A method is described for closing off a micromechanical device by laser melting, having the steps: (A) providing a micromechanical device having an access channel that has a collar at an external opening; (B) closing off the external opening of the access channel by laser irradiation of the collar, the collar being at least partly melted and the external opening being closed with melt made of a material of the collar. Also described is a micromechanical device having a laser melt closure, in particular produced by the method according to the present invention, the micromechanical device having an access channel that has a collar at an external opening, the external opening of the access channel being closed by a melt closure made of a material of the collar.

Various embodiments of a hermetic assembly and a method of forming such assembly are disclosed. The hermetic assembly includes a dielectric substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface, a patterned layer connected to the first major surface of the dielectric substrate by a laser bond, and a ferrule having a body and a flange extending from the body. The flange is welded to a welding portion of the patterned layer that is disposed between the flange and the first major surface of the dielectric substrate such that the ferrule is hermetically sealed to the dielectric substrate.

A system and method for laser sealing an edge portion of a covering of an architecture-structure covering is disclosed. In one embodiment, after cutting a covering of an architectural-structure covering to an appropriate size, lasering the cut edge portions or surfaces of the covering to seal the cut edge portions or surfaces of the covering to prevent fraying. The beam of the laser may be positioned to contact the cut edge portions or surfaces of the covering in a plane of the fabric. Subsequently, the beam of the laser scans or moves across the surface of the cut edge portion of the covering. In use, the beam of the laser is arranged and configured to apply heat to the surface of the fabric material at discrete points or spots to vaporize any loose fibers located along the cut edge portion of the covering.

A method for introducing a protective gas into an annular space of a receiver tube, in particular for solar collectors, is provided where the annular space is formed at least by one outer cladding tube and an inner absorber tube of the receiver tube and the outer cladding tube is connected to the absorber tube by a wall. The method includes producing an opening that penetrates the cladding tube or the wall, introducing protective gas through the opening into the annular space, and subsequently closing the opening.

A pressing system for a laser joining system for pressing together parts to be joined (storage cell, base plate) in the area of a joining point, includes a receptacle for accommodating the parts to be joined, a pressing element for locally pressing together the parts to be joined, in the area of the joining point, and a positioning system for the relative positioning of the pressing element and the receptacle and for pressing together the parts to be joined, during the joining process. The positioning system includes a parallel positioning device for the relative positioning of the receptacle and the pressing element in parallel to a plane (E), and an oblique positioning device for the relative positioning of the pressing element and the receptacle obliquely, in particular transversely, with respect to the plane (E) and for pressing together the parts to be joined, during the joining process.

A method for the manufacture of a cold-rolled steel sheet of thickness e.sub.f between 0.5 mm and 3 mm is provided. At least two hot-rolled sheets of thickness e.sub.i are supplied and butt welded, so as to create a welded joint (S1) with a direction perpendicular to the direction of hot rolling. The at least two hot-rolled sheets are pickled by continuous passage through a bath, then the assembly is cold rolled, in a step (L1), to an intermediate thickness e.sub.int, the direction of cold rolling (DL.sub.1) coinciding with the direction of hot rolling. The cold rolling is carried out with a reduction ratio

[00001]${\mathrm{.Math.}}_1=\mathrm{Ln}\left(\frac{e_i}{e_{\mathrm{int}}}\right)$

such that:

[00002]$0.3.Math.5\frac{\mathrm{Ln}.Math..Math.\left(\frac{\mathrm{ei}}{e.Math..Math.\mathrm{int}}\right)}{\mathrm{Ln}.Math..Math.\left(\frac{e.Math.i}{e.Math.f}\right)}0.6.Math.5,$

then the welded joint (S1) is removed so as to obtain at least two intermediate cold-rolled sheets. Then the two intermediate cold-rolled sheets are butt welded, so as to create a welded joint (S2), the direction of which is perpendicular to the direction of hot rolling, then the assembly of the at least two intermediate cold-rolled and welded sheets is cold-rolled, in a step (L2), to the final thickness e.sub.f, the direction (DL.sub.2) of the cold rolling step (L2) coinciding with the direction of rolling (DL.sub.1).

A joint structure comprises a light-absorbable member having at least one opening portion and a light-permeable member superposed on the light-absorbable member so as to cover the opening portion, wherein an annular weld part is formed so as to enclose the opening portion and join the light-absorbable member and the light-permeable member, and the light-permeable member is formed into a thin sheet adhering to the light-absorbable member by deforming at a depressurized state of an interior of the opening portion before the formation of the annular weld part.

A joint structure comprises a light-absorbable member having at least one opening portion and a light-permeable member superposed on the light-absorbable member so as to cover the opening portion, wherein a first annular weld part is formed so as to enclose the opening portion and join the light-absorbable member and the light-permeable member, and a second dot-like weld part(s) joining the light-absorbable member and the light-permeable member is/are formed in a position adjacent to the first weld part.

One aspect is a feedthrough for a medical implantable device including a ferrule having a metal that is configured to be welded to a case of the implantable device. The ferrule substantially surrounds an insulator and shares an interface therewith, the insulator having a glass or ceramic material. Conductive elements are formed through the insulator providing an electrically conductive path through the insulator. There is no braze or solder at the interface between the ferrule and the insulator and that there is no braze or solder adjacent the conductive elements.

A laser-welded, sealed electronic device housing and related systems and methods are provided. The sealed housing includes a first substrate having a first surface and a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface. The sealed housing includes a recess formed in the first substrate. The recess faces the second surface such that the second surface and the recess define a chamber. A laser weld bonds the first surface to the second surface, and the laser weld surrounds the chamber. A functional film is supported by at least one of the first surface and the second surface, and the functional film extends from the chamber and across the laser weld. In exemplary arrangements the device is an OLED device and the functional film form conductive leads in communication with the OLED.