Welding Patents (Class 219/121.63)
  • Patent number: 9849032
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an eye interface device, a scanning assembly, a beam source, a free-floating mechanism, and a detection assembly. The eye interface device interfaces with an eye. The scanning assembly supports the eye interface device and scans a focal point of an electromagnetic radiation beam within the eye. The beam source generates the electromagnetic radiation beam. The free-floating mechanism supports the scanning assembly and accommodates movement of the eye and provides a variable optical path for the electronic radiation beam and a portion of the electronic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location. The variable optical path is disposed between the beam source and the scanner and has an optical path length that varies to accommodate movement of the eye. The detection assembly generates a signal indicative of intensity of a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Optimedica Corporation
    Inventors: Georg Schuele, Phillip Gooding, I
  • Patent number: 9849537
    Abstract: A method for purging air from a structure to be joined by welding by feeding a liquid cryogen to the structure. The liquid cryogen will enter the structure, warm up and enter the gaseous phase very rapidly. The gaseous cryogen will displace the air that is present in the structure out of the structure and reduce the content of oxygen in the structure to about 10 parts per million when welding can begin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Glen Graydon, Walter Mark Veldsman
  • Patent number: 9849033
    Abstract: A method for laser eye surgery that accommodates patient movement includes: generating a first and a second electromagnetic radiation beam, the second beam configured to modify eye tissue; propagating the first beam to a scanner along a an optical path length that changes in response to eye movement; focusing the first beam to a first focal point within the eye; scanning the first focal point at different locations within the eye; propagating a portion of the first beam reflected from the first focal point location back along the variable optical path to a sensor; generating an intensity signal indicative of the intensity of the portion of the reflected first beam; propagating the second beam to the scanner along the variable optical path; focusing the second beam to a second focal point and scanning the second focal point to create an incision in the cornea of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Optimedica Corporation
    Inventors: Georg Schuele, Phillip Gooding
  • Patent number: 9844910
    Abstract: The invention relates to a punching and/or welding machine for acting on a piece of motor vehicle bodywork that is made of plastics material, the machine having movable punching and/or welding tools, each of which is adjusted to perform a punching and/or welding operation and that are transferred from a waiting position to a working position for performing the punching and/or welding operation, the punching and/or welding operation being performed in three stages: a) transferring from a waiting position at a distance from a skin of the piece in order to come into a working position in contact with the skin; b) performing the punching and/or the welding; and then c) returning to the waiting position; the device further comprising a support for receiving the skin in a determined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventor: Francois Virelizier
  • Patent number: 9815109
    Abstract: Apparatus (20, 22) and a method for mechanically joining a steel sheet portion (28 or 32) of advanced high strength steel to a metallic sheet portion (30 or 34) is performed to a light-safe extent by a detector assembly (106) during the mechanical joining that may be clinching, clinch riveting, full-punch riveting or self-piercing riveting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: UTICA ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark A. Savoy, Phillip J. I. Morgan
  • Patent number: 9802272
    Abstract: A laser welding apparatus for joining a first member and a second member together by laser welding includes: a first laser beam applying device that applies a laser beam to a border area between the first member and the second member; and a second laser beam applying device that applies a laser beam to a laser beam application spot of each of the first member and the second member, the laser beam application spot being located ahead of a laser beam application spot to which the laser beam is applied by the first laser beam applying device, in a laser welding forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoshida, Yoichi Naruse, Hiroyasu Kado
  • Patent number: 9796042
    Abstract: A material joining end effector generally includes a first arm, an optics assembly, a clamp, and a second arm. The first arm elongated along a longitudinal axis. The optics assembly is configured to focus an energy beam. The clamp is movably coupled to the first arm, the clamp being configured to move along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The second arm is rotationally coupled to the first arm, the second arm being configured to rotate relative to the first arm. The clamp is configured to removably couple the optics assembly to the first arm to allow the optics assembly to be decoupled from the first arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ayad K. Darzi
  • Patent number: 9789672
    Abstract: A joining method for joining a resin member and a metal member by heating is provided. Joining of the resin member and metal member is performed by heating a joining interface of the resin member and metal member to a temperature in a range of equal to or higher than a decomposition temperature of the resin member and lower than a temperature at which gas bubbles are generated in the resin member and by cooling a surface of the resin member on the opposite side from a joining surface thereof with the metal member to a temperature that is lower than the melting point of the resin member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Sugiyama, Yoshinori Shibata
  • Patent number: 9776274
    Abstract: A tool welding system is disclosed that includes a table that heats a tool. A multi-axis robot includes a welding head that is moved relative to the table in response to a command. A controller is in communication with the robot and generates the command in response to welding parameters. The weld parameters are based upon a difference between an initial tool shape and a desired tool shape. The difference between the initial tool shape and the desired tool shape corresponds to a desired weld shape. The desired weld shape is adjusted based upon initial tool shape variations, which includes thermal growth of the tool. The tool is welded to provide the desired weld shape to achieve a desired tool shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventor: Ariel Andre Waitzman
  • Patent number: 9764425
    Abstract: A tool for forming a shaped product has a support body that is fabricated from a first material, such as for instance cast iron. The first material defines a first portion of a forming surface of the tool and has a feature supported thereon. The feature has a layer of a second material that is supported on the first material of the support body, a layer of a third material that is supported on the layer of the second material and a layer of a fourth material that is supported on the layer of the third material. The layer of the fourth material, such as for instance a tool steel alloy, defines a second portion of the forming surface of the tool. During use the first portion of the forming surface and the second portion of the forming surface cooperate to form a desired shape of the shaped product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Maximilian Amtmann, Hongping Gu, Boris Shulkin, Aldo Van Gelder
  • Patent number: 9757816
    Abstract: Provided are a machining device and a machining method in which machining of higher precision can be performed with a simple configuration. The machining device has an irradiation head (16) and a controller; and the irradiation head (16) can be divided into a collimate optical system, a laser revolving unit (35), and a light collection optical system (37). The laser revolving unit (35) has a first prism (51), a second prism (52), a first rotation mechanism (53), and a second rotation mechanism (54). The controller controls the rotational speeds and the difference in phase angles of the first prism (51) and the second prism (52), on the basis of at least the relationship between a heat affected layer of a member to be machined and the revolving speed of the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihito Fujita, Tsugumaru Yamashita, Saneyuki Goya, Makoto Yamasaki, Ryu Suzuki, Kohei Kanaoka, Takashi Ishide, Toshiya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9754136
    Abstract: A low-profile card reader, including: a carriage; a single support arm including a first end statically mounted to the carriage, a second end, free from the carriage, a body tapering from the second end toward the first end, wherein the body is free from the carriage, such that the support arm freely deflects along a support arm length relative to the carriage, and a set of strengthening channels extending along the support arm length; and a magnetic reading head statically connected to the second end of the support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Poynt Co.
    Inventors: Osama Bedier, Ray Tanaka, Robert Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9751260
    Abstract: Additive-manufacturing systems, surface-processing apparatuses, and methods of forming products using an additive-manufacturing head are provided. In one aspect, an additive-manufacturing system includes an additive-manufacturing head and a surface-processing device coupled to the additive-manufacturing head. In another aspect, a surface-processing apparatus for an additive-manufacturing head includes a housing configured to be coupled to the additive-manufacturing head and a surface-processing device coupled to the housing. In a further aspect, a method of forming a product using an additive-manufacturing head includes forming one or more layers of the product with the additive-manufacturing head and processing at least one of the one or more layers of the product with a surface-processing device coupled to the additive-manufacturing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: David Michael Dietrich, Russell W. Cochran, Daniel D. Bloch, Gary W. Coleman
  • Patent number: 9737959
    Abstract: The thermal processing device includes a stage, a continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source, a series of lenses, a translation mechanism, a detection module, a three-dimensional auto-focus, and a computer system. The stage is configured to receive a substrate thereon. The continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source is disposed adjacent the stage, and is configured to emit continuous wave electromagnetic radiation along a path towards the substrate. The series of lenses is disposed between the continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source and the stage, and are configured to condense the continuous wave electromagnetic radiation into a line of continuous wave electromagnetic radiation on a surface of the substrate. The translation mechanism is configured to translate the stage and the line of continuous wave electromagnetic radiation relative to one another. The detection module is positioned within the path, and is configured to detect continuous wave electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean C. Jennings, Mark Yam, Abhilash J. Mayur, Vernon Behrens, Paul A. O'Brien, Leonid M. Teritski, Alexander Goldin
  • Patent number: 9713856
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a molded body by building up layers of powdered material, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a layer of powdered material, b) heating the layer using controlled radiation by irradiating selected points of the layer according to a cross-sectional pattern of the molded body assigned to said layer according to the geometry description data of the molded body, so that the powdered material is solidified by melting to form connecting regions according to the cross-sectional pattern of the molded body, c) preparing a next layer of powdered material on the layer irradiated most recently and d) heating the most recently prepared layer using controlled radiation by radiating selective points of the layer according to a cross-sectional pattern of the molded body assigned to said layer, so that the powdered material is solidified by melting to form connecting regions according to said cross-sectional pattern of the molded body, and e) repeating steps c) and d) multiple
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: REALIZER GMBH
    Inventor: Matthias Fockele
  • Patent number: 9713857
    Abstract: To obtain a laser joining structure and a laser joining method that can suppress a decrease in strength or rigidity of a third plate that is disposed at an interval apart from at least two metal plates. A laser joining structure has at least two metal plates whose superposed region, at which the at least two metal plates are superposed with one another, is joined by laser welded portions at two or more places, and a third plate that is disposed at an interval apart from the superposed region. A through-portion, that passes-through the third plate and through which laser light is irradiated onto the superposed region and that is of a number that is less than a number of the laser welded portions, is formed in the third plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshimune Shimada, Akiyoshi Watanabe, Hideyuki Yoshioka, Yoshio Nakamura, Norimasa Koreishi
  • Patent number: 9704797
    Abstract: A wire bonded structure for a semiconductor device is disclosed. The wire bonded structure comprises a bonding pad; and a continuous length of wire mutually diffused with the bonding pad, the wire electrically coupling the bonding pad with a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact different from the first electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SanDisk Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhong Lu, Fen Yu, Chin Tien Chiu, Cheeman Yu, Fuqiang Xiao
  • Patent number: 9694442
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming electrical solder connections in a disk drive unit includes: a nozzle device for carrying out soldering on two pre-welding surfaces; a solder ball feeding device for transferring a single solder ball to the nozzle device; a gas pump device for supplying pressurized gases to the nozzle device; a laser device for emitting laser beams to the solder ball; and a control device including at least one sensor for at least detecting status of the solder ball or pressure in the nozzle device or distance between the nozzle device and the pre-welding surfaces, and a control unit connected with the at least one sensor. The present invention can easily control the solder ball, the pressurized gases and the laser beams, thereby keeping the pressure of the nozzle device and the laser energy stable and, in turn improving the soldering result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAE MAGNETICS (H.K.) LTD.
    Inventors: Ning Li, Qin Ping Zhao
  • Patent number: 9687938
    Abstract: A laser machining apparatus includes: an optical-scanning laser machining device that includes a machining head, which moves in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction and emits laser light on a workpiece to machine the workpiece; a first marking device that is provided on one side of the optical-scanning laser machining device in the first direction and puts a mark on the workpiece; a second marking device that is provided on another side of the optical-scanning laser machining device in the first direction and puts a mark on the workpiece; and a pallet on which the workpiece to be machined by the optical-scanning laser machining device is loaded and which moves in the first direction between the first marking device and the second marking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiro Tanahashi, Kenji Saruta, Yuuki Tamura, Komaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9688533
    Abstract: A new packaging method for a wide range of MEMS for application on both the wafer and device scale. Titanium is used as the packaging material and both silicon and titanium MEMS devices are integrated on to a titanium substrate. A Nd:YAG pulsed laser is used to micro-weld the titanium cap to the substrate. A three-dimensional time dependent model of heat flow during laser beam welding is presented. The heat transfer and parametric design capabilities of COMSOL were employed for this purpose. Model calculations are compared and calibrated with experimental results of pulsed laser welds. The functionality and hermiticity of the proposed packaging was evaluated by packaging a self actuated Veeco Instrument AFM cantilever tip. The experimental measurements show that the resonance frequency and quality factor of the device stay the same before and after packaging and the applied technique has no effect on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Payam Bozorgi, Noel C. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 9663270
    Abstract: A method for producing a receptacle which is closed by a sheet by transmission laser welding, and to an apparatus suitable to carry out same. The method and the apparatus are configured in such a way that a weld seam is formed between the wall structure of the receptacle and the sheet so as to be wider than the end faces of the wall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: JENOPTIK Automatisierungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Wollmann, Christoph Steiner, Wilfried Kraemer, Norbert Krzyzaniak
  • Patent number: 9662723
    Abstract: A method for combined shearing of a steel plate adopts a combination of unrolling and pendulum shearing with laser cutting, wherein after a steel roll is cut by unrolling and pendulum shearing to obtain sheets having a specified length, a part or all of the sheets are directly conveyed to a stack as finished sheet materials and the other part or all of the sheets are transferred to a laser cutting line by means of lateral material discharge from a unrolling and pendulum cutting line, and are picked up by a loading robot and moved to a laser cutting position to subject to a secondary cutting, so as to finally obtain profiled sheet materials which are picked up by a discharged material handling and stacking robot for an operation of stacking the finished products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: BAOSHAN IRON & STEEL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Saidan Yang, Junliang Qiao, Qi Yan, Shengbo Pan, Ruimin Wu, Chengguo Jin, Qian Xiang
  • Patent number: 9662745
    Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, and system for joining different materials is described. In a principal embodiment, two articles, for example different metals, are placed in proximity to one another with an interfacial area. One article is heated using a laser that is scanned across from a point remote from the interface to a point at or just short of the interface. In embodiments, the interfacial bond region is characterized by a homogenous mixed phase region with very low to substantially no brittle intermetallics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Y. Lawrence Yao, Gen Satoh
  • Patent number: 9651934
    Abstract: A fastening guarantee system for vehicle assembly is used in a vehicle assembly line for assembling a fastening object to a vehicle body conveyed on a conveyer line with fastening members. The system may include i) a vehicle body sensing unit that senses a vehicle body entering the conveyer line and the distance to the vehicle body, ii) a plurality of tool sensing units at predetermined intervals along the conveyer line that senses the position of a fastening tool, iii) an inertia sensor module that senses the angle and the displacement of the fastening tool, iv) a tool controller, and v) the fastening tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jaehyun Lee, Sung Phil Ryu
  • Patent number: 9649711
    Abstract: A method for electrically contacting terminal faces of two substrates, such as a chip and a carrier substrate, includes two successive phases. In a first phase, the chip is positioned with its terminal faces against terminal faces of the substrate and laser energy is applied to the chip at the rear. In a second phase, a flux medium is applied and laser energy is applied to the rear of the chip to cause reflow. The device for performing the second phase of the method comprises a carrier table and a housing, which form a housing interior with a top side of the carrier table which receives the component arrangement, and a laser light source, which is oriented so that the laser radiation impinges on the rear side of the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: PAC TECH-PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Ghassem Azdasht
  • Patent number: 9624080
    Abstract: A method for producing a fork arm (18) for load-carrying devices, said fork comprising a fork blade (5) which is substantially horizontal in the operating position, and a substantially vertical fork back (20) that connects via a fork bend (19) to said fork blade and is provided with connection elements (2, 3) for the conveying device, wherein the fork arm consists of a plurality of parts (1; 2, 4, 8, 9, 11; 18?, 12 to 17) that are connected to one another, at least a number of said parts are welded to one another, and parts (1; 2, 4, 8, 9, 11; 18?, 12 to 17) of the fork arm are welded to one another by electron beam welding and/or laser welding, wherein the weld penetrates planarly with a depth of at least 15 mm between adjoining surfaces of the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Philipp Szlezak
  • Patent number: 9622800
    Abstract: A hybrid bone plate has a first plate portion, having a first top surface and a first bottom surface and comprises a hard titanium alloy. A second plate portion has a second top surface and a second bottom surface and comprises a pure titanium or a soft titanium alloy. The first plate portion has a higher material yield strength than the second plate portion. The first plate portion and the second plate portion are connected to each other at a transition region by for example welding wherein in the transition region the first top surface and the second top surface together form a closed top integral surface and the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface together form a closed bottom integral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Stryker European Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: Holger Von Wieding, Rose Riemer, Michel Grimm, Jörg Schneider
  • Patent number: 9616648
    Abstract: A profile carrier includes a base profile of metal and a reinforcement member of fiber-reinforced plastic material that reinforces the base profile. The reinforcement member and the base profile are connected to each other by at least one wall-side positive-locking element that is provided on a profile wall of the base profile and that extends in a transverse direction of the profile wall. The at least one wall-side positive-locking element and the reinforcement member engage one inside of the other in the transverse direction of the profile wall with a positive-locking connection between the reinforcement member and the base profile formed substantially parallel to the profile wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: TRUMPF Sachsen GmbH, TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Gunter Harnisch, Carsten Knobel, Wilfried Haas, Matthias Wolfrum, Tom Wunderlich, Joerg Herbst, Eckart Schuetze, Martin Schuetze, Rainer Schuetze
  • Patent number: 9586282
    Abstract: Methods for welding a joint are disclosed herein. One example of the method involves welding the joint between two workpieces. Energy is focused onto the joint to weld the joint. The focus of the energy moves relative to the joint. A vaporized material is displaced from a keyhole created by the welding. The vaporized material is vaporized by the energy. A pool of molten material is formed adjacent the keyhole during operation of the energy at the joint. The pool of molten material is manipulated by displacing a portion of the molten material from a near end of the pool and from lateral sides of the pool to a far end of the pool. The far end of the pool is distal to the near end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: David Yang
  • Patent number: 9586287
    Abstract: A method of welding a fuel rod includes the following steps. An end plug and a cladding tube of the fuel rod are brought together to abut each other, and welded by applying a laser beam directed to a welding zone to melt material of the end plug and the cladding tube. The welding is sensed by sensing radiation within a first wavelength range, which includes the wavelength of the laser beam coming from reflections from the welding zone, sensing radiation within a second wavelength range different from the first wavelength range, which includes infrared radiation from melted material, and sensing radiation within a third wavelength range different from the first and second wavelength ranges, which includes radiation from plasma. The welding and melting of material is monitored by monitoring the sensed radiations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB
    Inventors: Sten Borell, Tomas Rostvall
  • Patent number: 9555475
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for forming a metallic component by additive layer manufacturing are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Jagjit Sidhu, Andrew David Wescott, Mark Alfred Potter
  • Patent number: 9555522
    Abstract: A welding fixture including an electromagnet, a non-magnetic support configured to receive at least two sheets of material to be welded, and one or more clamping shoes configured to cooperate with the electromagnet to apply a clamping pressure to the at least two sheets of material and the non-magnetic support as a result of a magnetic force produced by the electromagnet is provided. A first of the at least two sheets of material is in contact with at least one of the one or more clamping shoes, and a second of the at least two sheets of material is in contact with at least the non-magnetic support. The one or more clamping shoes being shaped such that a perimeter defined by the one or more clamping shoes is located in the vicinity of a defined weld line to be welded on the at least two sheets of material, the weld line remaining substantially free from optical obstruction during production of the magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TOTOTA MOTOR EUROPE NV/SA
    Inventors: Paul Evans, Jonathan Blackburn, Colin Nigel Ribton, Andrew Christopher Woloszyn
  • Patent number: 9550186
    Abstract: A system for fluid partitioning for chemical amplification or other chemical processing or separations of a sample, comprising a first dispenser of a first polymeric sheet, wherein the first polymeric sheet contains chambers; a second dispenser of a second polymeric sheet wherein the first dispenser and the second dispenser are positioned so that the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet become parallel; a dispenser of the fluid positioned to dispense the fluid between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet; and a seal unit that seals the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet together thereby sealing the sample between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet and partitioning the fluid for chemical amplification or other chemical processing or separations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Brian L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9539061
    Abstract: A wire made up of a plurality of wire strands is wound around a tubular body coupled to a distal end working unit. A fixing pin has a through hole through which the wire is inserted. The fixing pin is fitted into a recess disposed in a side surface of the tubular body. The fixing pin is welded to the tubular body and the wire. The melting point of the wire is higher than the melting point of the fixing pin. In a state where material of the fixing pin flows in between the wire strands, the fixing pin and the wire are joined together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Shuji Imuta
  • Patent number: 9527166
    Abstract: A welding portion inspection method includes: irradiating welding laser beam along welding trajectories set in works plural times or irradiating inspection laser beam along scanning trajectories set in a molten pool of the works which is melted by the welding laser beam plural times; receiving return light including reflected light from the molten pool of the work, evaporation luminescence generated due to evaporating of the work and thermal radiation light radiated from the molten pool of the work; extracting short wavelength component containing evaporation luminescence and long wavelength component containing thermal radiation light from the return light and inspecting the welding condition of the welding portion of the work based on a ratio between an intensity of the short wavelength component and an intensity of the long wavelength component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroomi Kobayashi, Masashi Furukawa, Keisuke Uchida
  • Patent number: 9522446
    Abstract: A method for forming a hard disk drive base plate with an extended height is described. The method may include forming an initial hard disk drive base plate, forming a filler shim, and forming a shroud. The method may also include joining the initial hard disk drive base plate, the filler shim, and the shroud to extend a height of walls of the formed initial hard disk drive base plate, and to form the hard disk drive base plate with the extended height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Cheung Woh Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Kung Ying Law, Yut Chai Loh
  • Patent number: 9517533
    Abstract: A welding laser beam (L1) is radiated along welding loci (C11, C12) set in workpieces (W1, W2), or an inspection laser beam (L5) is radiated along scanning loci (C51, C52) set in a molten pool (Y1) of the workpieces that are molten by radiation of the welding laser beam, a returned light beam (L2) including reflection light from the molten pool, vapor light caused due to melting and evaporation of the workpieces, and thermal radiation light emitted from the molten pool is received, and a welding state of a welded portion of the workpieces is inspected based on an intensity of a returned light beam received in a first region inside the molten pool which is relatively close to a given point and an intensity of a returned light beam received in a second region inside the molten pool which is relatively spaced from the given point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Uchida, Masashi Furukawa, Hiroomi Kobayashi, Atsushi Kawakita, Shuhei Ogura, Hiroaki Kishi, Eiji Akamatsu, Yuta Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 9506862
    Abstract: A welding laser beam (L1) is radiated along welding loci (C11, C12) set in workpieces (W1, W2), or an inspection laser beam (L5) is radiated along scanning loci (C51, C52) set in a molten pool (Y1) of the workpieces (W1, W2) that are molten by radiation of the welding laser beam (L1), a returned light beam (L2) including reflection light from the molten pool (Y1) of the workpieces, vapor light caused due to melting and evaporation of the workpieces, and thermal radiation light emitted from the molten pool (Y1) of the workpieces is received, and a welding state of a welded portion of the workpieces is inspected based on an intensity change of the returned light beam (L2) thus received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroomi Kobayashi, Masashi Furukawa, Keisuke Uchida, Yoshinori Shibata, Atsushi Kawakita, Hiroaki Kishi, Eiji Akamatsu, Yuta Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 9498852
    Abstract: Laser hybrid welding systems adapted to identify and/or fix a weld defect occurring during a laser hybrid welding process are provided. Embodiments of the laser hybrid welding system may include one or more devices that provide feedback to a controller regarding one or more weld parameters. One embodiment of the laser hybrid welding system includes sensors that are adapted to measure the weld voltage and/or amperage during the welding process and transmit the acquired data to the controller for processing. Another embodiment of the laser hybrid welding system includes a lead camera and a lag camera that film an area directly in front of the weld location and directly behind the weld location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Bruce Patrick Albrecht
  • Patent number: 9492888
    Abstract: A welding position detecting apparatus for laser beam welding includes: an imaging device that captures, at a predetermined time interval, images of an irradiated portion of a welding material irradiated with a welding laser beam, and a surrounding area thereof, of a welding material; an image processing device that identifies a position of the irradiated portion irradiated with the welding laser beam by performing image processing calculating, from two or more images acquired by the imaging device, a direction and an amount of parallel movement of points in the images; and a display device that displays the position of the irradiated portion irradiated with the welding laser beam, the position being identified by the image processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshifumi Kodama, Koji Yano, Masahito Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9486286
    Abstract: The medical laser user interface of the present invention generally comprises a medical laser unit and a control system. The medical laser unit includes an optical probe for delivering laser light to a patient's tissue. The control system controls operation of the medical laser unit. Specifically, the control system provides a foot pedal system that enables the user to switch between the delivery of a first wavelength of laser light and a second wavelength of laser light through depression of a foot pedal. In a first embodiment, a single foot pedal can be used to toggle the wavelengths, where as in a second embodiment two foot pedals can be use, i.e., one for the first wavelength and one for the second wavelength. The two wavelengths provided include a wavelength for vaporization of tissue and a wavelength for coagulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Hodel, Terry J. Smith
  • Patent number: 9475151
    Abstract: A method and apparatus attach a laser diode on a submount to a slider. The submount and laser diode form a submount assembly. The slider includes an air-bearing surface (ABS) and a transducer. The apparatus includes an optical fiber and a holder. The optical fiber is configured to carry a laser pulse. The holder includes a vacuum channel and an optical fiber aperture therein. A portion of the optical fiber is held in the optical fiber aperture. The vacuum channel is configured to hold the submount assembly by a pressure differential between a pressure developed in the vacuum channel and an external pressure at a remaining portion of the submount assembly. The pressure in the vacuum channel is less than the external pressure. The method holds the submount assembly in the apparatus, aligns the submount assembly to the slider and provides a laser pulse through the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Jih-Chiou Hser
  • Patent number: 9458728
    Abstract: A method for forming three-dimensional anchoring structures on a surface is provided. This method may result in a thermal barrier coating system exhibiting enhanced adherence for its constituent coatings. The method involves applying a first laser beam (20) through a first portion (7) of a multi-core fiber (4) to a surface (12) of a solid material (14) to form a liquefied bed (16) on the surface (12) of the solid material (14), then applying a pulse of laser energy (24) through a second portion (6) of the multi-core fiber (4) to a portion of the liquefied bed (16) to cause a disturbance, such as a splash (28) of liquefied material outside the liquefied bed (16). A three-dimensional anchoring structure (30) may thus be formed on the surface (12) upon solidification of the splash (28) of the liquefied material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Gerald J. Bruck, Ahmed Kamel
  • Patent number: 9457427
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for detecting an incomplete cutting action when cutting a workpiece with a high-energy beam are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes taking an image of a region of the workpiece to be monitored, the region including an interaction region of the high-energy beam with the workpiece, evaluating the image taken in order to detect pooled slag at an end of the interaction region opposite a cutting front, and detecting whether a related cutting action is incomplete based on an occurrence of detection of pooled slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Tim Hesse, David Schindhelm, Boris Regaard
  • Patent number: 9409251
    Abstract: A method for radiation beam welding of a first member to a second member of a cooling body for an electromagnetic actuator. The first member on a side thereof comprises a surface portion provided with a recess, which is delimited by a periphery, and wherein the second member comprises a substantially continuous first surface portion complementary to the surface portion of the first member in order to close off the recess, the second member being provided with a second surface portion opposite to the first surface portion. The method comprising arranging the first and second member such that the first surface portion engages with the surface portion of the first member; providing a radiation beam, directing the radiation beam towards the second surface portion such that the first and second member are welded together at the periphery of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Petrus Mathijs Henricus Vosters, Mark Scholten, Ilya Malakhovskiy, Martinus Josephus Theodorus Maria Cortenbach
  • Patent number: 9399268
    Abstract: In a laser welding method, a gap between first and second members to be welded is made at most 300 ?m by pressing the second member against the first member with claws that are pressing parts of a laser welding jig, and the second member to be welded at a place between the claws is irradiated by laser light to laser-weld the first member and the second member. In a semiconductor device, the gap between the first member and the second member at the portion of laser-welding is at most 300 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuta Tamai
  • Patent number: 9381594
    Abstract: A method for laser cladding a material onto a surface of a machine component using a laser scanning head with laser scanning optics is disclosed. The method includes forming a molten bead of cladding material by directing a beam with the laser scanning optics over a bead scan on the machine component. The method also includes directing the beam with the laser scanning optics over a secondary scan on the machine component, the secondary scan being offset from the bead scan at a predetermined distance on the machine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kegan Luick, Thierry Andre Marchione, Justin Curtis Embrey, Daniel Cavanaugh, Waylon Scott Walker
  • Patent number: 9343310
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for forming electrical conductors and/or semiconductors on a glass substrate. The electrical conductors and/or semiconductors are formed by applying a conducting material or a semiconductor material to a surface of the glass substrate and irradiating the interface with a focused laser beam transmitted through the glass. An electrical conductor may be formed on a glass substrate or a semiconductor substrate to provide an electrical antenna for radio frequency communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventors: Nathaniel R Quick, Michael C Murray
  • Patent number: 9316545
    Abstract: A novel scanning Seebeck coefficient measurement technique is disclosed utilizing a cold scanning thermocouple probe tip on heated bulk and thin film samples. The system measures variations in the Seebeck coefficient within the samples. The apparatus may be used for two dimensional mapping of the Seebeck coefficient on the bulk and thin film samples. This technique can be utilized for detection of defective regions, as well as phase separations in the sub-mm range of various thermoelectric materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: G. Jeffrey Snyder, Shiho Iwanaga
  • Patent number: 9310225
    Abstract: A scale for a photoelectric encoder includes a scale substrate and a reflection film formed at a predetermined pitch on the scale substrate. A surface of the reflection film forms a reflection surface. A low-reflection surface is formed by etching the scale substrate between reflection films. Accordingly, a scale can be provided which is lower in cost and has favorable yield rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fujio Maeda