch being triggered by a temperature sensor, by means of which the temperature of the solder material deposit is measured at least during the first application phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: PAC TECH—PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Ghassem Azdasht
  • Patent number: 11541458
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing small adaptive engines uses a battlefield repository having cloud services that is configured to enable additive manufacturing (AM) of engine parts and assemblies. The method also uses a compilation of recipes/signatures for building the engine parts and the assemblies using additive manufacturing (AM) processes and machine learning programs. An additive manufacturing system and an alloy powder suitable for performing the additive manufacturing (AM) processes can be provided. In addition, the engine parts can be built using the additive manufacturing (AM) system, the alloy powder, the battlefield repository and the compilation of recipes/signatures. A system for manufacturing small adaptive engines includes the battlefield repository, the compilation of recipes/signatures, a foundry system for providing the alloy powder and an additive manufacturing (AM) system configured to perform the additive manufacturing (AM) processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MolyWorks Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Ziegenfuss, Christopher Paul Eonta, Andrew VanOs LaTour
  • Patent number: 11537095
    Abstract: A moveable head of a computer numerically controlled machine may deliver electromagnetic energy sufficient to cause a first change in a material at least partially contained within an interior space of the CNC machine. A feature of the material may be imaged using at least one camera present inside the interior space to update a position of the material, and the moveable head may be aligned to deliver electromagnetic energy sufficient to cause a second change in the material such that the second change is positioned on the material consistent with the first change and with an intended final appearance of the material. Methods, systems, and article of manufacture are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Glowforge Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Shapiro, Mark Gosselin, Anthony Wright, Dean Putney, Timothy Ellis, Lauren Banka
  • Patent number: 11530621
    Abstract: A system for use in servicing a machine. The system includes a tubular body including a longitudinal axis, a tip end, a dispensing nozzle defined at the tip end, and an interior channel in flow communication with the dispensing nozzle. The tubular body is configured to be flexible. An actuator is configured to selectively modify an orientation of the tubular body, and a reservoir is in flow communication with the interior channel. The reservoir is configured to supply a maintenance fluid to the tubular body for discharge from the dispensing nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Deepak Trivedi, Todd William Danko, Mark John Zajkowski, Don Mark Lipkin
  • Patent number: 11517978
    Abstract: A method for cutting workpieces of different thicknesses includes providing at least one unprocessed laser beam, selectively forming a processing laser beam from the at least one unprocessed laser beam in accordance with a thickness of the workpiece, and cutting the workpiece with the processing laser beam. Forming the processing laser beam includes selectively coupling one or more unprocessed laser beams into one or more of a plurality of parallel, non-concentric fibers of a compound fiber, the plurality of fibers of the compound fiber having different cross-sectional shapes. A laser beam characteristic of the processing laser beam exiting the compound fiber differs depending upon which fibers of the compound fiber receive the at least one unprocessed laser beam, the laser beam characteristic of the processing laser beam differing depending on the thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Tim Hesse, Tobias Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11484973
    Abstract: A laser cladding head comprises a protective housing, a focal array, a turning mirror, and a powder nozzle. The housing extends along a primary axis from a proximal end to a distal end. The focal array is situated at the proximal end and oriented to receive and focus collimated light in a beam directed substantially along the primary axis. The turning mirror is situated at the distal end and disposed to redirect the beam in an emission direction, towards a target point separated from the turning mirror by a working distance of at most a tenth the focal length. The turning mirror is a nonfocal reflective surface indexable to alter an impingement location of the beam on the turning mirror. The powder nozzle is situated at the distal end and receives and directs weld material towards the target point for melting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wangen Lin, Scott Lewis Boynton, Alex Neese Brown
  • Patent number: 11465231
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus of the present disclosure controls outputs of a blue laser oscillator and an infrared laser oscillator such that before a surface melting is detected on a workpiece, the workpiece is irradiated with at least blue laser light, and after the surface melting is detected on the workpiece, a power of infrared laser light with which the workpiece is irradiated is increased as compared to before the surface melting is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Mori
  • Patent number: 11450457
    Abstract: In a method for fastening a contact element (5, 6) in an electrical component (1), a contact element (5, 6) is arranged on a contact surface (3, 4) of a base body (2) of the component (1) and a laser beam (18) is directed onto a region (16, 17) of the contact element (5, 6) in such a way that the base body (2) is not located in the beam direction (24) of the laser beam (18). The contact element (5, 6) is partially melted by the laser beam (18), so that the molten material (7, 8) wets the contact surface (3, 4) and produces fastening of the contact element (5, 6) on the contact surface (3, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TDK Electronics AG
    Inventors: Thomas Stendel, Jan Ihle, Gerald Kloiber, Thomas Bernert
  • Patent number: 11433495
    Abstract: A machine tool arranged to deliver an energy source through a processing head onto a work-piece, wherein; the machine-tool has a clamping mechanism arranged to temporarily receive the processing-head, or another machining or processing-head, to process a work-piece; the processing-head comprising one or more guiding mechanisms arranged to direct the energy source onto a work-piece and a processing-head docking-manifold arranged to have connected thereto one or more media to be, in use, supplied to the processing-head to facilitate processing of the work-piece; wherein the processing-head docking-manifold allows the one or more media to be supplied to the processing-head when the processing-head is connected to the clamping mechanism; and wherein the machine-tool also comprises at least one mechanism arranged to move a supply docking-manifold into and/or out of connection with the processing-head docking-manifold such that when the two manifolds are connected the or each media is supplied to the processing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Jason B. Jones, Peter Coates
  • Patent number: 11433476
    Abstract: A laser shock peening apparatus is provided for use with a workpiece having a cavity. The apparatus includes a tubular body configured for insertion longitudinally inward of the cavity. The tubular body has a peripheral wall bounding a laser delivery channel, and has an aperture reaching outward from the laser delivery channel through the peripheral wall. An optical device is located in the laser delivery channel. The optical device is configured to direct a laser beam outward through the aperture. Additionally, the peripheral wall has internal surfaces defining a water delivery channel configured to convey a stream of overlay water to the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: LSP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Dulaney, Gary Grossenbacher
  • Patent number: 11422325
    Abstract: Provided is an optical fiber ribbon capable of achieving higher density and reduction in diameter and accurately placing optical fibers in V-shape grooves in a fusion machine without failure. The optical fiber ribbon 1 includes three or more of optical fibers 2 arranged in parallel and connecting portions 3 connecting adjacent two optical fibers 2 together, the connecting portions 3 being intermittently provided in each of a ribbon longitudinal direction and a ribbon width direction. The connecting portions 3 are each formed in such a manner as to fill resin into a gap S formed between adjacent two optical fibers 2, and both surfaces of the respective connecting portions 3 are each formed into a recess having a concave shape curved toward a center of the gap S to separate from lines 4,5 each connecting contact points of the optical fibers 2 when being placed on a horizontal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: FUJIKURA LTD., NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Namazue, Ken Osato, Naoki Okada, Yusuke Yamada, Daisuke Kakuta, Hisaaki Nakane, Shinya Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11409337
    Abstract: A display device is disclosed. The display device includes a display panel, a main frame located at the rear of the display panel, and an inner plate located between the display panel and the main frame, the display panel being coupled to the inner plate, wherein the inner plate includes a coupling area depressed from the inner plate to the main frame by pressing, and the inner plate and the main frame are coupled to each other at the coupling area by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seunggyu Kang, Hyuncheol Cho, Sungmo Im, Sangmin Kim, Hodong Hwang, Haknyun Choi
  • Patent number: 11400546
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a welding process for a battery module. In an embodiment, a system for welding two components in a battery module includes a laser source configured to emit a laser beam onto a workpiece having a first battery module component and a second battery module component. The system also has an actuator coupled to the laser source and configured to move the laser beam along a first axis and a second axis and a controller electrically coupled to the laser source and the actuator. The controller is configured to send a signal to the laser source and the actuator to form a sinusoidal lap weld on a surface of the workpiece, such that the first battery module component is electrically coupled to the second battery module component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: John P. Dinkelman
  • Patent number: 11396128
    Abstract: A stack forming apparatus according to embodiments comprises a nozzle and a controller. The nozzle is configured to selectively inject more than one kind of material to a target and to apply laser light to the injected material to melt the material. The controller configured to control the kind and supply amount of material to be supplied to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Naotada Okada
  • Patent number: 11389950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sorting system (100) for a machine tool for separating parts, in particular a laser cutting machine (200), having a gripper (110) that can be moved over a workpiece region (30) and is configured to receive cut parts (10) from the workpiece region (30), and an intermediate store (120) that can be moved over the workpiece region (30) and is configured to receive cut parts (10) from the gripper (110) and to unload the cut parts (10) into a store (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: BYSTRONIC LASER AG
    Inventor: Sebastian Röder
  • Patent number: 11372171
    Abstract: An optical fiber assembly has a first ferrule assembly and a second ferrule assembly. Each ferrule assembly has a ferrule body, a plurality of optical fiber receiving bores, and an array of optical elements. One of array of optical elements has a plurality of data lens elements and a cross-focusing indicator lens element. Another of the array of optical elements has a plurality of data lens elements and a mirror system configured to reflect light from the indicator lens element. Upon mating the first and second ferrule assemblies, light from the indicator lens element is primarily reflected back to an output lens element by the mirror system. Upon only partially mating the first and second ferrule assemblies, light from the indicator lens element is not primarily reflected back by the mirror system to the output lens element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventors: Malcolm H. Hodge, Russell K. Stiles
  • Patent number: 11370177
    Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments directed to rotor devices, methods, and systems. Embodiments of rotors disclosed herein may be used to characterize one or more analytes of a fluid. A method may include bonding a first layer and a second layer using two-shot injection molding. The first layer coupled to the second layer may collectively define a set of wells. The first layer may be substantially transparent. The second layer may define a channel. The second layer may be substantially absorbent to infrared radiation. A third layer may be bonded to the second layer using infrared radiation. The third layer may define an opening configured to receive a fluid. The third layer may be substantially transparent. The channel may establish a fluid communication path between the opening and the set of wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Zoetis Services LLC
    Inventors: Robert Justice Shartle, Gregory Trigub
  • Patent number: 11338388
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laser keyhole welding structure and a keyhole welding method of an aluminum material which stably suppress the generation of sputtering to ensure a reliable electrical connection and obtain a mechanically strong connection. To achieve this, a laser keyhole welding structure of an aluminum material is formed by welding an aluminum material element constituting an electronic component by irradiating a laser beam to the electronic component, in which a tapered portion spread angle (?) of an upper portion of a welding nugget to be formed is 45° or less. Also disclosed is a laser keyhole welding structure of an aluminum material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhide Hayakawa, Fumito Odashima, Tatsuo Kubouchi
  • Patent number: 11331858
    Abstract: Build material handling unit (2) for a powder module (3) for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which apparatus is adapted to successively layerwise selectively irradiate and consolidate layers of a build material (4) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein the build material handling unit (2) is coupled or can be coupled with a powder module (3), wherein the build material handling unit (2) is adapted to level and/or compact a volume of build material (4) arranged inside a powder chamber (5) of the powder module (3) by controlling the gas pressure inside the powder chamber (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventor: Dominik Eideloth
  • Patent number: 11318564
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for electromagnetic induction heating-assisted laser additive manufacturing of a titanium matrix composite and belongs to the technical field of laser additive manufacturing. The device includes a coaxial-powder feeding laser deposition system and an electromagnetic induction heating synchronous auxiliary system. The coaxial-powder feeding laser deposition system includes a substrate, a deposition sample, a laser head and an infrared thermometer. The electromagnetic induction heating synchronous auxiliary system includes an electromagnetic induction power supply auxiliary unit, a coil, a steering heightening mechanism, a driven shaft and a transverse sliding groove. The coil is connected to an output end of the electromagnetic induction power supply auxiliary unit. The coil and the laser head do synchronous movement to implement small-area real-time preheating and slow cooling on the deposition sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Guangyi Ma, Chao Yu, Yang Li, Aidi He, Fangyong Niu, Dongjiang Wu
  • Patent number: 11312069
    Abstract: A system for producing an object from a powder by selective laser sintering. The system includes a chamber and a support platform in the chamber. A spreader applies a layer of powder to a bed surface. An irradiation source irradiates select points in the powdered layer prepared on the support platform. A radiant heater heats at least a portion of the bed surface. A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of select points on the bed surface. A controller adjusts the radiant heater in response to temperature data provided by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: Scott DeFelice, Anthony DeCarmine
  • Patent number: 11311970
    Abstract: A shielding gas nozzle for metal forming includes a wire feed line being a path to feed a wire at an inclination angle ?, a first gas ejection hole to jet a shielding gas at an angle equal to or less than the inclination angle ?, and a second gas ejection hole to jet the shielding gas in a direction different from that of the first gas ejection hole. The first gas ejection hole jets the shielding gas toward an intersection along a direction in which the absolute value of the angle to the wire feed direction is less than 90 degrees, and the second gas ejection hole jets the shielding gas toward the intersection along a direction in which the absolute value of the angle to the wire feed direction when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the base material surface is greater than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Nakano, Hidetaka Katogi, Akiyoshi Sawai
  • Patent number: 11275315
    Abstract: A direct-deposition system forming a high-resolution pattern of material on a substrate is disclosed. Vaporized atoms from an evaporation source pass through a pattern of through-holes in a shadow mask to deposit on the substrate in the desired pattern. The shadow mask is held in a mask chuck that enables the shadow mask and substrate to be separated by a distance that can be less than ten microns. Prior to reaching the shadow mask, vaporized atoms pass through a collimator that operates as a spatial filter that blocks any atoms not travelling along directions that are nearly normal to the substrate surface. Vaporized atoms that pass through the shadow mask exhibit little or no lateral spread after passing through through-holes and the material deposits on the substrate in a pattern that has very high fidelity with the through-hole pattern of the shadow mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: eMagin Corporation
    Inventors: Amalkumar P. Ghosh, Fridrich Vazan, Munisamy Anandan, Evan Donoghue, Ilyas I. Khayrullin, Tariq Ali, Kerry Tice
  • Patent number: 11274778
    Abstract: A coupling that includes a female coupling member having at least one electrically conductive ring on an inner mating surface; a male coupling member having at least one electrically conductive ring on an outer mating surface, the outer mating surface sized to fit within the inner mating surface of the female coupling member; and wherein when the male coupling member is inserted into the female coupling member, alignment of the at least one electrically conductive ring of the female coupling member with the at least one electrically conductive ring of the male coupling member indicates whether the female coupling member and the male coupling member are fully engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Khaalid P. McMillan, Donald W. Porter, Jacob T. Porter, Allan C. Vandeventer, Jason T. Wertz
  • Patent number: 11253962
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for assembling optical module. The apparatus includes: a plurality of fixtures, an alignment mechanism, a power supply, a spectroscopic prism with a light incident surface close to the plurality of optical modules to be aligned, a first image collecting unit close to a first light emitting surface of the spectroscopic prism and a second image collecting unit with a second light emitting surface of the spectroscopic prism; the controller is configured to determine a light spot that does not meet a quality requirement according to the positions and/or sizes of the plurality of imaging light spots, and generate a corresponding aligning instruction, and determine a to-be-assembled lens corresponding to the light spot that does not meet requirements according to a correspondence between a to-be-assembled lens and the light spot, and output the aligning instruction to an alignment mechanism to adjust a position of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Nanjing Dong, Debo Sun
  • Patent number: 11224928
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for the separate application of solder material deposits (11), in particular solder balls, comprising a conveying device (19) for separately conveying the solder material deposits from a solder material reservoir (12) toward an application device (33), the conveying device having transport holders that are formed as passage holes and that can each be moved from a receiving position, in which a solder material deposit is received from the solder material reservoir, into a transfer position P2, in which the solder material deposit is exposed to a pressure gas, and from which the solder material deposit is transferred to an application opening of an application nozzle (36) of the application device into an application position P3, wherein a detector device (69) is provided that serves to trigger a treatment of the solder material deposit arranged in the application position P3 with laser radiation emitted by a laser device, wherein the detector device has a reflection senso
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: PAC TECH—PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Ghassem Azdasht
  • Patent number: 11215552
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for laser bond inspection (LBI) of internal bonds in a composite structure with limited access. The technology solves the problem of access for an LBI process head through selection of optics, an articulated optical path and simplification of the method of collecting debris. A small-format process head is specifically designed for laser bond inspection in limited-access spaces. This process head allows access to locations within ½ inch of a nearby wall or structure and utilizes a laser beam that is much smaller (˜2-3 mm) in diameter. The apparatus incorporates articulated joints to improve access to locations in the structure being inspected. The process head may also be configured to protect the optical elements (e.g., the focusing lens) from blow-back of debris from the LBI inspection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Alan F. Stewart, Marc J. Piehl
  • Patent number: 11198188
    Abstract: A soldering device includes a laser head for outputting a laser beam and a solder feeder for feeding a thread solder to a path of the laser beam. The soldering device includes a solder receiving member for receiving solder melted by the laser beam and a pouring member for pouring molten solder into a workpiece. The solder receiving member includes a recess part having a shape for retaining the molten solder. The pouring member has a groove part communicating with the recess part and allowing the solder to flow therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Motowaki
  • Patent number: 11198194
    Abstract: A welding apparatus that welds a third conductor to a first conductor includes a clamp and a laser irradiation apparatus, the third conductor being adjacent to the first conductor between the first conductor and a second conductor extending in parallel to each other. The clamp is configured to sandwich the first conductor and the third conductor between a first gripper and a second gripper. The laser irradiation apparatus is configured to emit a welding laser towards the third conductor. The first gripper includes a confronting portion facing a contact surface that comes into contact with the first conductor. In a state where the clamp sandwiches the first conductor and the third conductor, the confronting portion and the second gripper are positioned so as to block a reflection laser of the welding laser reflected in a given range of the third conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sayaka Tanaka, Atsushi Fukunishi
  • Patent number: 11192829
    Abstract: The disclosure describes techniques for forming a surface layer of an article including a CMC using a cast. In some examples, the surface layer includes three-dimensional surface features, which may increase adhesion between the CMC and a coating on the CMC. In some examples, the surface layer may include excess material, with or without three-dimensional surface features, which is on the CMC. The excess material may be machined to remove some of the excess material and facilitate conforming the article to dimensional tolerances, e.g., for fitting the article to another component. The excess material may reduce a likelihood that the CMC (e.g., reinforcement material in the CMC) is damaged by the machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Sungbo Shim, Robert Wesley Thibault, Robert Shinavski, Kang N. Lee
  • Patent number: 11192206
    Abstract: Methods for producing a cohesive laser bond connection, wherein, in a first method step, a bond element (2) made from copper is provided, in a second method step, a contact element (3) made from copper is provided, and, in a third method step, the bond element (2) and the contact element (3) are connected to one another in a joined fashion under the action of green laser radiation (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Alves Goncalves Do Curral, Andreas Heider, Bernd Jahrsdoerfer, Christoph Bantel, Emilia Schwindt, Friedhelm Guenter, Nathanael Eisenreich, Ronny Wolf
  • Patent number: 11179897
    Abstract: A laser joining method and device includes a pressure-applying clamping device, which presses a first and a second workpiece against one another at least after the workpieces have been locally plasticized, and a mask having mask structures, which allow laser light to pass only in the region of the bonding contact faces, wherein at least the workpiece facing the laser source is formed by a three-dimensional molded part, which is not planar at least on the first contour side facing the clamping element and/or on the second contour side facing the second workpiece, and wherein the clamping element, with the bearing side thereof for the first workpiece, is adapted to the first contour side of the first workpiece. The mask structures are created on the bearing side of the clamping element facing the first workpiece or on the second contour side of the first workpiece facing the second workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Leister Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Didden, Carsten Wenzlau, Pascal Pfleger
  • Patent number: 11179805
    Abstract: Provided are a method and a system for controlling the overlapping in the single-layer laser cladding of a shaft-like workpiece, and a method, a device and a system for dynamically adjusting a height of the laser head of a laser cladding machine. In the method for controlling the overlapping in the laser cladding of the shaft-like workpiece, the motions of the spindle and the feed shaft are planned based on an S-curve acceleration and deceleration method. The motion planning is dynamically adjusted by comprehensively considering the overlapping rate and the clamping allowance of the workpiece in a feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Shandong University
    Inventors: Chengrui Zhang, Yisheng Yin, Wei Ma, Jie Wu, Tieshuang Zhu, Tianliang Hu
  • Patent number: 11173536
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a cyclically operating joining device, in particular a welding station, for joining a plurality of workpieces to a circuit board, wherein the joining device comprises at least one first transport device for a first workpiece in a first transport segment, and a second transport device for a second workpiece in a second transport segment, and the transport devices are controlled, independently of each other, by at least one control variable to configure an offset between head ends and/or rear ends of the workpieces prior to joining, wherein the control variable is associated with at least one transport segment of one of the transport devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Baosteel Lasertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Alber
  • Patent number: 11167866
    Abstract: A method of determining the position and orientation of a moveable object includes a) connecting a plurality of targets to the object at known points on the object such that the targets will move with the object; b) scanning the surface of the object and at least some of the plurality of targets to obtain target data; c) comparing the scanned target data to at least one known dimension of one of the plurality of targets; and d) if scanned target data matches the at least one known dimension of one of the plurality of targets, mapping known object model data according to the target data to determine the position and orientation of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Glynn R. Bartlett, Jeremy K. Zoss, William C. Flannigan, Peter Boeijink
  • Patent number: 11161641
    Abstract: The present application relates to a system and method for forming sleeved containers. The method comprises conveying a row of containers, arranging sleeves around the containers being conveyed, attaching the sleeve to the container being conveyed by heat shrinking, removing a part of the sleeve, the removing comprising at least partially laser cutting a part out of the sleeve thereby causing the creation of a fume region containing fumes of sleeve material evaporated by the laser cutting and blowing air along the wall of the container, wherein the flow of air is directed towards the fume region to force the fumes to move away from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Fuji Seal International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacobus Andreas Verbeeten
  • Patent number: 11154949
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for micro welding, wherein insulated object, such as a wire, that includes a metallic conductor that is at least partially covered by one or more layers of insulation, is positioned across a termination point. A laser beam may be applied to an area of the insulated object overlapping the termination point, wherein the applied laser beam is configured to substantially simultaneously (i) ablate the one or more layers of insulation in a first region of the area, (ii) weld the metallic conductor to the termination point in a second region of the area, and (iii) detach a portion of the object from the termination point in a third region of the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: JABIL INC.
    Inventors: William Douglas Sterling, Chao Su, Gongen Gu
  • Patent number: 11148204
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a part by selective melting or sintering of powder beds by high energy beam, the method including a) providing a material in the form of powder particles; b) depositing a first powder layer on a support; c) scanning a region of the first layer with the beam to heat the powder locally to a temperature higher than the powder sintering temperature, such that the powder particles as melted or sintered form a first single-piece element; d) depositing a second powder layer on the first powder layer; e) scanning a region of the second layer with the beam to heat the powder to a temperature higher than the powder sintering temperature, so that the particles of powder as sintered or melted form a second single-piece element; and f) repeating d) and e) for each new powder layer laid over a preceding layer until the part is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES, MBDA FRANCE
    Inventors: Christophe Colin, Jean-Baptiste Mottin, Laëtitia Kirschner, Gérard Saussereau
  • Patent number: 11135676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machining head (1) for laser machining machines, in particular for laser cutting machines, having an interface to a laser light source (3), preferably to fiber-coupled or fiber-based laser sources. Said laser sources are designed for more than 500 W of average output power in the near infrared region. The interface is preferably designed for coupling an optical waveguide (2) for the working laser beam (6). The machining head (1) also has a focusing optical unit (11) having preferably only one imaging lens. A deflecting assembly (9, 10) for at least one single deflection of the working laser beam (6) is arranged between the interface and the focusing optical unit (11). Said deflecting assembly (9, 10) is designed as a passive optical element that changes the divergence of the working laser beam (6) in dependence on power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Bystronic Laser AG
    Inventor: Thomas Rataj
  • Patent number: 11117320
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program for additive manufacturing. The additive manufacturing device includes a positioning mechanism configured to provide independent movement of at least one build unit in at least two dimensions. The build unit may further include a gasflow device for providing a flow zone along a first direction with relation to the build unit. The build unit may further include a powder delivery mechanism and an irradiation beam directing unit. The irradiation bean unit may follow a first irradiation path, wherein the first irradiation path forms at least a first solidification line and at least a second solidification line formed at an angle other than 0° and 180° with respect to the first solidification line. During the formation of the first solidification line, the build unit may be positioned in a first orientation such that the first direction of the flow zone is substantially perpendicular to the first solidification line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Martin, Justin Mamrak
  • Patent number: 11118873
    Abstract: A dazzling system has at least one strobe illuminator and multiple imaging optics, which may be of various types. All strobe illuminators are synchronized to each other and the imaging optics are synchronized to all strobe illuminators. The imaging optics may be in-phase or out-of-phase. Various embodiments are possible depending on the application, but in all applications the strobe illuminator(s) disrupt the vision of unauthorized persons while allowing users of the system to view a scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Andrew R. Moore, Omar D. Medjaouri, Joseph N. Mitchell, Trent Marshall Hejazi