US3586816A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spot welding system and method
Assignee: American Optical Corp
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Filing: 1968-07-25
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1988-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for microscopic spot welding with laser radiation. The invention, having particular relationship to microscopic multiple spot welding, employs mode selection of laser emitted radiation. A number of objective lenses are positioned in a diverging mode selected laser beam and the lenses are arranged within the spread of the beam in relative geometrical positions corresponding to the number and positions of spots requiring welding. Auxiliary lens means may be employed to direct the diverging laser beam toward the object to obtain proper spacing of the welding spots. The system produces a multiplicity of microscopic welding spots on the object each of a minimum size governed by the size of the Airy disc produced by its respective objective lens.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilhelm F Hagen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:49
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/067; B23K26/0676; H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/04; H10P72/0446
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for spot welding an object with laser emitted radiation comprising: a laser for producing a beam of high density radiant energy; means for producing a mode selected diverging beam of said energy; a mask intercepting said diverging beam, said mask having a plurality of objective lenses therein through each of which at least a portion of said mode selected beam is permitted to pass for focusing thereby as respective welding spots, said objective lenses being arranged in side-by-side relationship with each other in said mask in a geometrical pattern corresponding to a pattern of welding spots desired to be produced upon said object whereby said object may be positioned at said welding spots for multiple spot welding thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for spot welding an object with laser emitted radiation comprising: a laser for producing a beam of high density radiant energy; means for producing a mode selected diverging beam of said energy; a mask intercepting said diverging beam, said mask having a plurality of objective lenses therein through each of which at least a portion of said mode selected beam is permitted to pass for focusing thereby as respective welding spots, said objective lenses being arranged in side-by-side relationship with each other in said mask in a geometrical pattern corresponding to a pattern of welding spots desired to be produced upon said object whereby said object may be positioned at said welding spots for multiple spot welding thereof.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
130 words
A system for spot welding an object with laser emitted radiatioN comprising: a laser for producing a beam of high density radiant energy; means for producing a mode selected diverging beam of said energy; a mask intercepting said diverging beam, said mask having a plurality of objective lenses therein through each of which at least a portion of said mode selected beam is permitted to pass for focusing thereby as respective welding spots, said objective lenses being individually selectively prismatic and arranged in a geometrical pattern differing from that desired of said welding spots wherewith the desired pattern of welding spots is formed by prismatic refraction of said mode selected energy by said objective lenses and said object may be placed at said welding spots for multiple spot welding thereof.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
130 words
A system for spot welding an object with laser emitted radiatioN comprising: a laser for producing a beam of high density radiant energy; means for producing a mode selected diverging beam of said energy; a mask intercepting said diverging beam, said mask having a plurality of objective lenses therein through each of which at least a portion of said mode selected beam is permitted to pass for focusing thereby as respective welding spots, said objective lenses being individually selectively prismatic and arranged in a geometrical pattern differing from that desired of said welding spots wherewith the desired pattern of welding spots is formed by prismatic refraction of said mode selected energy by said objective lenses and said object may be placed at said welding spots for multiple spot welding thereof.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
81 words
The method of spot welding an object with laser emitted energy comprising the steps of: selecting a mode of oscillation of said laser emitted energy and directing a beam thereof toward said object; bringing a multiplicity of portions of said beam simultaneously each to individual focus; and, locating said object at the resulting foci of said portions of said beam whereby a multiplicity of welding spots which correspond in number and position to said foci will be produced upon said object.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
81 words
The method of spot welding an object with laser emitted energy comprising the steps of: selecting a mode of oscillation of said laser emitted energy and directing a beam thereof toward said object; bringing a multiplicity of portions of said beam simultaneously each to individual focus; and, locating said object at the resulting foci of said portions of said beam whereby a multiplicity of welding spots which correspond in number and position to said foci will be produced upon said object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A spot welding system according to claim 1 wherein at least some of said objective lenses are of different aperture size preselected according to the intensity desired of said focused energy at said welding spots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A spot welding system according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of objective lenses comprises an assembly of two sets of juxtapositioned elongated plano-cylindrical lens members, said members of one set being arranged with their respective plane surfaces extended orthogonally to and adjoining those of the other set.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein said laser emitted energy is focused at a pinhole in an opaque mask to produce said beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein said portions of said beam are directed by prismatic refraction to spaced points of foci preselected according to a desired patterning of said welding spots.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |