# US 2023/0054903 A1 · Joint structure of resin members, resin housing of electrical equipment, and laser welding method

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- Number: US 2023/0054903 A1
- Document ID: US20230054903A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/792,518
- Filed: 2020-04-27
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2020-04-27
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Inventors: Takashi OHARA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230054903A1

## CPC

- B29C 65/1635: {at least passing through one of the parts to be joined, i.e. laser transmission welding}
- G01S 7/027: {Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness}
- G01S 7/032: {Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems}
- H01Q 1/42: Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
- H05K 5/00: Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus
- B29C 66/11: {Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section (B29C66/12 and subgroups take precedence)}
- Y10T 428/19: Sheets or webs edge spliced or joined
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A first resin member having laser light absorbing property and a second resin member having laser light transmitting property are joined together through laser welding. A pressure application step of applying pressures to contact boundary surfaces of the first resin member and the second resin member in upward and downward directions includes warping, along a first welding portion, a one end portion side of the second resin member such that the warping occurs from a follow-up origin at a boundary between a thin portion and a thick base portion of the second resin member. Consequently, a gap between the contact boundary surfaces that is generated owing to a curved recess in the first welding portion can be eliminated, whereby imperfection of welding is ameliorated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A resin member joint structure in which a first resin member and a second resin member have been joined together through welding, wherein
the first resin member includes a first welding portion,
the second resin member includes a plate-shaped portion which has two main surfaces opposite to each other,
a second welding portion joined to the first welding portion is located at one end portion of one main surface out of the main surfaces, and
a follow-up origin is provided on one or each of the two main surfaces of the second resin member such that, from the follow-up origin, the one end portion side on which the second welding portion is located is warped along the first welding portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The resin member joint structure according to claim 1, wherein
the second resin member includes, on the one end portion side of the plate-shaped portion, a thin portion having a plate thickness smaller than a plate thickness of another portion of the plate-shaped portion,
the second welding portion is located in the thin portion, and
the follow-up origin is present at a boundary between the thin portion and the other portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The resin member joint structure according to claim 2, wherein if
the plate thickness of the thin portion of the plate-shaped portion is defined as T1, and
the plate thickness of the other portion is defined as T2, T1≤T2×2/3 is satisfied.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The resin member joint structure according to claim 2, wherein
if, in a plane parallel to the main surfaces of the second resin member,
a direction from a center side of the second resin member toward the one end portion side is defined as an X direction,
a distance from the follow-up origin to the first resin member is defined as L1, and
a width in the X direction of the first welding portion is defined as T3, L1≥T3 is satisfied.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The resin member joint structure according to claim 1, wherein
the second resin member includes a recess groove in one or each of the two main surfaces,
the recess groove is located at a position that is farther from the one end portion than the second welding portion is, and
the follow-up origin is present inside the recess groove.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The resin member joint structure according to claim 5, wherein
if, in a plane parallel to the main surfaces of the second resin member,
a direction from a center side of the second resin member toward the one end portion side is defined as an X direction,
a distance from the follow-up origin to the first resin member is defined as L2, and
a width in the X direction of the first welding portion is defined as T3, L2≥T3 is satisfied.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The resin member joint structure according to claim 5, wherein the recess groove is provided at each of two or more positions in either one or each of the two main surfaces.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The resin member joint structure according to claim 1, wherein the first resin member includes, on one end portion thereof, a rib projecting in a direction toward the second resin member, and includes the first welding portion at a top portion of the rib.

### Claim 9

A resin member joint structure in which a first resin member and a second resin member have been joined together through welding, wherein
the first resin member includes, on one end portion thereof, a rib projecting in a direction toward the second resin member, and includes a first welding portion at a top portion of the rib,
the second resin member includes a plate-shaped portion which has two main surfaces opposite to each other, and
a second welding portion joined to the first welding portion is located at one end portion of one main surface out of the main surfaces.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The resin member joint structure according to claim 1, wherein
the first resin member has laser light absorbing property, and
the second resin member has laser light transmitting property.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The resin member joint structure according to claim 1, the first resin member and the second resin member forming a box-shaped housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The resin member joint structure according to claim 11, the box-shaped housing accommodating therein an electrical part.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The resin member joint structure according to claim 12, wherein the electrical part is a millimeter wave radar.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A resin housing of electrical equipment, the resin housing having the resin member joint structure according to claim 1, the resin housing comprising:
the first resin member; and
the second resin member, wherein
electrical equipment is accommodated.

### Claim 15

A laser welding method for joining together a first resin member having laser light absorbing property and a second resin member having laser light transmitting property through laser welding, the laser welding method comprising:
preparing the first resin member including a first welding portion and the second resin member including a plate-shaped portion which has two main surfaces opposite to each other, and
placing, on an upper side of the first welding portion, a second welding portion located at one end portion of one main surface out of the main surfaces of the second resin member, to bring the second welding portion into contact with the upper side;
applying pressures to contact boundary surfaces of the first welding portion and the second welding portion in upward and downward directions; and
applying laser light to the first welding portion from the second resin member side, to weld the first welding portion to the second welding portion, wherein
warping, along the first welding portion, the one end portion side of the second resin member such that the warping occurs from a follow-up origin provided on one or each of the two main surfaces, to eliminate a gap between the contact boundary surfaces, when applying the pressure.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The laser welding method according to claim 15, wherein
the second resin member includes, on the one end portion side of the plate-shaped portion, a thin portion having a plate thickness smaller than a plate thickness of another portion of the plate-shaped portion,
the second welding portion is located in the thin portion, and
the follow-up origin is present at a boundary between the thin portion and the other portion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The laser welding method according to claim 15, wherein
the second resin member includes a recess groove in one or each of the two main surfaces,
the recess groove is located at a position that is farther from the one end portion than the second welding portion is, and
the follow-up origin is present inside the recess groove.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The laser welding method according to claim 15, wherein the first resin member includes, on one end portion thereof, a rib projecting in a direction toward the second resin member, and includes the first welding portion at a top portion of the rib.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The laser welding method according to claim 15,
the first resin member and the second resin member forming a box-shaped housing,
the laser welding method being applied to welding outer peripheral portions of the box-shaped housing.