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

• US 10,204,529 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2016
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Peters, Carl, Postlethwaite, Deanna, Wallace, Matthew Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Fletcher, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US15/201,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20160321954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 434219, 434234
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1062 with computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/24 Use of tools
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131

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.

Claims

1. A simulated welding system, comprising:

a programmable processor-based subsystem;

a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem;

at least one controller configured to wirelessly communicate with the programmable processor-based subsystem and the spatial tracker, wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive an input from a user that simulates performing a welding operation in a simulated environment;

a display device operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem;

wherein said system is configured to simulate, in the simulated environment, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics, and display the simulated weld puddle on the display device in real time;

an electronic file that includes a statistic representative of a welding progress on said system based on the input from the user received by the at least one controller; and

a communication device that is operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem that is configured to externally transmit a portion of data associated with the electronic file.

2. The simulated welding system of claim 1, further comprising at least one wireless face-mounted display device configured to wirelessly communicate with the programmable processor-based subsystem and the spatial tracker.

3. The simulated welding system of claim 2, wherein said system is configured to display the simulated weld puddle on at least one of the display device or the at least one wireless face-mounted display device.

4. The simulated welding system of claim 1, further comprising a memory having stored thereon computer-readable instructions related to a welding game, wherein the memory is accessible by a computing device.

5. The simulated welding system of claim 4, wherein the electronic file is accessed by the welding game.

6. The simulated welding system of claim 4, wherein the welding game allows access to one or more online welding projects based on the welding progress obtained in said simulated welding system.

7. The simulated welding system of claim 4, wherein the welding game ranks one or more users that communicate input from a simulation of performing a welding operation.

8. The simulated welding system of claim 4, wherein the welding game allows access to one or more advanced features of the welding game based on a progress stored in the electronic file for a user.

9. The simulated welding system of claim 4, the welding game communicates a reward point based on a progress in the welding game.

10. The simulated welding system of claim 1, wherein the user simulating performing a welding operation in the simulated environment earns a reward point based on the welding progress on said system and the reward point is tracked by the electronic file.

11. The simulated welding system of claim 10, wherein the reward point is redeemed via the Internet.

12. The simulated welding system of claim 4, further comprising a gaming user profile that is updated based on at least one of the welding progress or a progress related to the welding game.

13. A computing device, comprising:

a processor;

a tracker comprising at least one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope, in communication with the programmable processor-based subsystem;

a controller that is tracked by the tracker and configured to receive an input from a user that simulates performing a welding operation in a welding game;

a display device operatively connected to the processor;

wherein said computing device is configured to simulate, in the welding game, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics, and display the simulated weld puddle on the display device in real time;

an electronic file that includes a statistic representative of a welding game progress on said computing device based on the input from the user received by the controller; and

a communication device that is operatively connected to the processor that is configured to externally transmit a portion of data associated with the electronic file to a simulated welding system or a server.