Abstract: The invention relates to a laser spot welding process for executing a spot weld in two successive steps, namely a first step of preparing the surface state of the material to be welded and a second step of welding as such. The luminous energy (BR) reflected by the weld region of the material is measured in real time during the first step and then processed by a controller circuit (37) connected to a control circuit (30) of the laser source (31). In this way, the characteristics (LM) of the laser beam are adjusted in real time as a function of the measurements effected to allow effective control of the quality of the weld obtained, and in particular of its dimensions. The invention also relates to a welding device for implementing this process.

Abstract: An adjustable pinhole, in particular for a beam path for illumination and/or detection in a laser-scanning microscope. The pinhole consists of at least two planar basic modules, which have frame-like joints, on which at least one blade is arranged in a displaceable manner in one direction, whereby the basic component advantageously contains at least one integrated, preferably optical or electromagnetic actuator. A device is provided at the blade, or connected with it, for preferably optical or electromagnetic detection of the position, and is provided, advantageously, with two asymmetric apertures, with mutually opposite orientation, for optical detection of the position, whereby in front of or behind the apertures, a slit is provided, oriented preferably at a right angle to the direction of displacement, and the quantity of light passing through the slit is detected separately for each aperture.

Abstract: An adjustable pinhole, in particular for a beam path for illumination and/or detection in a laser-scanning microscope. The pinhole consists of at least two planar basic modules, which have frame-like joints, on which at least one sharp edge is arranged in a displaceable manner in one direction, whereby the basic component advantageously contains at least one integrated, preferably optical or electromagnetic positioning element. A device is provided at the sharp edge, or connected with it, for preferably optical or electromagnetic detection of the position, and is provided, advantageously, with two asymmetric apertures, with mutually opposite orientation, for optical detection of the position, whereby in front of or behind the apertures, a slit is provided, oriented preferably at a right angle to the direction of displacement, and the quantity of light passing through the slit is detected separately for each aperture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser spot welding process for executing a spot weld in two successive steps, namely a first step of preparing the surface state of the material to be welded and a second step of welding as such. The luminous energy (BR) reflected by the weld region of the material is measured in real time during the first step and then processed by a controller circuit (37) connected to a control circuit (30) of the laser source (31). In this way, the characteristics (LM) of the laser beam are adjusted in real time as a function of the measurements effected to allow effective control of the quality of the weld obtained, and in particular of its dimensions.