← Back to Patent Explorer
US5300755A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Structure for welding electrical connecting portions to each other using laser light beam

Assignee: Yazaki Corp
•
Filing: 1992-08-07
•
Granted: 1994-04-05
•
Expires: 2012-08-07
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An arrangement and method for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members. The arrangement includes an electrically conductive connecting member, two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking the connecting member, and clamping the connecting member therebetween, and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of the metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between the connecting member and the respective metallic members. The connecting member includes a cable or the like and the metallic members include contact terminals, busbars or the like. In the method, the connecting member is positioned between the metallic members and the output beam is radiated on one of the metallic members in the direction of the connecting member so as to weld the connecting member to the metallic members.

Inventors

  • 👤 Keizo Nishitani
  • 👤 Masuo Sugiura
  • 👤 Isao Takiguchi
  • 👤 Tetsurou Saimoto

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 14:32
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/20; B23K26/21; B23K26/22; H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/02; H01R4/029; H01R43/00; H01R43/02; H01R43/0228; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/328

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim 115 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member without being directly emitted on said connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said electrically conductive connecting member is a cable including a plurality of wires surrounded by a sheath.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 115 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member without being directly emitted on said connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said electrically conductive connecting member is a cable including a plurality of wires surrounded by a sheath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 115 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member without being directed towards the underlying connecting member without being directly emitted on said connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said electrically conductive connecting member is a sheathed cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 115 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member without being directed towards the underlying connecting member without being directly emitted on said connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said electrically conductive connecting member is a sheathed cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 98 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said electrically conductive connecting member is a twist.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 98 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said electrically conductive connecting member is a twist.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 105 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said electrically conductive connecting member includes a plurality of conductors disposed on a circuit board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 105 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said electrically conductive connecting member includes a plurality of conductors disposed on a circuit board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive metallic members are electrical terminals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 97 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said electrically conductive metallic members are busbars.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 97 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said electrically conductive metallic members are busbars.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 14 words
The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said connecting member is a sheathed conductor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 159 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said one metallic member is a base member and the other of said metallic members is a contact terminal having a base portion, wherein said connecting member is a sheathed conductor disposed between said base member and said base portion, and wherein said arrangement further comprises a base plate supporting said metallic base ember and having a hole adjacent said base member through which said output beam may pass.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 159 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said one metallic member is a base member and the other of said metallic members is a contact terminal having a base portion, wherein said connecting member is a sheathed conductor disposed between said base member and said base portion, and wherein said arrangement further comprises a base plate supporting said metallic base ember and having a hole adjacent said base member through which said output beam may pass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 50 words
The arrangement according to claim 8, further comprising a terminal board in which said contact terminal is disposed with said base portion being exposed on one side of said terminal board and an opposite contact end of said contact terminal being exposed on an opposite side of said terminal board.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 21 words
The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of sets of base members, contact terminals and sheathed conductors are provided.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 151 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein one of said metallic members includes a longitudinally extending busbar and the other of said metallic members includes a cover adapted to cover a portion of said busbar and wherein said connecting member includes a sheathed cable having a plurality of exposed wires arranged along said portion of said busbar so as to be retained between said cover and said busbar.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 151 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein one of said metallic members includes a longitudinally extending busbar and the other of said metallic members includes a cover adapted to cover a portion of said busbar and wherein said connecting member includes a sheathed cable having a plurality of exposed wires arranged along said portion of said busbar so as to be retained between said cover and said busbar.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 17 words
The arrangement to claim 11, wherein said busbar is rectangular in shape and said cover is U-shaped.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 113 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrically and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said connecting member and said metallic members are busbars, one of said metallic members comprising an outwardly folded-back portion of said connecting member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 113 words
An arrangement for establishing an electrically and mechanical connection between electrically conductive members, comprising: an electrically conductive connecting member; two electrically conductive metallic members disposed opposite each other, flanking said connecting member, and clamping said connecting member therebetween; and a source of laser energy oriented such that an output beam therefrom is incident on an outer surface of one of said metallic members and directed towards the underlying connecting member to establish a weld connection at zones of mutual contact between said connecting member and said respective metallic members, wherein said connecting member and said metallic members are busbars, one of said metallic members comprising an outwardly folded-back portion of said connecting member.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 97 words
A method of connecting electrical conductors to one another, comprising the following steps: placing a first conductor between an opposing a pair of second metallic conductors so that said first and second conductors are stacked in a beam radiating direction; and irradiating a laser beam on one of said pair of second conductors substantially in said beam radiating direction so that said beam is directed toward said first conductor without being emitted directly on said first conductor such that said conductors are welded together, wherein said first conductor is a conductor including a plurality of conducting wires.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 97 words
A method of connecting electrical conductors to one another, comprising the following steps: placing a first conductor between an opposing a pair of second metallic conductors so that said first and second conductors are stacked in a beam radiating direction; and irradiating a laser beam on one of said pair of second conductors substantially in said beam radiating direction so that said beam is directed toward said first conductor without being emitted directly on said first conductor such that said conductors are welded together, wherein said first conductor is a conductor including a plurality of conducting wires.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 93 words
A method of connecting electrical conductors to one another, comprising the following steps: placing a first conductor between an opposing pair of second metallic conductors so that said first and second conductors are stacked in a beam radiating direction; and irradiating a laser beam on one of said pair of second conductors substantially in said beam radiating direction so that said beam is directed toward said first conductor without being emitted directly on said first conductor such that said conductors are welded together, wherein said pair of second conductors are conductive metallic plates.
Claim 25
Independent Claim 93 words
A method of connecting electrical conductors to one another, comprising the following steps: placing a first conductor between an opposing pair of second metallic conductors so that said first and second conductors are stacked in a beam radiating direction; and irradiating a laser beam on one of said pair of second conductors substantially in said beam radiating direction so that said beam is directed toward said first conductor without being emitted directly on said first conductor such that said conductors are welded together, wherein said pair of second conductors are conductive metallic plates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of forming said conductive metallic plates so as to be integral to each other including a base plate interconnecting said metallic plates.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 63 words
A method of connecting electrical conductors to one another, comprising the following steps placing a first conductor between an opposing pair of conductive metallic plates; irradiating a laser beam on one of said pair of conductive metallic plates in a direction of said conductor such that said conductor and said metallic plates are welded together; and securing said metallic plates to one another.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 63 words
A method of connecting electrical conductors to one another, comprising the following steps placing a first conductor between an opposing pair of conductive metallic plates; irradiating a laser beam on one of said pair of conductive metallic plates in a direction of said conductor such that said conductor and said metallic plates are welded together; and securing said metallic plates to one another.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 68 words
A method of connecting electrical conductors to one another, comprising the following steps: placing a first conductor between an opposing pair of second metallic conductors; irradiating a laser beam on one of said pair of second conductors substantially in a direction of said first conductor such that said conductors are welded together; and arranging said first conductor on a surface of a sheet made of an insulating resin.
Claim 30
Independent Claim 68 words
A method of connecting electrical conductors to one another, comprising the following steps: placing a first conductor between an opposing pair of second metallic conductors; irradiating a laser beam on one of said pair of second conductors substantially in a direction of said first conductor such that said conductors are welded together; and arranging said first conductor on a surface of a sheet made of an insulating resin.
Claim 31
Independent Claim 93 words
A method of connecting a first electrical conductor including a plurality of conducting wires to a second electrical conductor, comprising the following steps: arranging said plurality of wires around a periphery of said second conductor; placing a conductive metallic cover over said second conductor so as to sandwich said plurality of wires therebetween; and irradiating a laser beam on said cover in a direction of said plurality of wires so that a portion of said cover is melted so as to fuse said wires, said second conductor and said cover to each other.
Claim 32
Independent Claim 93 words
A method of connecting a first electrical conductor including a plurality of conducting wires to a second electrical conductor, comprising the following steps: arranging said plurality of wires around a periphery of said second conductor; placing a conductive metallic cover over said second conductor so as to sandwich said plurality of wires therebetween; and irradiating a laser beam on said cover in a direction of said plurality of wires so that a portion of said cover is melted so as to fuse said wires, said second conductor and said cover to each other.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3665367A Cited
US3610874A Cited
JPS48103438A Cited
JPS57153419A Cited
JPS5978787A Cited
JPS60210383A Cited
US4966565A Cited
US4889275A Cited
US4978835A Cited
US5164566A Cited
US5055652A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-04-04 1997-10-04 1998-04-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-04-04 2001-10-04 2002-04-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-04-04 2005-10-04 2006-04-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag