A cell connector for making electrically conductive contact with a plurality of battery cell terminals comprises a plurality of sections positioned next to each other including a plurality of first sections composed of an electrically conductive metal material, and at least one second section composed of an electrically insulating plastic. The at least one second section is positioned between a respective two of the plurality of first sections. The present disclosure further relates to a method for producing a cell connector, in which the at least one second section is connected to the at least two first sections by means of a nano-moulding method. The present disclosure furthermore relates to a battery module having a plurality of battery cells with terminals connected by at least one cell connector.

A cell connector for making electrically conductive contact with a plurality of battery cell terminals comprises a plurality of sections positioned next to each other including a plurality of first sections composed of an electrically conductive metal material, and at least one second section composed of an electrically insulating plastic. The at least one second section is positioned between a respective two of the plurality of first sections. The present disclosure further relates to a method for producing a cell connector, in which the at least one second section is connected to the at least two first sections by means of a nano-moulding method. The present disclosure furthermore relates to a battery module having a plurality of battery cells with terminals connected by at least one cell connector.

The invention relates to a method of assembling two sheet metal elements (1, 1′), involving applying a bead of adhesive to a first element, assembling the second sheet metal element on the first and securing it by spot welds to hold the two sheet metal elements stationary before curing the adhesive. The invention consists in the fact that the bead of adhesive is applied discontinuously to the first sheet metal element (1) along an adhesive line and then, once the second sheet metal element (1′) has been pressed against the first, the two elements (1, 1′) are held fixed together by creating spot welds on sections of the discontinuous adhesive line that are devoid of adhesive.

Irradiation with a laser beam is started at a welding start position of two members that are stacked together, and the output of the laser beam is set so that spatter is not generated. After the start of the irradiation, the output of the laser beam is gradually increased so that a penetration depth from an irradiated edge to a deeper location between abutting surfaces of the two members falls within a predetermined penetration depth range while the laser beam is not moved. After the output of the laser beam is gradually increased, the laser beam is moved toward a welding end position so that the penetration depth is maintained within the penetration depth range.

A method of welding a first metal plate and a second metal plate that is thicker than the first plate, by a laser beam. The first plate and the second plate are disposed to overlap one another in a thickness direction. In a first laser irradiation step, the laser beam is emitted at the first plate, to form an initial nugget including a front-side nugget portion in the first plate, a back-side nugget portion in the second plate and having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the front-side nugget portion, and an annular flat surface portion existing between the front-side nugget portion and the back-side nugget portion. In a subsequent laser irradiation step, the laser beam is emitted again at the initial nugget after the initial nugget is solidified, thereby increasing the diameter of the back-side nugget portion.

A method of welding a first metal plate and a second metal plate that is thicker than the first plate, by a laser beam. The first plate and the second plate are disposed to overlap one another in a thickness direction. In a first laser irradiation step, the laser beam is emitted at the first plate, to form an initial nugget including a front-side nugget portion in the first plate, a back-side nugget portion in the second plate and having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the front-side nugget portion, and an annular flat surface portion existing between the front-side nugget portion and the back-side nugget portion. In a subsequent laser irradiation step, the laser beam is emitted again at the initial nugget after the initial nugget is solidified, thereby increasing the diameter of the back-side nugget portion.

A method, apparatus, and system are provided to monitor and characterize the dynamics of a phase change region (PCR) created during laser welding, specifically keyhole welding, and other material modification processes, using low-coherence interferometry. By directing a measurement beam to multiple locations within and overlapping with the PCR, the system, apparatus, and method are used to determine, in real time, spatial and temporal characteristics of the weld such as keyhole depth, length, width, shape and whether the keyhole is unstable, closes or collapses. This information is important in determining the quality and material properties of a completed finished weld. It can also be used with feedback to modify the material modification process in real time.

A method, apparatus, and system are provided to monitor and characterize the dynamics of a phase change region (PCR) created during laser welding, specifically keyhole welding, and other material modification processes, using low-coherence interferometry. By directing a measurement beam to multiple locations within and overlapping with the PCR, the system, apparatus, and method are used to determine, in real time, spatial and temporal characteristics of the weld such as keyhole depth, length, width, shape and whether the keyhole is unstable, closes or collapses. This information is important in determining the quality and material properties of a completed finished weld. It can also be used with feedback to modify the material modification process in real time.

A resin pipe 30 and a resin member 31 are fixed to a setting portion 5 provided on the front side of a base 6, and a timing pulley 13 which is provided on the back side of the base 6 and to which a light emission unit 3 is attached is rotated. As a result, the light emission unit 3 applies laser light 20 to a junction 32 between the resin pipe 30 and the resin member 31 while revolving around the junction 32. This makes it easy to fuse and join the entire outer circumferential surface of the resin pipe 30 with the entire inner circumferential surface of the resin member 31, which are variously shaped and sized.

A resin pipe 30 and a resin member 31 are fixed to a setting portion 5 provided on the front side of a base 6, and a timing pulley 13 which is provided on the back side of the base 6 and to which a light emission unit 3 is attached is rotated. As a result, the light emission unit 3 applies laser light 20 to a junction 32 between the resin pipe 30 and the resin member 31 while revolving around the junction 32. This makes it easy to fuse and join the entire outer circumferential surface of the resin pipe 30 with the entire inner circumferential surface of the resin member 31, which are variously shaped and sized.