Method and apparatus for checking a connection during a laser-based connecting method
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorChristoph Arndt Dr habil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for checking a connection region formed during a joining process of at least two metal components via a laser. The method includes producing a photographic recording of the connection region being formed, transforming the photographic recording, creating at least two image strips in the photographic recording, and assessing the at least two image strips. An apparatus for carrying out the method is further provided.
Claims19
A method for checking a connection region produced by a laser between at least two metal components, the method comprising:
- joining the at least two metal components together by the laser;
- providing a photographic recording of the connection region between the at least two metal components that has been formed during the joining of the at least two metal components;
- transforming the photographic recording;
- creating at least two image strips in the photographic recording, wherein the at least two image strips are arranged vertically with respect to a longitudinal orientation of the connecting region;
- and
- assessing the at least two image strips, wherein:
- each image strip of the at least two image strips is divided into at least three strip regions,
- a first strip region of the at least three strip regions is assigned to a first metal component of the at least two metal components,
- a second strip region of the at least three strip regions is assigned to the connecting region, and
- a third strip region of the at least three strip regions is assigned to a second metal component of the at least two metal components.
An apparatus for checking a connection region of at least two metal components, the apparatus comprising:
- a laser device configured to join the at least two metal components together to form the connection region of the at least two metal components;
- a camera device configured to provide a photographic recording of the connection region being formed by the laser;
- and
- a control device in communication with the camera device, the control device comprising one or more processors and a nontransitory computer-readable medium including instructions that are executable by the one or more processors, wherein the instructions include:
- transforming the photographic recording;
- creating at least two image strips in the photographic recording, wherein the at least two image strips are arranged vertically with respect to a longitudinal orientation of the connecting region;
- and
- assessing the at least two image strips, wherein:
- each image strip of the at least two image strips is divided into at least three strip regions,
- a first strip region of the at least three strip regions is assigned to a first metal component of the at least two metal components,
- a second strip region of the at least three strip regions is assigned to the connecting region, and
- a third strip region of the at least three strip regions is assigned to a second metal component of the at least two metal components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.