AUTOMATED SENSITIVITY SETTING FOR AN AUTO-DARKENING LENS IN A WELDING HELMET
First Claim
1. A welding helmet, comprising:
- an auto-darkening lens, comprising;
one or more optical sensors configured to sense optical energy;
optical sensing circuitry configured to convert the sensed optical energy into an electrical voltage;
sensitivity circuitry configured to automatically adjust a threshold sensitivity voltage based on the electrical voltage; and
a user input configured to initiate automatic adjustment of the threshold sensitivity voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There are provided systems and methods for automatic adjustment of sensitivity threshold settings in an auto-darkening lens. For example, a user may initiate an automatic sensitivity setting process by activating a user interface (e.g., a button, a switch, a slider, etc.). The automatic sensitivity setting process may proceed to gradually increase the sensitivity threshold voltage until it exceeds an optical voltage based on the ambient light. The process may then be terminated. In some embodiments, a hysteresis may be added to the sensitivity threshold voltage to prevent lens flicker. The automatic sensitivity setting process may be implemented in a digital or analog system. These automatic sensitivity setting processes and systems may save time and provide for more precise sensitivity adjustment.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A welding helmet, comprising:
an auto-darkening lens, comprising; one or more optical sensors configured to sense optical energy; optical sensing circuitry configured to convert the sensed optical energy into an electrical voltage; sensitivity circuitry configured to automatically adjust a threshold sensitivity voltage based on the electrical voltage; and a user input configured to initiate automatic adjustment of the threshold sensitivity voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for automatically adjusting sensitivity in an auto-darkening lens, comprising:
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detecting ambient light intensity; converting the ambient light intensity to an optical voltage; comparing the optical voltage to a sensitivity voltage and outputting a digital signal based on the comparison; and automatically adjusting the sensitivity voltage stepwise until the digital signal changes value. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An auto-darkening lens, comprising:
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a user interface configured to initiate an automatic sensitivity setting process; sensitivity setting circuitry configured to set a sensitivity voltage to an initial value upon initiation of the automatic sensitivity setting process; one or more optical sensors configured to detect light intensity; an optical sensing circuit configured to convert the light intensity to an optical voltage; and a comparator configured to compare the sensitivity voltage to the optical voltage and output a digital signal indicative of the comparison; wherein the sensitivity setting circuitry is configured to alter the sensitivity voltage until the digital signal from the comparator changes. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification