WELDING SIMULATOR

• US 20100048273A1
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• 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: ZBORAY, David Anthony, WALLACE, Matthew Wayne, LUNDELL, Andrew Paul, BENNETT, Matthew Alan
• Granted Patent: US 9,483,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/24 Use of tools
• 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

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a computer program product and processor based computing system that provides processing means for executing coded instructions and input means for interacting with said processing means to create a virtual welding environment. The system establishes an objective to change a functional or operational state of a virtual article, and directs the end user to perform at least one virtual welding operation for changing its functional state. The system trains new users and inexperienced welders on the fundamental aspects of welding and other technical

Claims

1. A game played on a processor based computing device executing coded instructions, comprising the steps of:

providing processing means operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive virtual environment, wherein said processing means receives input from an associated input device;

creating a virtual article within virtual environment having an operational state that is changeable between operative and inoperative;

establishing a game objective to change the operational state of the virtual article by a virtual welding operation; and

,

directing an end user to perform a virtual welding operation that changes the operational state of the virtual article.

2. The game as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

instantiating a virtual article with a operational state set to inoperative, wherein the virtual article is capable of functioning within the virtual environment when the operational state is changed to operative.

3. The game as defined in claim 2, further comprising the step of:

providing display means for displaying the virtual environment; and

,

wherein when the operational state of the virtual article is changed to operative, said display means depicts the virtual article exhibiting activity related to its function.

4. The game as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing data representing virtual weld quality standards;

capturing performance data of the virtual welding operation; and

,

determining if the game objective has been accomplished by comparing performance data of the virtual welding operation with the data representing virtual weld quality standards.

5. The game as defined in claim 4, further comprising the step of:

ascribing a game score based on the performance data of the virtual welding operation.

6. The game as defined in claim 2, wherein the step of storing data representing virtual weld quality standards, comprises the step of:

storing ranges of data representing virtual weld quality standards that is derived from a virtual weld torch pitch angle or a virtual weld torch roll angle.

7. The game as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing display means for displaying the interactive virtual environment, wherein the virtual environment is created from one of a plurality of scenarios;

presenting an option of selecting one of a plurality of scenarios from which the virtual environment will be created; and

,

directing the end user to select one of a plurality of scenarios.

8. The game as defined in claim 1, wherein the game includes multiple levels of play differentiated by the number of virtual welding operations required to change the operational state of the virtual article.

9. The game as defined in claim 1, wherein the game includes multiple levels of play each differentiated by the complexity of the virtual welding operations.

10. A kit for an associated processor based computing device executing coded instructions for displaying an interactive virtual welding environment and having an associated input device for interfacing with an end user, comprising:

an readily releasable attachment adapted to fixedly connect to the associated input device, wherein the readily releasable attachment resembles a welding tool displayed in the interactive virtual welding environment.

11. The kit as defined in claim 10, wherein the readily releasable attachment resembles an arc welding torch.

12. The kit as defined in claim 10, wherein the readily releasable attachment has a shape and weight that corresponds to real world welding torch.

13. The kit as defined in claim 10, further comprising:

a welding coupon that corresponds to a virtual article displayed in the interactive virtual welding environment for guiding the end user while interacting with the virtual welding environment.

14. An input device for an associated processor based computing device executing an associated computer program product for generating a virtual welding environment, comprising:

an input device body shaped to resemble a real world welding torch;

one or more sensors having sensor output, wherein the one or more sensors are incorporated with the input device body, the one or more sensors being operable to sense spatial orientation of the input device body; and

,

means for communicating the sensor output to the associated processor based computing device.

15. The input device as defined in claim 14, wherein said means for communicating comprises circuitry for wirelessly communicating sensor output to the associated processor based computing device.

16. The input device as defined in claim 14, wherein said means for communicating comprises circuitry for communicating sensor output to the associated processor based computing device through a hard wired cord, wherein the hard wired is adapted to readily connect to an input port on the associated processor based computing device.

17. A method for training welding activity, comprising:

providing a processor based computing device operable to execute coded instructions, an imaging device that can display a virtual welding environment responsive to the execution of the coded instructions, and an input device operatively connected to the processor based computing device, wherein the input device senses movement in the real world;

displaying one or more virtual objects in the virtual welding environment having an operational deficiency discernable by one or more virtual clues;

directing an end user to analyze the one or more virtual clues for deriving a solution to correct the operational deficiency; and

,

facilitating virtual welding in the virtual welding environment for correcting the operational deficiency.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, further comprising the step of:

depicting a plurality of virtual welding parameters on the imaging device that when changed defines a virtual welding process and wherein the plurality of virtual welding parameters are changeable by way of manipulating the input device; and

wherein the step of deriving the solution to correct the operational deficiency includes changing at least one of the plurality of virtual welding parameters.

19. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the step of facilitating virtual welding in the virtual welding environment results in a virtual weld, and further comprising the steps of:

storing data representing a threshold of virtual welding quality for the virtual weld; and

,

evaluating the virtual weld with respect to the threshold of virtual welding quality.

20. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the step of displaying one or more virtual objects in the virtual welding environment having an operational deficiency discernable by one or more virtual clues comprises the step of:

displaying one or more virtual objects in a first scenario of the virtual welding environment having a first operational deficiency discernable by one or more virtual clues; and

,

further comprising the step of;

displaying one or more virtual objects in a second scenario of the virtual welding environment having a second substantially operational deficiency discernable by one or more virtual clues.