# US 11,029,254 B2 · Welding monitoring system and welding monitoring method

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- Number: US 11,029,254 B2
- Document ID: US11029254B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/032,371
- Filed: 2018-07-11
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-10-20
- Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd.
- Applicants: Hitachi, Ltd.
- Inventors: Ryoji Nakagawa; Hisashi Endou; Hiroshi Yoshikawa; Toshihiro Yamada; Nobuhiro Kakeno
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029254B2

## CPC

- G01N 21/8806: {Specially adapted optical and illumination features}
- B23K 31/125: {Weld quality monitoring}
- B23K 37/04: for holding or positioning work
- G01N 2201/1053: System of scan mirrors for composite motion of beam
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

## Abstract

There are provided a welding monitoring system which can multidimensionally monitor a welding portion with high accuracy and a monitoring method thereof, by using a relatively simple configuration. There is provided a welding monitoring system which monitors a subject, including: a mechanical portion; and an imaging portion, in which the mechanical portion includes a transport arm which transports the subject, a subject holding portion which holds the subject, and an energizing device which causes welding with respect to the subject to be performed, and in which the imaging portion includes imaging means for obtaining imaging data of the subject, a data recording portion which records the imaging data, an analyzing portion which extracts predetermined characteristics from the imaging data, a comparison determination portion which compares the extracted characteristics and normal characteristics to each other to determine the presence or absence of abnormality, and a determination result output portion which outputs a determination result by the comparison determination portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A welding monitoring method for monitoring a subject, comprising:
imaging the subject before, during, and after welding, wherein before welding the subject is transported and attached to a subject holder comprising a first support and a second support configured to hold the welding subject in place during imaging, and wherein after welding the subject is detached and transported from the subject holder,
wherein the imaging is performed by a camera including a light receiving surface to which a relative position with respect to the first support is fixed during imaging, a first mirror to which the relative position with respect to the first support is fixed during imaging, and a second mirror to which a relative position with respect to the second support is fixed during imaging, and wherein the first mirror and the second mirror are disposed such that the subject remains in an imaging viewing field of the camera during imaging,
wherein the second support moves the subject toward a position determined in advance in the first support, and images the subject in a state where the subject is in contact with both of the first support and the second support during imaging, and
wherein the imaging comprises adjusting an optical path using an optical path length adjustment portion for focusing, the optical path length adjustment portion being configured of the first and second mirrors on an optical path to the light receiving surface from the subject, the optical path length adjustment portion being formed of transparent material having a refractive index is equal to or greater than 1;
extracting predetermined characteristics from each piece of imaging data;
determining the presence or absence of abnormality by comparing the extracted characteristics and normal characteristics to each other; and
notifying a managing system or a manager of the determined result.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The welding monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising transporting the subject to and from the subject holder by a transport arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The welding monitoring method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the length of the optical path focuses light between the light receiving surface and the subject.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The welding monitoring method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the length of the optical path includes extending the length of the optical path by bending the optical path.