Voice control welding/cutting helmet functions and settings

• US 20080158502A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Bachmeir, Hans J., Becker, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,926,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/067 with variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

Provided for is a control system for a welding helmet comprising: an electronically controllable lens configured to be mounted in a welding helmet shell, a microphone configured to receive an audible input and to generate a signal in response to the audible input received and an electronic control module coupled to the lens and to the microphone and configured to control the electronically controllable lens based upon the signal. Also provided for is a welding helmet implementing a control system and a method of manufacturing a welding helmet including a control system.

Claims

1. A welding helmet comprising:

a helmet shell;

an electronically controllable lens supported by the shell;

a microphone supported by the helmet shell and configured to receive an audible input and to generate a signal in response to the audible input received; and

an electronic control module coupled to the lens and to the microphone and configured to control the electronically controllable lens based upon the signal.

2. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the electronically controllable lens is configured to transition the lens between light and dark state based upon an audible command sensed by the microphone.

3. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module includes a memory circuit for storing at least one parameter setting based upon the signal from the microphone.

4. The welding helmet of claim 3, wherein the at least one parameter comprises the shade level of the darkened state of the electronically controllable lens.

5. The welding helmet of claim 3, wherein the at least one parameter comprises the sensitivity to light produced during welding.

6. The welding helmet of claim 3, wherein the at least one parameter comprises the delay in transition from a dark state to a light state after the electronic control module determines that a welding arc has been extinguished.

7. The welding helmet of claim 1, comprising a non-audible manual input configured to provide a manual input signal to the electronic control module.

8. The welding helmet of claim 7, wherein the manual input comprises at least one of a knob, a dial, a button, a touch-sensitive sensor, or a remote control.

9. The welding helmet of claim 7, wherein manual input and the audible input are configured to cooperatively define a function of the manual input.

10. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the electronically controllable lens and the electronic control module are integral to a lens subassembly.

11. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the electronically controllable lens, the electronic control module and the microphone are integral to a lens subassembly.

12. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises at least one photodetector for detecting light from a welding arc, the photodetector being coupled to the electronic control module to cause transition of the lens between light and dark states based upon light detected by the photodetector and at least one parameter based upon the signal from the microphone.

13. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises at least one electromagnetic sensor for detecting electromagnetic emissions from a welding arc, the electromagnetic sensor being coupled to the electronic control module to cause transition of the lens between light and dark states based upon emissions detected by the electromagnetic sensor and at least one parameter based upon the signal from the microphone.

14. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module comprises a processor configured to perform voice recognition processing on the signal

15. The welding helmet of claim 14, wherein voice recognition processing comprises comparing the audible input signal to previously stored audio data.

16. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the microphone comprises a processor configured to perform voice recognition processing on the audible input received.

17. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module is configured to control at least one function of the welding helmet in addition to controlling the electronically controllable lens.

18. The welding helmet of claim 1, comprising a secondary control module configured to control functions of the helmet other than the electronically controllable lens.

19. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module is configured to issue an operational parameter to a welding system.

20. The welding helmet of claim 19, wherein the operational parameter comprises a command to a power supply to initiate a weld.

21. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the welding helmet is configured to remain inoperative to a user until a voice recognition processor confirms the voice pattern or password of an authorized operator.

22. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the welding helmet is configured to allow a user to manipulate a relationship between the audible input and an output by the electronic control module control.

23. The welding helmet of claim 22, wherein manipulating the relationship is configured to be performed through an external interface to a processing computer.

24. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module is configured to set a value for at least one parameter of the welding helmet based at least partially upon the signal.

25. A control system for a welding helmet comprising:

an electronically controllable lens configured to be supported by a welding helmet shell;

a microphone configured to receive an audible input and to generate a signal in response to the audible input received; and

an electronic control module coupled to the lens and to the microphone and configured to control the electronically controllable lens based upon the signal.

26. The control system for a welding helmet of claim 25, wherein the electronically controllable lens is configured to transition of the lens between light and dark states based upon an audible command sensed by the microphone.

27. The control system for a welding helmet of claim 25, wherein the electronic control module includes a memory circuit for storing at least one parameter setting based upon the signal from the microphone.

28. A method of manufacturing a welding helmet comprising:

mounting an electronically controllable lens assembly in a helmet shell;

mounting a microphone in the helmet shell, wherein the microphone is configured to receive an audible input and to generate a signal indicative of the audible input; and

mounting a control module in the helmet shell, the control module being coupled to the electronically controllable lens and the microphone and configured to control the electronically controllable lens based upon the signal.

29. The method of claim 28, comprising mounting a lens subassembly to the helmet shell, wherein the electronically controllable lens, the microphone, and the control module are integral to a lens subassembly.

30. The method of claim 28, comprising storing in a memory circuit at least one parameter setting based upon the signal from the microphone.

31. The method of claim 28, comprising mounting a manual input to the helmet shell.