Method for welding the surfaces of materials

• US 6,501,044 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Institut Fur Angewandte Photovoltaik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Institut Fur Angewandte Photovoltaik GmbH
• Inventors: Klockhaus, Matthias, Jestel, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Heinrich, Samuel M.
• Application Number:
  US09/693,814
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.63, 219/121.64, 219/121.65, 219/121.66, 65/43, 65/591
• US Class Current: 219/121.64
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 23/0025 by a laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 27/044 of glass, glass-ceramic or ceramic material only
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 27/06 Joining glass to glass by processes other than fusing fusing C03B23/20; units for use as elements for closing wall or like openings and comprising two or more parallel glass panes in spaced relationship, the panes being permanently secured together E06B3/66

Abstract

A method for welding the surfaces of materials, of which at least one is glass, during which the energy that is required for the welding process is provided by with a laser beam, characterized by the fact that an intermediate sealing glass is applied between the surfaces that are to be welded and that the laser beam is adjusted in such a way that only the intermediate sealing glass melts.

Claims

1. A method for welding materials, comprising

providing a first object having a first surface;

providing a second object having a second surface;

arranging an argental intermediate sealing glass on at least a portion of at least one of said first surface and said second surface;

arranging said first object on said second object such that said at least a portion of at least one of said first surface and said second surface faces at least a portion of the other of said first surface and said second surface and said argental intermediate sealing glass is between said at least a portion of said first surface and a portion of said second surface;

heating at least a portion of said argental intermediate sealing glass to its melting point using a laser beam, wherein the laser beam is adjusted such that only the argental intermediate sealing glass is melted, and

the first surface is glass.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the intermediate sealing glass is printed onto said at least a portion of at least one of said first surface and said second surface.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the material of the second surface is glass or metal.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the material of the second surface is glass or metal.