Patent ID: 7959353

Claim:
A method for operating a thermal imaging system for a battery module enclosure that includes first and second battery module enclosure components between which a weld is formed, comprising: fixing the first and second module enclosure components on a turntable; adjusting a position of said turntable a first time so that the first and second module enclosure components are located within a path of a laser beam when the weld is formed; focusing said laser beam on the first and second module enclosure components in order to form the weld; after forming the weld, adjusting said position of said turntable a second time so that the first and second module enclosure components are within a field of view sufficient to obtain a thermal signature of the weld; after adjusting said position of said turntable said second time, acquiring a said thermal signature of the weld within a predetermined amount of time after the weld is formed; utilizing an image processing algorithm to locate a predetermined reference point in said thermal signature; and comparing said thermal signature to a template signature in order to verify structural integrity of the weld.