Systems and methods providing an enhanced user experience in a real-time simulated virtual reality welding environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9318026-B2
Application number	US-201313792280-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2013
Priority date	Aug 21, 2008
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

A real-time virtual reality welding system including a programmable processor-based subsystem, a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem, at least one mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker, and at least one display device operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem. The system is capable of simulating, in virtual reality space, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics. The system is further capable of displaying the simulated weld puddle on the display device in real-time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A virtual reality welding system comprising:
a programmable processor-based subsystem;
a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem; at least one wireless mock welding tool configured to wirelessly communicate with the programmable processor-based subsystem and the spatial tracker; and
at least one wireless face-mounted display device configured to wirelessly communicate with the programmable processor-based subsystem and the spatial tracker,
wherein said system is configured to simulate, in a virtual reality environment, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics, and display the simulated weld puddle on the at least one wireless face-mounted display device in real time.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless hub device communicatively wired to the programmable processor-based subsystem and the spatial tracker, wherein the at least one wireless mock welding tool and the at least one wireless face-mounted display device each wirelessly communicate with the programmable processor-based subsystem and the spatial tracker through the wireless hub device.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a mock welding cable attached to the at least one mock welding tool and configured to simulate at least a weight and a stiffness of a real welding cable.

Assignees

• Lincoln Global Inc

Inventors

• Peters Carl
• Postlethwaite Deanna
• Wallace Matthew Wayne

Classifications

• G09B5/00 Primary

  Electrically-operated educational appliances (working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F) · CPC title

• A63F13/24

  Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles · CPC title

• G09B19/003

  Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements · CPC title

• G09B5/02

  with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title