Distance measuring apparatus and method, and battery assembling device and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a distance measuring apparatus and method, and a battery assembling device and method. The distance measuring apparatus comprises a photographing device, a processor and a calibration assembly, wherein the photographing device is configured to photograph a picture of a gap appearing during battery assembly, the processor is configured to process the picture to obtain the width of the gap in a first direction, and the calibration assembly is configured to cooperate with the processor to correct photographing parameters of the photographing device and enable the difference between a measured value of the gap and an actual value of the gap to be smaller than a preset value, wherein the measured value of the gap is the width of the gap in the first direction derived from the picture taken by the corrected photographing device and processed by the processor. The battery assembling device comprises the distance measuring apparatus.

Description

Distance measuring device and method, battery assembly equipment and method Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of battery assembly technology, and in particular to a distance measuring device and method, and a battery assembly device and method. Background Art

[0002] Energy conservation and emission reduction are key to the sustainable development of the automotive industry. Electric vehicles, due to their energy-saving and environmentally friendly advantages, have become an important component of the sustainable development of the automotive industry. For electric vehicles, battery technology is a key factor in their development.

[0003] During the battery assembly process, assembly gaps will appear between some components. Accurately measuring the size of the assembly gaps will help improve the safety of subsequent welding connections.

[0004] The above statements are only used to provide background information related to the present application and do not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a distance measuring device and method, and a battery assembly device and method, which can effectively improve the accuracy of gap measurement.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a ranging device, comprising a photographing device, a processor, and a calibration component, wherein the photographing device is configured to photograph a gap occurring during battery assembly, the processor is configured to process the picture to obtain a width of the gap along a first direction, and the calibration component is configured to cooperate with the processor to calibrate photographing parameters of the photographing device, and to make the difference between the measured value of the gap and the actual value of the gap less than a preset value, wherein the measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained from the picture taken by the calibrated photographing device after being processed by the processor.

[0008] By calibrating the camera's parameters before measurement, the calibration component ensures that the gap size measured by the processor after the debugged camera captures the image and is as close to the actual gap value as possible. This effectively improves the measurement accuracy of the measuring device, provides data support for the subsequent welding process, avoids problems such as laser leakage during welding, and improves the reliability and safety of the subsequent welding process. This calibration effectively avoids the inability to obtain the actual gap size from the captured image due to improper camera parameter settings, and also overcomes the influence of product burrs on the gap measurement value.

[0009] In some embodiments, the calibration assembly includes a calibration piece and a clamp, the calibration piece is disposed in the gap, and the clamp is configured to clamp the battery to prevent the calibration piece from falling out of the gap.

[0010] The battery is clamped by a clamp, and the calibration piece is kept from falling out of the gap. At this time, a photographic device is used to take a picture of the gap filled with the calibration piece. After the picture is processed by a processor, the width of the gap along the first direction can be obtained. Based on the fact that the difference between the obtained width of the gap along the first direction and the thickness of the calibration piece along the first direction is less than a preset value, the photographic parameters of the photographic device are adjusted. After the adjustment, the photographic device takes a picture of the gap again and the difference between the gap size obtained after processing and the actual gap size is less than the preset value, thereby greatly improving the measurement accuracy of the measuring device.

[0011] In some embodiments, the calibration component also includes a calibration unit, which is configured to adjust the shooting parameters of the shooting device so that the difference between the measured value of the gap and the thickness of the calibration piece along the first direction is less than a preset value. The measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained after the picture of the gap with the calibration piece taken by the shooting device is processed by the processor.

[0012] By setting up a calibration unit, the shooting parameters of the shooting device can be adjusted instead of manually, which is beneficial to improving operation efficiency and reducing labor costs.

[0013] In some embodiments, the calibration assembly includes two calibration pieces of the same thickness, which are spaced apart in a gap along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. During calibration, the photographing device is configured to take a picture of the gap between the two calibration pieces.

[0014] By setting two calibration pieces and making the two calibration pieces have a certain distance in the second direction, a gap of relatively stable size can be formed between the two calibration pieces along the second direction. During calibration, the shooting device takes a picture of the gap between the two calibration pieces, which can make the measurement result more accurate, and thus make the calibration result more accurate.

[0015] In some embodiments, the distance between the two calibration pieces is 2 mm to 8 mm.

[0016] The distance between the two calibration pieces is set to 2mm to 8mm, so as to form a gap of uniform size in the second direction. The uniformity of the gap will not be affected by a distance that is too long, nor will the taking of pictures of the gap be affected by a distance that is too short.

[0017] In some embodiments, the calibration assembly includes a gasket disposed between the fixture and the battery.

[0018] By providing the gasket, it is possible to prevent the clamping force of the clamp from being too large and causing damage to the clamping position of the battery, which is beneficial to protecting the battery.

[0019] In some embodiments, the clamp includes two clamping members and a connecting member connected between the two clamping members.

[0020] By providing two clamping members, the two sides of the battery can be clamped by the two clamping members respectively, and the battery can be clamped between the two clamping members. By providing two connecting members, the two clamping members can be maintained at a position with a preset distance.

[0021] In some embodiments, the distance between the two clamping members is adjustable. This arrangement has the advantage of allowing the distance between the two clamping members to be adjusted in real time according to the size of the battery, thereby improving the adaptability of the clamp to batteries of different sizes.

[0022] In some embodiments, the connecting member includes a bolt and a nut. The bolt passes through a mounting hole provided on the two clamping members, and the nut is connected to the outside of the clamping member to fix the position of the clamping member, so that the distance between the two clamping members can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the nut on the bolt.

[0023] In some embodiments, the clamp further includes a blocking member disposed between the two clamping members, the blocking member being mounted on the connecting member and movable along the connecting member to adjust the distance between the blocking member and the clamping members.

[0024] By providing the blocking member, the position of the blocking member on the connecting member can be adjusted to accommodate batteries of different sizes. The battery is arranged between the blocking member and one of the clamping members, and the blocking member and the clamping member achieve a clamping effect.

[0025] In a second aspect, the present application provides a battery assembly device comprising the above-mentioned distance measuring device.

[0026] In a third aspect, the present application provides a ranging method, comprising:

[0027] Correcting the shooting parameters of the shooting device;

[0028] Using a photographing device to photograph a gap occurring during battery assembly; and processing the photograph to obtain a width of the gap along a first direction;

[0029] The difference between the measured value of the gap and the actual value of the gap is smaller than a preset value, and the measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained by processing the image captured by the calibrated capturing device.

[0030] Before using a photographing device to take a picture of the gap and processing the picture to obtain the size of the gap, calibrating the photographing parameters of the photographing device can make the measured gap size as close as possible to the actual gap size, thereby improving the accuracy of the gap measurement.

[0031] In some embodiments, the operation of correcting the shooting parameters of the shooting device includes:

[0032] Insert the calibration piece into the gap;

[0033] Clamp the battery to prevent the calibration piece from falling out of the gap; and

[0034] A photographic device is used to capture a picture of a gap where a calibration piece is provided, and photographic parameters of the photographic device are adjusted so that the difference between the measured value of the gap and the thickness of the calibration piece along the first direction is less than a preset value. The measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained after processing the picture of the gap where the calibration piece is provided, which is captured by the photographic device.

[0035] In this embodiment, based on the fact that the gap obtained after processing is greater than the thickness of the calibration part, the shooting parameters of the shooting device are adjusted, so that the picture taken by the shooting device can obtain the accurate gap size after processing, avoiding the inability to obtain the true gap size from the captured picture due to unreasonable setting of the shooting parameters, and also overcoming the influence of the product burrs on the measurement value of the gap size.

[0036] In some embodiments, the operation of correcting the shooting parameters of the shooting device includes:

[0037] Inserting two calibration pieces with the same thickness into the gap, with a preset distance between the two calibration pieces in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

[0038] Clamp the battery to prevent the calibration piece from falling out of the gap; and

[0039] A photographic device is used to capture a picture of the gap between two calibration pieces, and the photographic parameters of the photographic device are adjusted so that the difference between the measured value of the gap and the thickness of the calibration piece along the first direction is less than a preset value. The measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained after processing the picture of the gap with the calibration piece taken by the photographic device.

[0040] In this embodiment, the gap between the two calibration parts is relatively uniform. Taking a picture here and performing correction based on the gap size obtained by processing the picture is beneficial to improving the correction effect and making the measured value closer to the true value.

[0041] In some embodiments, the operation of calibrating the shooting parameters of the shooting device further includes: replacing calibration pieces of multiple different thicknesses, and calibrating the shooting parameters of the shooting device multiple times.

[0042] By replacing calibration pieces of various thicknesses and calibrating the shooting parameters of the shooting device multiple times, the calibration effect can be improved and the measured values ​​can be made closer to the true values.

[0043] In some embodiments, the shooting parameters of the shooting device include at least one of exposure, sensitivity, and focal length.

[0044] Exposure, ISO, and focal length all affect image quality, which in turn affects image processing results and, in turn, the gap measurement value. Correcting these parameters can improve the image quality and, in turn, the measurement accuracy.

[0045] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a battery assembly method, including the above-mentioned ranging method.

[0046] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present application, it can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without creative work.

[0048] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a shooting device in some embodiments of the distance measuring device disclosed in this application.

[0049] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a calibration component in some embodiments of the distance measuring device disclosed in this application.

[0050] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a calibration component in other embodiments of the distance measuring device disclosed in this application.

[0051] In the drawings, the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0052] Marking Description:

[0053] 1. Shooting device; 2. Processor; 3. Calibration assembly; 31. Calibration part; 32. Clamp; 321. Clamping part; 322. Connecting part; 3221. Bolt; 3222. Nut; 323. Gasket; 324. Blocking part; 33. Calibration unit; 4. Battery; 41. Housing; 42. Cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present application and are therefore only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0055] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned figure descriptions are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0056] In the description of the embodiments of this application, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the quantity, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the technical features indicated. In addition, the term "perpendicular" does not mean perpendicular in the strict sense, but rather means within the allowable error range. The term "parallel" does not mean parallel in the strict sense, but rather means within the allowable error range.

[0057] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0058] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is simply a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the following three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0059] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "multiple" refers to more than two, unless otherwise specifically defined. Similarly, "multiple groups" refers to more than two groups, and "multiple sheets" refers to more than two sheets, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0060] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0061] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified or limited, technical terms such as "installed," "connected," "connect," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; they can refer to internal connections between two components or interactions between two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application can be understood based on the specific circumstances.

[0062] Currently, market developments indicate that power batteries are becoming increasingly widely used. They are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal, wind, and solar power plants, but are also widely used in electric vehicles like electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric vehicles, as well as in military equipment and aerospace. As power battery applications continue to expand, market demand is also growing.

[0063] In order to meet the ever-increasing demand for power batteries, the manufacturing efficiency of batteries needs to be continuously improved, and the assembly efficiency of batteries also needs to be continuously improved.

[0064] During the assembly process of the battery, such as the assembly of the square shell battery, as shown in Figure 1, the battery 4 includes a shell 41 and a cover 42. After the cover 42 is installed on the top of the shell 41, there is still a certain gap L1 between the shell 41 and the cover 42. If the gap L1 is too large, it will cause laser leakage in the subsequent process of connecting the shell 41 and the cover 42 by laser pre-welding or full welding. After the laser leaks, it will directly penetrate into the interior of the battery and burn the bare battery cell, causing the bare battery cell to fail, resulting in material waste, which is not conducive to cost control. Therefore, before welding the shell 41 and the cover 42, it is necessary to measure the size of the gap L1 between the shell 41 and the cover 42 to provide data support for the subsequent welding process and improve the reliability and safety of the welding connection.

[0065] In the related art, the size of gap L1 is measured by inserting feeler gauges of varying thicknesses into gap L1. Specifically, the measurement technician inserts feeler gauges of varying thicknesses into gap L1 and determines by feel how tight the feeler gauges are in the gap. The technician then determines which feeler gauge has the same thickness as gap L1. The feeler gauge thickness represents the measured value of gap L1 between housing 41 and cover 42.

[0066] However, there is a large error in judging the tightness of the feeler gauge after it is inserted into the gap by the measurer's feel, and different measurers have different standards for judging the tightness, so the accuracy of the measurement needs to be improved.

[0067] To this end, in related art, a method of using a camera to identify the gap size is used instead of manual measurement. Although this method can replace manual labor and greatly improve measurement efficiency, as shown in Figure 1, there is a certain height difference L2 between the housing 41 and the cover 42 in the height direction. The housing 41 and the cover 42 are not in the same plane, which may cause depth of field issues and affect the edge capture accuracy during shooting. The measurable gap position in the image taken at different exposures will also vary. In addition, the edge of the cover 42 has a rounded corner R, which may cause large errors when shooting from top to bottom with a camera.

[0068] Moreover, it is also important to note that the shell 41 and the cover 42 are basically processed by casting and other methods, so there will be burrs on the edges of the shell 41 and the cover 42, which will further lead to large errors in the method of identifying the gap size by taking pictures, affecting the accuracy of the measurement.

[0069] In response to the problem of poor measurement accuracy of the method of identifying gap size by taking pictures with a camera, the present application provides an improved ranging device, which is equipped with a calibration component that can calibrate the shooting parameters of the shooting device before measurement, so that the gap size measured by the debugged shooting device is as consistent as possible with the actual gap value, thereby ensuring the accuracy of subsequent measurements.

[0070] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in some embodiments of the ranging device provided in the present application, the device includes a shooting device 1, a processor 2 and a calibration component 3, the shooting device 1 is configured to take pictures of the gap that appears during the assembly process of the battery 4, the processor 2 is configured to process the picture to obtain the width of the gap along the first direction x, and the calibration component 3 is configured to cooperate with the processor 2 to correct the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1, and make the difference between the measured value of the gap and the actual value of the gap less than a preset value, wherein the measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained from the picture taken by the corrected shooting device 1 after being processed by the processor 2.

[0071] The size of the preset value can be determined based on the acceptable error range. When the standard requirement for measurement error is high, the preset value can be set to a smaller value, such as 0.1, 0.01, or 0.001, so that the measured value of the gap is substantially equal to the actual value of the gap. When the standard requirement for measurement error is not very high, the preset value can be set to a slightly larger value, such as 0.15, 0.2, or 0.5.

[0072] By calibrating the capture parameters of camera 1 before measurement using calibration component 3, the gap size measured by processor 2 after processing the image captured by debugged camera 1 is kept as consistent as possible with the actual gap value. This effectively improves the measurement accuracy of the measuring device, provides data support for subsequent welding processes, avoids problems such as laser leakage during welding, and improves the reliability and safety of subsequent welding processes. This calibration effectively avoids the inability to obtain the actual gap size from captured images due to improperly set capture parameters of camera 1, and also overcomes the influence of product burrs on gap size measurements.

[0073] The processor 2 may be a general-purpose processor, a programmable logic controller (PLC), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, or any appropriate combination thereof, for performing the functions described in this application.

[0074] In some embodiments, the image capturing device 1 includes an image sensor, such as a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) camera or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) camera. The image sensor can utilize the photoelectric conversion function of a photoelectric device to convert the light image on the photosensitive surface into an electrical signal proportional to the light image, thereby enabling the processor 2 to obtain the gap size in the captured image based on the electrical signal.

[0075] In some embodiments, the calibration assembly 3 includes a calibration piece 31 and a clamp 32 . The calibration piece 31 is disposed in the gap, and the clamp 32 is configured to clamp the battery 4 to prevent the calibration piece 31 from falling out of the gap.

[0076] The clamping force of the clamp 32 when clamping the battery 4 is based on the standard that the calibration piece 31 will not fall out of the gap.

[0077] The battery 4 is clamped by the clamp 32, and the calibration piece 31 is kept from falling out of the gap. At this time, the shooting device 1 is used to take a picture of the gap filled with the calibration piece 31. After the picture is processed by the processor 2, the width of the gap along the first direction can be obtained. The difference between the obtained width of the gap along the first direction and the thickness of the calibration piece 31 along the first direction is less than the preset value. The shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 are adjusted. After the adjustment, the shooting device 1 takes a picture of the gap again and the difference between the gap size obtained after processing and the actual gap size is less than the preset value, thereby greatly improving the measurement accuracy of the measuring device.

[0078] In the embodiment in which the calibration component 3 includes the calibration piece 31 and the fixture 32 , the adjustment process of the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 can be completed by manual adjustment by the shooting personnel.

[0079] In some embodiments, the calibration component 3 also includes a calibration unit 33, which is configured to adjust the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 so that the difference between the measured value of the gap and the thickness of the calibration piece 31 along the first direction is less than a preset value. The measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained after the picture of the gap with the calibration piece 31 taken by the shooting device 1 is processed by the processor 2.

[0080] In the above embodiment, by providing the calibration unit 33 , the adjustment of the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 can be completed instead of manual work, which is beneficial to improving operation efficiency and reducing labor costs.

[0081] The calibration unit 33 is a device used to adjust the shooting parameters of the camera 1. These parameters include at least one of exposure, sensitivity, and focal length. By adjusting the shooting parameters of the camera 1, the shooting state and accuracy of the camera 1 can be changed. This ensures that the gap measurement value obtained through the cooperation between the camera 1 and the processor 2 is substantially consistent with the thickness of the calibration piece 31. This allows subsequent distance measurements to be performed using the adjusted camera 1.

[0082] In some embodiments, the calibration unit 33 can be manually assisted or fully automatically adjusted. The control program in the calibration unit 33 can automatically adjust the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 according to the difference between the measured gap value and the thickness of the calibration piece 31.

[0083] In some embodiments, the calibration component 3 includes two calibration pieces 31 of the same thickness, and the two calibration pieces 31 are arranged in a gap at intervals along a second direction y perpendicular to the first direction x. During calibration, the photographing device 1 is configured to take a picture of the gap between the two calibration pieces 31.

[0084] By setting two calibration pieces 31 and making the two calibration pieces 31 have a certain distance in the second direction, a relatively stable gap can be formed between the two calibration pieces 31 along the second direction. During calibration, the shooting device 1 takes a picture of the gap between the two calibration pieces 31, which can make the measurement result more accurate, and thus make the calibration result more accurate.

[0085] In some embodiments, the calibration member 31 may be a feeler gauge or other hard block with a known thickness.

[0086] In some embodiments, the distance between the two calibration pieces 31 is 2 mm to 8 mm, such as 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm or 8 mm.

[0087] The distance between the two calibration pieces 31 is set to 2 mm to 8 mm, so as to form a gap of uniform size in the second direction. The uniformity of the gap will not be affected by a distance that is too long, and the taking of a picture of the gap will not be affected by a distance that is too short.

[0088] In some embodiments, the calibration assembly 3 includes a gasket 323 , which is disposed between the fixture 32 and the battery 4 .

[0089] By providing the gasket 323 , it is possible to prevent the clamping force of the clamp 32 from being too large and causing damage to the clamping position of the battery 4 , thereby helping to protect the battery 4 .

[0090] The gasket 323 can be a rubber pad or a sponge pad.

[0091] In some embodiments, the clamp 32 includes two clamping members 321 and a connecting member 322 connected between the two clamping members 321 .

[0092] By providing two clamping members 321, the two sides of the battery 4 can be clamped by the two clamping members 321 respectively, and the battery 4 can be clamped between the two clamping members 321. By providing two connecting members 322, the two clamping members 321 can be maintained at a position with a preset distance.

[0093] In some embodiments, the distance between the two clamping members 321 is adjustable. This arrangement has the advantage of allowing the distance between the two clamping members 321 to be adjusted in real time according to the size of the battery 4, thereby improving the adaptability of the clamp 32 to batteries 4 of different sizes.

[0094] In some embodiments, the connecting member 322 includes a bolt 3221 and a nut 3222. The bolt 3221 passes through a mounting hole provided on the two clamping members 321, and the nut 3222 is connected to the outside of the clamping member 321 to fix the position of the clamping member 321. Thus, by adjusting the position of the nut 3222 on the bolt 3221, the distance between the two clamping members 321 can be adjusted.

[0095] A nut is provided at one end of the bolt 3221 , so the connecting member 322 may include a nut 3222 , wherein one clamping member 321 is positioned by the nut, and the other clamping member 321 is positioned by the nut 3222 .

[0096] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the connecting member 322 includes a screw and two nuts. The two nuts are respectively disposed on the outsides of the two clamping members 321 , and the two clamping members 321 are respectively positioned by corresponding nuts.

[0097] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 3, the clamp 32 also includes a blocking member 324, which is arranged between the two clamping members 321. The blocking member 324 is installed on the connecting member 322 and the blocking member 324 is movable along the connecting member 322 to adjust the distance between the blocking member 324 and the clamping member 321.

[0098] By providing the blocking member 324, the position of the blocking member 324 on the connecting member 322 can be adjusted to accommodate batteries 4 of different sizes. The battery 4 is arranged between the blocking member 324 and one of the clamping members 321, and the blocking member 324 and the clamping member 321 achieve a clamping effect.

[0099] In the embodiment where a movable blocking member 324 is provided, the two clamping members 321 may be arranged to be fixed relative to the connecting member 322 .

[0100] Based on the distance measuring devices in the above embodiments, the present application also provides a battery assembly device, which includes the above distance measuring device.

[0101] This application also provides a ranging method, including:

[0102] S001: calibrating the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1;

[0103] S002: Using the photographing device 1 to photograph the gaps that appear during the assembly of the battery 4; and

[0104] S003: Processing the image to obtain the width of the gap along the first direction;

[0105] The difference between the measured value of the gap and the actual value of the gap is smaller than a preset value, and the measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained after processing the image captured by the calibrated capturing device 1 .

[0106] Before using the photographing device 1 to take a picture of the gap and processing the picture to obtain the size of the gap, the photographing parameters of the photographing device 1 are calibrated. This can make the measured gap size as close as possible to the actual gap size, thereby improving the accuracy of the gap measurement.

[0107] In some embodiments, the operation of step S001 includes:

[0108] S011: Insert the calibration piece 31 into the gap;

[0109] S012: Clamp the battery 4 to prevent the calibration member 31 from falling out of the gap; and

[0110] S013: Use the shooting device 1 to shoot a picture of the gap where the calibration piece 31 is provided, and adjust the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 so that the difference between the measured value of the gap and the thickness of the calibration piece 31 along the first direction is less than a preset value. The measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained after processing the picture of the gap where the calibration piece 31 is provided taken by the shooting device 1.

[0111] In this embodiment, based on the fact that the gap obtained after processing is greater than the thickness of the calibration piece 31, the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 are adjusted, so that the picture taken by the shooting device 1 can obtain the accurate gap size after processing, thereby avoiding the inability to obtain the true gap size from the captured picture due to unreasonable setting of the shooting parameters, and also overcoming the influence of the product burrs on the measurement value of the gap size.

[0112] In some other embodiments, the operation of step S001 includes:

[0113] S011′: inserting two calibration members 31 having the same thickness into the gap, and separating the two calibration members 31 by a preset distance in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

[0114] S012': clamping the battery 4 to prevent the calibration member 31 from falling out of the gap; and

[0115] S013': Use the shooting device 1 to take a picture of the gap between the two calibration pieces 31, and adjust the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 so that the difference between the measured value of the gap and the thickness of the calibration piece 31 along the first direction is less than a preset value. The measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained after processing the picture of the gap with the calibration piece 31 taken by the shooting device 1.

[0116] In this embodiment, the gap between the two calibration pieces 31 is relatively uniform. Taking a picture here and performing correction based on the gap size obtained by processing the picture is beneficial to improving the correction effect and making the measured value closer to the true value.

[0117] In some embodiments, the operation of calibrating the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 further includes: replacing calibration pieces 31 of multiple different thicknesses, and calibrating the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 multiple times.

[0118] By replacing the calibration pieces 31 with various thicknesses and calibrating the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 multiple times, the calibration effect can be improved and the measured values ​​can be made closer to the true values.

[0119] In some embodiments, the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 include at least one of exposure, sensitivity, and focal length.

[0120] Exposure, ISO, and focal length all affect image quality, which in turn affects image processing results and, in turn, the gap measurement value. Correcting these parameters can improve the image quality and, in turn, the measurement accuracy.

[0121] The present application also provides a battery assembly method, including the above-mentioned ranging method.

[0122] The distance measuring device and method, battery assembly equipment and method provided in this application are not only applicable to the measurement of the assembly gap between the shell and the cover, but also to the measurement of gaps between other components in battery assembly, such as between the battery cell and the shell.

[0123] The structure and operation steps of an embodiment of the distance measuring device of the present application are described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

[0124] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ranging device includes a camera 1, a processor 2, and a calibration assembly 3. The battery 4 includes a housing 41 and a cover 42. The edges of the cover 42 have rounded corners R, and there is a height difference L2 between the housing 41 and the cover 42. In a first direction x, the width of the gap between the housing 41 and the cover 42 is L1. The camera 1 captures an image of the gap between the housing 41 and the cover 42 from top to bottom. The processor 2 processes the image to obtain the width of the gap between the housing 41 and the cover 42 in the first direction x.

[0125] The calibration assembly 3 includes a calibration member 31, a fixture 32, and a calibration unit 33. The two calibration members 31 are inserted into the gap between the housing 41 and the cover 42. In a second direction y, which is perpendicular to the first direction x, the distance between the two calibration members 31 is L3. In Figure 1 , any two of the x, y, and z directions are perpendicular to each other.

[0126] As shown in Figure 2, the clamp 32 includes two clamping members 321, two connecting members 322, and two gaskets 323. The two clamping members 321 are spaced apart, and the two connecting members 322 are connected to the two ends of the two clamping members 321, respectively. The battery 4 is located between the two clamping members 321. The two gaskets 323 are respectively provided on either side of the battery 4 and located between the clamping members 321 and the battery 4 housing 41.

[0127] As shown in FIG3 , the connecting member 322 includes a bolt 3221 and a nut 3222 . By adjusting the position of the nut 3222 , the distance between the two clamping members 321 can be adjusted to accommodate batteries 4 of different sizes.

[0128] Meanwhile, in the embodiment shown in FIG3 , the clamp 32 further includes a stopper 324. The stopper 324 is disposed between the two clamping members 321, and the battery 4 is disposed between the stopper 324 and one of the clamping members 321. By adjusting the position of the stopper 324 on the connecting member 322, the distance between the stopper 324 and one of the clamping members 321 can be adjusted to accommodate batteries 4 of different sizes.

[0129] The steps of correcting the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 include:

[0130] After the battery is assembled, two calibration pieces 31 of the same thickness are inserted into the gap between the shell 41 and the cover 42. The interval between the two calibration pieces 31 in the second direction y is about 5 mm.

[0131] Then, the clamp 32 is used to clamp both sides of the housing 41 to simulate the clamping conditions and force of the battery during pre-welding and full welding.

[0132] When the calibration piece 31 is pressed and remains stable without falling out of the gap, the actual width of the gap between the two calibration pieces 31 is equal to the thickness of the calibration piece 31;

[0133] Then, a photograph of the gap between the two calibration pieces 31 is taken using the photographing device 1, and photographing parameters of the photographing device 1 (such as exposure, sensitivity, or focal length) are adjusted so that the gap size obtained by processing the photograph taken by the photographing device 1 by the processor 2 is consistent with the thickness of the calibration piece 31.

[0134] Then, the above operation is repeated using calibration pieces 31 of different thicknesses to ensure that when calibration pieces 31 of different thicknesses are used, the gap size obtained after the photos taken by the imaging device 1 and processed by the processor 2 are consistent with the thickness of the calibration piece 31 used;

[0135] At this point, we can assume that the shooting parameters of the shooting device 1 have been adjusted to the optimal state. In this state, the shooting device 1 is used on the measurement production line to accurately measure the size of the gap that occurs during the battery assembly process, thereby providing data support for subsequent welding connections, etc., and alleviating safety accidents caused by laser leakage during welding.

[0136] The above description of the various embodiments tends to emphasize the differences between the various embodiments. The same or similar aspects can be referenced with each other and will not be repeated herein for the sake of brevity.

[0137] Those skilled in the art will understand that, in the above-mentioned method of a specific embodiment, the writing order of each step does not mean a strict execution order and does not constitute any limitation on the implementation process. The specific execution order of each step should be determined by its function and possible internal logic.

[0138] Although the present application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications may be made thereto and components may be substituted with equivalents without departing from the scope of the present application. In particular, the various technical features described in the various embodiments may be combined in any manner as long as there are no structural conflicts. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but encompasses all technical solutions within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A distance measuring device, comprising: A photographing device (1) configured to take pictures of gaps that occur during the assembly of a battery (4); A processor (2) is configured to process the image to obtain the width of the gap along the first direction; and A calibration component (3) is configured to cooperate with the processor (2) to calibrate the shooting parameters of the shooting device (1) and make the difference between the measured value of the gap and the actual value of the gap smaller than a preset value, wherein the measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained from the image taken by the calibrated shooting device (1) after being processed by the processor (2).

2. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein: The calibration component (3) comprises: a calibration member (31), disposed in the gap; and A clamp (32) is configured to clamp the battery (4) to prevent the calibration element (31) from falling out of the gap.

3. The distance measuring device according to claim 2, wherein: The calibration component (3) further comprises a calibration unit (33), wherein the calibration unit (33) is configured to adjust the shooting parameters of the shooting device (1) so that the difference between the measured value of the gap and the thickness of the calibration piece (31) along the first direction is smaller than the preset value, and the measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained by processing a picture of the gap provided with the calibration piece (31) taken by the shooting device (1) and processed by the processor (2).

4. The distance measuring device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The calibration component (3) comprises two calibration pieces (31) of the same thickness, the two calibration pieces (31) being arranged in the gap at intervals along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and during calibration, the photographing device (1) is configured to take a picture of the gap between the two calibration pieces (31).

5. The distance measuring device according to claim 4, wherein: The distance between the two calibration pieces (31) is 2 mm to 8 mm.

6. The distance measuring device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein: The calibration component (3) comprises a gasket (323), and the gasket (323) is arranged between the clamp (32) and the battery (4).

7. The distance measuring device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein: The clamp (32) comprises two clamping members (321) and a connecting member (322) connected between the two clamping members (321).

8. The distance measuring device according to claim 7, wherein: The distance between the two clamping members (321) is adjustable.

9. The distance measuring device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: The clamp (32) further comprises a blocking member (324), wherein the blocking member (324) is arranged between the two clamping members (321), the blocking member (324) is mounted on the connecting member (322) and the blocking member (324) is movable along the connecting member (322) to adjust the distance between the blocking member (324) and the clamping members (321).

10. A battery assembly device, comprising the distance measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A distance measurement method, characterized in that: include: Correcting the shooting parameters of the shooting device (1); Using the photographing device (1) to photograph a picture of a gap that occurs during the assembly of a battery (4); and Processing the image to obtain the width of the gap along the first direction; The difference between the measured value of the gap and the actual value of the gap is smaller than a preset value, and the measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained by processing the image taken by the corrected photographing device (1).

12. The distance measurement method according to claim 11, wherein: The operation of correcting the shooting parameters of the shooting device (1) includes: Inserting the calibration piece (31) into the gap; clamping the battery (4) to prevent the calibration member (31) from falling out of the gap; and The photographing device (1) is used to photograph a picture of the gap where the calibration piece (31) is provided, and the photographing parameters of the photographing device (1) are adjusted so that the difference between the measured value of the gap and the thickness of the calibration piece (31) along the first direction is less than the preset value, and the measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained after processing the picture of the gap where the calibration piece (31) is provided, which is photographed by the photographing device (1).

13. The distance measurement method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: The operation of correcting the shooting parameters of the shooting device (1) includes: Inserting two calibration pieces (31) having the same thickness into the gap, with the two calibration pieces (31) spaced apart by a preset distance in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; clamping the battery (4) to prevent the calibration member (31) from falling out of the gap; and The photographing device (1) is used to photograph the gap between the two calibration members (31), and the photographing parameters of the photographing device (1) are adjusted so that the difference between the measured value of the gap and the thickness of the calibration member (31) along the first direction is less than the preset value, and the measured value of the gap is the width of the gap along the first direction obtained by processing the photograph of the gap provided with the calibration member (31) taken by the photographing device (1).

14. The distance measurement method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein: The operation of calibrating the shooting parameters of the shooting device (1) also includes: replacing the calibration pieces (31) of different thicknesses to calibrate the shooting parameters of the shooting device (1) multiple times.

15. The distance measurement method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein: The shooting parameters of the shooting device (1) include at least one of exposure, sensitivity and focal length.

16. A battery assembly method, comprising the distance measurement method according to any one of claims 11 to 15.

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