Wearable technology for interfacing with welding equipment and monitoring equipment using wireless technologies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016228971-A1
Application number	US-201514616410-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 6, 2015
Priority date	Feb 6, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An interface device may be configured to be worn by a user during welding operations, and may also be integrated into an article of clothing or equipment. The interface device may support a first mode of operation for interfacing with welding equipment and a second mode of operation for interfacing with weld monitoring equipment. The interface device also may setup a first wireless connection with the welding equipment and a second wireless connection with the weld monitoring equipment. The interface device may interface with the welding equipment over the first wireless connection when configured into the first mode of operation, and interface with the weld monitoring equipment over the second wireless connection when configured into the second mode of operation. The interface device may operate in response to user input received via a user interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
one or more circuits for use in an interface device that is configured to be, or is integrated into an article of clothing or equipment to be, worn by a user during welding operations, the one or more circuits being operable to:
support a first mode of operation for interfacing with welding equipment and a second mode of operation for interfacing with weld monitoring equipment;
setup a first wireless connection with said welding equipment and a second wireless connection with said weld monitoring equipment; and
interface with said welding equipment over said first wireless connection when configured into said first mode of operation, and interface with said weld monitoring equipment over said second wireless connection when configured into said second mode of operation.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive user input, said user input relating to interfacing with said welding equipment or said weld monitoring equipment during said welding operations.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:
determine to which of said welding equipment and said weld monitoring equipment said user input is directed; and communicate to said determined one of said welding equipment and said weld monitoring equipment, over a respective one of said first wireless connection and said second wireless connection, one or more messages corresponding to said user input.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to generate said one or more corresponding messages based on said user input and said respective one of said first wireless connection and said second wireless connection.

5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive said user input based on interactions by said user with a user interface of said interface device.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein said user interface comprises one or more physical or virtual elements for providing particular input by physical action applied by said user to the elements.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein said user interface comprises at least one multi-function component for adaptively generating or receiving different user input based on whether a message is being sent to said welding equipment or said welding monitoring equipment.

8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein said user interface of said interface device is operable to generate said user input based on sensory information obtained from tracking particular actions of said user.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein said sensory information are obtained using one or more sensors that are integrated into said interface device or into an article of clothing or equipment worn by said user during welding operations.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein said particular actions of said user comprise eye movement.

11 . An interfacing arrangement for use during welding operations comprising:
an interface device that is configured to be, or is integrated into an article of clothing or equipment to be, worn by a user during welding operations, the interface device comprising:
a user interface circuitry operable to receive and process user input,
communication circuitry operable to setup and use wireless connections based on one on more wireless interfaces, and
processing circuitry that are operable to manage, control, and support operations of said interface device; and
wherein said interface device is operable to:
support a first mode of operation for interfacing with welding equipment and a second mode of operation for interfacing with weld monitoring equipment;
setup a first wireless connection with said welding equipment and a second wireless connection with said weld monitoring equipment; and
interface with said welding equipment over said first wireless connection when configured into said first mode of operation, and interface with said weld monitoring equipment over said second wireless connection when configured into said second mode of operation.

12 . The interfacing arrangement of claim 11 , wherein:
said processing circuitry is operable to determine to which of said welding equipment and said weld monitoring equipment said user input is directed; and said communication circuitry is operable to communicate to said determined one of said welding equipment and said weld monitoring equipment, over a respective one of said first wireless connection and said second wireless connection, one or more messages corresponding to said user input.

13 . The interfacing arrangement of claim 12 , wherein said processing circuitry is operable to generate said one or more corresponding messages based on said user input and said respective one of said first wireless connection and said second wireless connection.

14 . The interfacing arrangement of claim 11 , comprising a user interface that is operable to receive said user input based on interactions by said user.

15 . The interfacing arrangement of claim 14 , wherein said user interface comprises one or more physical or virtual elements for providing particular input by physical action applied by said user to the elements.

16 . The interfacing arrangement of claim 14 , wherein said user interface comprises at least one multi-function component for adaptively generating or receiving different user input based on whether a message is being sent to said welding equipment or said welding monitoring equipment.

17 . The interfacing arrangement of claim 14 , wherein said user interface is operable to generate said user input based on sensory information obtained from tracking particular actions of said user.

18 . The interfacing arrangement of claim 17 , comprising one or more sensors that are integrated into said interface device or into an article of clothing or equipment worn by said user during welding operations, the one or more sensor being operable to generate said sensory information.

19 . The interfacing arrangement of claim 17 , wherein said particular actions of said user comprise eye movement.

20 . The interfacing arrangement of claim 11 , comprising one or more support components for enabling said user to wear or attach the interface device to said user's body or clothing articles worn by said user during said welding operations.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Kowaleski Anthony Joseph

Classifications

• B23K9/0953

  using computing means · CPC title

• B23K9/0956

  using sensing means, e.g. optical · CPC title

• B23K9/322

  Head protecting means · CPC title

• B23K9/32 Primary

  Accessories · CPC title

• B23K9/1087 Primary

  Arc welding using remote control · CPC title