The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 28, 2017
Filed:
Sep. 21, 2012
GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);
John Patrick Spicer, Plymouth, MI (US);
Jeffrey A. Abell, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Michael Anthony Wincek, Rochester, MI (US);
Debejyo Chakraborty, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Jennifer Bracey, Holly, MI (US);
Hui Wang, Highland, MI (US);
Peter W. Tavora, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Jeffrey S. Davis, Grand Blanc, MI (US);
Daniel C. Hutchinson, Goodrich, MI (US);
Ronald L. Reardon, Fenton, MI (US);
Shawn Utz, Washington Township, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A system includes a host machine and a status projector. The host machine is in electrical communication with a collection of sensors and with a welding controller that generates control signals for controlling the welding horn. The host machine is configured to execute a method to thereby process the sensory and control signals, as well as predict a quality status of a weld that is formed using the welding horn, including identifying any suspect welds. The host machine then activates the status projector to illuminate the suspect welds. This may occur directly on the welds using a laser projector, or on a surface of the work piece in proximity to the welds. The system and method may be used in the ultrasonic welding of battery tabs of a multi-cell battery pack in a particular embodiment. The welding horn and welding controller may also be part of the system.