公开(公告)号：US12073555B2

公开(公告)日：2024-08-27

申请号：US17666939

申请日：2022-02-08

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Zerun Ma ,  Guangze Li ,  Hui-ping Wang ,  Yan Cai ,  Blair E. Carlson

IPC: G06T7/00 ,  G01B11/22 ,  G01N21/95 ,  G01N33/207 ,  G06T7/521 ,  H04N23/56 ,  H04N23/90

CPC classification number: G06T7/001 ,  G01B11/22 ,  G01N21/95 ,  G01N33/207 ,  G06T7/521 ,  H04N23/56 ,  H04N23/90 ,  G06T2207/20081

Abstract: A system for inspecting a reflective surface includes a first imaging assembly configured to take a first image of the reflective surface. The first image includes depth information. The system also includes a second imaging assembly configured to take a second image of the reflective surface. The second image includes contrast information. The system further includes a processor configured to acquire the first image and the second image, estimate a depth profile of the surface based on the depth information, correlate the depth profile with the second image, and identify a feature of the reflective surface based on the correlation.

公开(公告)号：US20230214988A1

公开(公告)日：2023-07-06

申请号：US17666939

申请日：2022-02-08

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Zerun Ma ,  Guangze Li ,  Hui-ping Wang ,  Yan Cai ,  Blair E. Carlson

IPC: G06T7/00 ,  G01B11/22 ,  G01N33/207 ,  G01N21/95 ,  G06T7/521 ,  H04N5/247 ,  H04N5/225

CPC classification number: G06T7/001 ,  G01B11/22 ,  G01N33/207 ,  G01N21/95 ,  G06T7/521 ,  H04N5/247 ,  H04N5/2256 ,  G06T2207/20081

Abstract: A system for inspecting a reflective surface includes a first imaging assembly configured to take a first image of the reflective surface, the first image including depth information, a second imaging assembly configured to take a second image of the reflective surface, the second image including contrast information, and a processor configured to acquire the first image and the second image. The processor is configured to perform: estimating a depth profile of the surface based on the depth information, correlating the depth profile with the second image, and identifying a feature of the reflective surface based on the correlation.

公开(公告)号：US11524358B2

公开(公告)日：2022-12-13

申请号：US16183453

申请日：2018-11-07

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  Amberlee S. Haselhuhn ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  Michael J. Karagoulis

IPC: B23K11/11 ,  F16B5/08 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K103/10 ,  B23K103/04

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a steel workpiece and an aluminum workpiece includes adhering an aluminum patch to faying surface of a steel workpiece, positioning an aluminum workpiece over the aluminum patch and the steel workpiece to assemble a workpiece stack-up, passing an electric current through the workpiece stack-up to create a molten aluminum weld pool, and terminating passage of the electric current to solidify the molten aluminum weld pool into a weld joint that bonds the steel and aluminum workpieces together through the aluminum patch. A workpiece stack-up having a weld joint that bonds an aluminum workpiece and a steel workpiece together through an aluminum patch is also disclosed. The weld joint establishes a bonding interface with the faying surface of the steel workpiece, and the aluminum patch is adhered to the faying surface of the steel workpiece around the weld joint.

公开(公告)号：US20220097172A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-31

申请号：US17036786

申请日：2020-09-29

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC ,  Penn State Research Foundation

Inventor： Nannan Chen ,  Joshua L. Solomon ,  Hui-Ping Wang ,  Zixuan Wan ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  Paulina G. Torres Guzman

IPC: B23K26/24 ,  B23K26/70

Abstract: A laser welded assembly and method of making. The laser welded assembly includes a first work piece having a thickness (T1) defined between an external surface and a faying surface; a second work piece having a thickness (T2) defined between an external surface and a faying surface of the second work piece; a weld seam having a core fusion zone extending from the external surface of the first work piece through the faying interface and at least partially into the thickness (T2) of the second work piece; and a protruding fusion zone extending laterally from the core fusion zone adjacent to the external surface of the first work piece. The protruding fusion zone may be formed by post-heating or concurrently with the core fusion zone.

公开(公告)号：US11132986B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-28

申请号：US16213135

申请日：2018-12-07

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Anil K. Sachdev ,  Raja K. Mishra ,  Jon T. Carter ,  Tyson W. Brown ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  David R. Sigler ,  Robert N. Saje ,  Matthew P. Simonin

IPC: B32B7/05 ,  G10K11/168 ,  B32B7/02 ,  B32B15/04 ,  B32B15/18 ,  B32B15/20 ,  B32B27/32 ,  B21D26/021 ,  B21D35/00 ,  B32B15/01 ,  B32B27/08 ,  B60R7/06 ,  B60R13/08 ,  B62D21/00 ,  B62D25/04 ,  B62D25/10 ,  F16M13/02 ,  B60R13/02 ,  B32B37/00

Abstract: A panel assembly is formed by a plurality of bonds between two sheet materials in a face to face relationship to form a preform. The plurality of bonds define a closed perimeter region between the two sheet materials and an open perimeter region between the two sheet materials. The preform may be formed into a predefined shape. Pressurized fluid is applied through an inlet into the open perimeter region to expand the preform. The pressurized fluid expands the open perimeter region such that the two sheet materials expand in an opposing direction, thereby defining an expanded open perimeter region. The closed perimeter region between the two sheet materials remains vacant of the pressurized fluid such that the closed perimeter region is not expanded. The expanded open perimeter region is filled with a filler material for improving a performance characteristic of the panel assembly, e.g., strength, sound absorption, or stiffness.

公开(公告)号：US10981244B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-20

申请号：US16181809

申请日：2018-11-06

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Hui-ping Wang ,  David R. Sigler ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  Amberlee S. Haselhuhn ,  Michael J. Karagoulis

IPC: B23K11/30 ,  B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/16 ,  B23K11/18 ,  B23K103/20 ,  B23K101/00 ,  B23K103/04 ,  B23K101/18

Abstract: A welding electrode includes a weld face that has a convex base weld face surface and a plurality of ringed ridges that are radially spaced apart on the base weld face surface and surround a central weld face axis. The plurality of ringed ridges including an innermost ringed ridge and an outermost ringed ridge. The innermost ringed ridge is located closest to the central weld face axis and rises above a central portion of the base weld face surface, and the outermost ringed ridge is located farthest from the central weld face axis and rises above an outer peripheral portion of the base weld face surface. At least one of the plurality of ringed ridges is a discontinuous ringed ridge.

公开(公告)号：US10857618B2

公开(公告)日：2020-12-08

申请号：US15907996

申请日：2018-02-28

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  Amberlee S. Haselhuhn ,  Blair E. Carlson

IPC: B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K103/20

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a steel workpiece and one or more aluminum workpieces involves locally stiffening the steel workpiece to resist steel workpiece deformation. The local stiffening of the steel workpiece is achieved by incorporating an electrode receiving wall into the steel workpiece along with one or more integral elevated portions of the steel workpiece that are disposed at least partially around the electrode receiving wall. The electrode receiving wall includes an electrode-contact surface and an opposed interface contact surface. During welding, a weld face of one welding electrode is pressed against the electrode-contact surface of the electrode receiving wall of the steel workpiece, and electric current is momentarily passed between that welding electrode and another welding electrode on the opposite side of the workpiece stack-up to form a weld joint that bonds to the interface contact surface of the electrode receiving wall.

公开(公告)号：US10766095B2

公开(公告)日：2020-09-08

申请号：US15442155

申请日：2017-02-24

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Hui-Ping Wang ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  David R. Sigler ,  Michael J. Karagoulis

IPC: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/16 ,  B23K11/30 ,  B23K103/20 ,  B23K101/34

Abstract: A spot weld may be formed between an aluminum workpiece and an adjacent overlapping steel workpiece with the use of opposed spot welding electrodes that have mating weld faces designed for engagement with the outer surfaces of the workpiece stack-up assembly. The electrode that engages the stack-up assembly proximate the aluminum workpiece includes a central ascending convex surface and the electrode that engages the stack-up assembly proximate the steel workpiece has an annular surface. The mating weld faces of the first and second spot welding electrodes distribute the passing electrical current along a radially outwardly expanding flow path to provide a more uniform temperature distribution over the intended spot weld interface and may also produce a deformed bonding interface within the formed weld joint. Each of these events can beneficially affect the strength of the weld joint.

公开(公告)号：US10675704B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-09

申请号：US15492482

申请日：2017-04-20

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  Michael J. Karagoulis

IPC: B23K11/31 ,  B23K11/30 ,  B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/24 ,  B23K103/04 ,  B23K103/10 ,  B23K103/20 ,  B23K101/18 ,  B23K101/00

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding workpiece stack-ups of different combinations of metal workpieces with a single weld gun using the same set of welding electrodes is disclosed. In this method, a set of opposed welding electrodes that include an original shape and oxide-disrupting structural features are used to resistance spot weld at least two of the following types of workpiece stack-ups in a particular sequence: (1) a workpiece stack-up of two or more aluminum workpieces; (2) a workpiece stack-up that includes an aluminum workpiece and an adjacent steel workpiece; and (3) a workpiece stack-up of two or more steel workpieces. The spot welding sequence calls for completing all of the aluminum-to-aluminum spot welds and/or all of the steel-to-steel spot welds last.

公开(公告)号：US20190262930A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-29

申请号：US15907996

申请日：2018-02-28

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  Amberlee S. Haselhuhn ,  Blair E. Carlson

IPC: B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/20

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a steel workpiece and one or more aluminum workpieces involves locally stiffening the steel workpiece to resist steel workpiece deformation. The local stiffening of the steel workpiece is achieved by incorporating an electrode receiving wall into the steel workpiece along with one or more integral elevated portions of the steel workpiece that are disposed at least partially around the electrode receiving wall. The electrode receiving wall includes an electrode-contact surface and an opposed interface contact surface. During welding, a weld face of one welding electrode is pressed against the electrode-contact surface of the electrode receiving wall of the steel workpiece, and electric current is momentarily passed between that welding electrode and another welding electrode on the opposite side of the workpiece stack-up to form a weld joint that bonds to the interface contact surface of the electrode receiving wall.