Ultrasonic micro-array imaging system
AssigneeTessonics Corporation
InventorsRoman Gr. Maev, Andrew Ouellette, Andriy Chertov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spot-welding electrode assembly includes an electrode, an electrode cap at an outer end of the electrode, and a plurality of transducer elements positioned inward of the electrode cap. The transducer elements may be micro-elements. A method for monitoring a weld formed by a spot-welder includes passing current from an electrode assembly through a stack-up, transmitting an ultrasonic wave from each of a plurality of sources in the electrode assembly to a plurality of points in the stack-up, and monitoring the ultrasonic waves to monitor the weld formation.
Claims29
A spot-welding electrode assembly comprising:
- an electrode inward of a front wall of the electrode assembly;
- and
- a plurality of transducer elements positioned inward of the front wall of the electrode assembly.
A spot-welding electrode assembly comprising:
- an electrode;
- and
- a plurality of transducer elements positioned inward of a front wall of the electrode assembly, wherein the plurality of transducer elements includes a plurality of micro-elements and wherein each of the plurality of micro-elements is configured to generate a wave having a wavelength approximately equal to a length and to a width of each micro-element.
A spot-welding electrode assembly comprising:
- an electrode;
- and
- a plurality of transducer elements positioned inward of a front wall of the electrode assembly, wherein the plurality of transducer elements is a plurality of micro-elements each configured to generate a wave having a wavelength, and wherein each of the plurality of micro-elements has a length and a width each equal to or less than approximately ten times the wavelength.
A method for monitoring a weld formed by a spot-welder including:
- a) passing current from an electrode assembly through a stack-up;
- b) transmitting an ultrasonic wave from each of a plurality of sources in the electrode assembly toward a plurality of points in the stack-up;
- and
- c) monitoring the ultrasonic waves after step b).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.