Systems for simulating joining operations using mobile devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11450233-B2
Application number	US-201916694937-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2019
Priority date	Feb 19, 2019
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

Systems are disclosed relating to a mobile device mounted to a welding helmet such that a wearer of the welding helmet can see a display of the mobile device when wearing the welding helmet. In some examples, the mobile device is mounted such that a camera of the mobile device is unobscured and positioned at approximately eye level, facing the same way the wearer's eyes are facing. In some examples, the simulated training environment may be presented to the user via the display screen of the mobile device, using images captured by the camera of the mobile device, when the mobile device is so mounted to the welding helmet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A weld training system, comprising:
a mobile device mount comprising complementary connectors configured for connection to connectors of a welding helmet, the connectors of the welding helmet configured for connection of a lens or auto-darkening filter to the welding helmet; and
a mobile device retained by the mobile device mount, the mobile device comprising:
a housing,
a display configured to display images from a first side of the housing,
a camera configured to capture images from a second side of the housing opposite the first side of the housing,
processing circuitry in the housing and coupled to the display and the camera, and
a computer readable storage device comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause the processing circuitry to:
execute a welding simulation based on images captured via the camera,
generate images of the welding simulation; and
display the images of the welding simulation via the display.

2. The weld training system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the mobile device mount comprises:
a mobile device retainer configured to retain the mobile device, the mobile device retainer having an opening configured to avoid obscuring a field of view of the camera when the camera captures images; and
a mounting panel comprising the complementary connectors configured to attach to the connectors of the welding helmet such that the mounting panel replaces a lens or auto-darkening filter of the welding helmet,
wherein the mobile device retainer and the mounting panel are configured to retain the mobile device in a field of view of a wearer of the welding helmet to display the images of the welding simulation to the wearer via the display.

3. The weld training system as defined in claim 2 , wherein the mounting panel comprises a Fresnel lens configured to project the display to be at a focal length appropriate for the wearer.

4. The weld training system as defined in claim 2 , wherein the mobile device mount further comprises an intermediate retainer configured to couple the mobile device retainer to the mounting panel at a first distance.

5. The weld training system as defined in claim 4 , wherein the intermediate retainer comprises a lens window defined by a first outer edge, a viewing window defined by a second outer edge, and a connecting wall that connects the first outer edge and second outer edge, the connecting wall defining a tunnel leading from the lens window to the viewing window.

6. The weld training system as defined in claim 5 , wherein the lens window is at a first end of the intermediate retainer and the viewing window is at a second end of the intermediate retainer, the first end being opposite the second end.

7. The weld training system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the connectors comprise first connectors, and wherein the welding helmet comprises second connectors configured to retain a magnification lens.

8. A weld training system, comprising:
a welding tool comprising:
communication circuitry configured to be communicatively paired with a mobile device via a wireless communication protocol, the communication circuitry being further configured to send one or more signals to the mobile device, the mobile device being configured to execute a welding simulation based on the one or more signals, and
a tool identifier imprinted on the welding tool that assists in communicatively pairing the welding tool with the mobile device, the mobile device being configured to communicatively pair with the welding tool only if the tool identifier is associated with the mobile device.

9. The weld training system as defined in claim 8 , wherein the welding tool comprises a visual indicator or an audio indicator configured to indicate at least one of the welding tool being powered on or the welding tool being communicatively paired with the mobile device.

10. The weld training system as defined in claim 8 , wherein the welding tool further comprises a nozzle comprising a first identifier, and a marker label configured for attachment to the nozzle, the marker label comprising a second identifier that is complementary to the first identifier of the nozzle, the first identifier and second identifier together indicating a correct configuration for attaching the marker label to the nozzle.

11. The weld training system as defined in claim 8 , wherein the welding tool further comprises a handle, a neck attached to a nozzle, and a communication module, the handle having a first end connected to the neck and a second end, opposite the first end, connected to the communication module, the communication module having a module housing that encloses the communication circuitry, and the tool identifier being imprinted on the module housing.

12. The weld training system as defined in claim 8 , wherein the welding tool comprises a mock welding tool, and the mock welding tool further comprises a weight positioned within the mock welding tool.

13. The weld training system as defined in claim 12 , wherein the weight is positioned within the nozzle or a handle of the mock welding tool.

14. A weld training system, comprising:
a welding tool, comprising:
a handle,
a trigger movably connected to the handle,
a marker, and
a slide that covers the marker, the slide configured to retract to uncover the marker in response to activation or deactivation of the trigger.

15. The weld training system of claim 14 , wherein the marker comprises a first marker, and wherein the welding tool further comprises a second marker, the first marker being moved with respect to the second marker when the trigger is activated or deactivated.

16. The weld training system of claim 15 , wherein the marker is disposed on the trigger.

17. The weld training system of claim 14 , further comprising a mobile device configured to observe the marker and conduct a weld training simulation based on whether or not the marker is visible.

Assignees

• Becker William Joshua
• Blount Justin Monroe
• Marhefke Jessica Marie
• Dessart Nicholas James
• Muske Mitchell James
• Marquinez Pedro
• Gunia Pavel
• Marquez Victor Lopez
• De La Rosa David Barroso
• Jurado Sergio Garrido
• Perez Jesus Calvo
• Gutierrez Javier Castilla
• Illinois Tool Works
• Seabery North America Inc

Inventors

• Becker William Joshua
• Blount Justin Monroe
• Marhefke Jessica Marie
• Dessart Nicholas James
• Muske Mitchell James
• Marquinez Pedro
• Gunia Pavel
• Márquez Victor López
• De La Rosa David Barroso
• Jurado Sergio Garrido
• Pérez Jesús Calvo
• Gutiérrez Javier Castilla

Classifications

• B23K9/095

  Monitoring or automatic control of welding parameters · CPC title

• B23K9/32

  Accessories · CPC title

• B23K9/10

  Other electric circuits therefor; Protective circuits; Remote controls · CPC title

• G09B19/24 Primary

  Use of tools · CPC title

• G09B19/003

  Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements · CPC title