Abstract: A female terminal includes a terminal body including a base portion to be connected to the electric wire and a spring member to be attached to the base portion. The base portion includes a pair of side walls disposed at a predetermined interval into which a male terminal can be inserted, the spring member includes an inner plate along at least an inner side surface of each of the side walls and an arm spring extending from the inner plate toward the side wall facing the inner plate, and the side wall and the flange plate are welded to form a welded portion. A fulcrum portion of the arm spring abutting the side wall is provided between the welded portion and a contact portion abutting the male terminal.

Abstract: A welding method includes: emitting laser beam toward a workpiece including a metal to melt and weld a part of the workpiece, the part being where the laser beam has been emitted to. Further, the laser beam includes a main power region and at least one auxiliary power region, a power of the main power region is larger than a power of each of the at least one auxiliary power region, and a ratio between the power of the main power region and the total of powers of the at least one auxiliary power region is in a range of 144:1 to 1:9.

Abstract: A method of welding a workpiece by using a laser is provided which includes disposing a workpiece in a region to be irradiated with laser light from a laser oscillator; and irradiating the workpiece with the laser light from the laser oscillator such that an irradiated portion of the workpiece is melted and welded while sweeping the laser light over the workpiece by relatively moving the laser light and the workpiece. The laser light is formed of a main beam and an auxiliary beam, at least part of the auxiliary beam being disposed anteriorly in a sweep direction, and the main beam has a power density equal to or greater than a power density of the auxiliary beam.

Abstract: A female terminal, a female connector, a terminal-attached electric wire, a connector-attached electric wire, and a wire harness can prevent a welded portion from being damaged when a conductor of an electric wire is connected by ultrasonic welding to an electric wire connection portion of a female terminal with a base portion and a spring member welded together. A female terminal includes an electric wire connection portion with a conductor of an electric wire connected by ultrasonic welding, and a terminal connection portion with a male terminal connected. The terminal connection portion includes a base portion having a pair of side walls with a connection blade of a male terminal inserted therebetween, and a spring member attached to the base portion, the spring member includes a laying plate along the side walls and an arm spring, the side walls and the laying plate are welded at an endless welded portion.

Abstract: A method of welding a workpiece by using a laser is provided which includes disposing a workpiece in a region to be irradiated with laser light from a laser oscillator; and irradiating the workpiece with the laser light from the laser oscillator such that an irradiated portion of the workpiece is melted and welded while sweeping the laser light over the workpiece by relatively moving the laser light and the workpiece. The laser light is formed of a main beam and an auxiliary beam, at least part of the auxiliary beam being disposed anteriorly in a sweep direction, and the main beam has a power density equal to or greater than a power density of the auxiliary beam.

Abstract: A welding method includes: emitting laser beam toward a workpiece including a metal to melt and weld a part of the workpiece, the part being where the laser beam has been emitted to. Further, the laser beam includes a main power region and at least one auxiliary power region, a power of the main power region is larger than a power of each of the at least one auxiliary power region, and a ratio between the power of the main power region and the total of powers of the at least one auxiliary power region is in a range of 144:1 to 1:9.

Abstract: A welding method includes a step of, while irradiating laser beam toward a workpiece, relatively moving the laser beam and the workpiece and, while sweeping the laser beam on the workpiece, melting the workpiece in an irradiated portion to perform welding. Further, the laser beam is configured by a main power region and a sub-power region, at least a part of the sub-power region is present on a sweeping direction side of the main power region, a power density of the main power region is equal to or higher than a power density of the sub-power region, and the power density of the main power region is at least power density that can generate a keyhole.

Abstract: A welding method includes: layering two or more plate materials each including a plating plate material having a preform on a surface of which a plating layer is formed to form a workpiece; disposing the workpiece in a region to be irradiated with a processing laser beam; generating the processing laser beam having a power distribution shape in which two or more power regions are disposed along a predetermined direction in a plane perpendicular to a light traveling direction; irradiating a surface of the workpiece with the processing laser beam; and moving the processing laser beam and the workpiece relatively while performing the irradiation, and melting an irradiated area of the workpiece to perform welding while sweeping the processing laser beam in the predetermined direction on the workpiece during a swing of the processing laser beam.

Abstract: A welding method includes: disposing a workpiece formed by stacking a plurality of metal foils in an area to be irradiated with laser light that contains a plurality of beams; irradiating a surface of the workpiece with the beams of the laser light by dispersing positions of the beams such that centers of the beams do not overlap with each other within a prescribed area on the surface; melting an irradiated part of the workpiece and performing welding; and setting each of the beams to have a power density with which no hole opens in the metal foils, and setting the power density of the beams and dispersing irradiating positions to be emitted so as to form a weld pool penetrating the workpiece by the beams.

Abstract: A welding method includes: arranging a workpiece containing copper in a region to be irradiated with laser light; and irradiating the workpiece with the laser light to melt and weld an irradiated portion of the workpiece. Further, the laser light is formed of a main beam and a plurality of sub beams, and a ratio of power of the main beam to total power of the plurality of sub beams is 72:1 to 3:7.

Abstract: A welding method includes: forming a workpiece by stacking plated sheet members having a plating layer formed on a surface of a base material; disposing the workpiece in an area to be irradiated with laser light; irradiating a surface of the workpiece with a plurality of beams by dispersing positions such that centers of the beams do not overlap with each other within a prescribed area on the surface; while continuing the irradiation, relatively moving the beams and the workpiece and sweeping the beams on the workpiece so as to melt an irradiated part of the workpiece for performing welding; and setting a distance between the beams to be emitted such that weld pools formed in the workpiece by irradiation of each of the beams overlap with each other.

Abstract: An apron upper member of a vehicle extends from a front pillar to a front side of the vehicle, and includes: a rear half portion having a sheet metal structure and having a vehicle rear end connected to the front pillar; and a front half portion formed of a casting product, the front half portion being connected to the rear half portion, extending to the front side of the vehicle, and having a vehicle front end connected to a crash box. The front half portion has a strength lowering portion immediately ahead of a connecting portion connected to the rear half portion. This suppresses significant approach of an occupant to a vehicle body at the time of collision.

Abstract: A method of welding a workpiece by using a laser is provided which includes disposing a workpiece in a region to be irradiated with laser light from a laser oscillator; and irradiating the workpiece with the laser light from the laser oscillator such that an irradiated portion of the workpiece is melted and welded while sweeping the laser light over the workpiece by relatively moving the laser light and the workpiece. The laser light is formed of a main beam and an auxiliary beam, at least part of the auxiliary beam being disposed anteriorly in a sweep direction, and the main beam has a power density equal to or greater than a power density of the auxiliary beam.

Abstract: An apron upper member of a vehicle extends from a front pillar to a front side of the vehicle, and includes: a rear half portion having a sheet metal structure and having a vehicle rear end connected to the front pillar; and a front half portion formed of a casting product, the front half portion being connected to the rear half portion, extending to the front side of the vehicle, and having a vehicle front end connected to a crash box. The front half portion has a strength lowering portion immediately ahead of a connecting portion connected to the rear half portion. This suppresses significant approach of an occupant to a vehicle body at the time of collision.