WELDING HELMET AUDIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH BONE CONDUCTION TRANSDUCERS

• US 20100223706A1
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Becker, William Joshua, Pfeifer, Kyle Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/648,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20100223706A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/8.200
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/30 Mounting radio sets or communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/06 Masks, shields or hoods for welders safety devices for welding in general F16P1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/067 with variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/18 Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound G10K11/02, G10K11/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers

Abstract

A system for welding communication that includes a welding headgear and a bone conduction transducer (BCT) disposed in or on the welding headgear is provided. The BCT facilitates communication of signals to a welding operator via bone conduction. The bone conduction facilitates the transmission of sound directly to an inner ear of the welding operator.

Claims

1. A welding helmet, comprising:

a shell;

welding headgear coupled to the shell; and

a bone conduction transducer (BCT) disposed in or on the welding shell and/or the welding headgear to facilitate communication of signals to a welding operator via bone conduction, wherein the bone conduction facilitates the transmission of sound directly to an inner ear of the welding operator.

2. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the signals comprise at least one of weld instructions, welding warnings, and music.

3. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the welding headgear comprises a headband, and wherein electronics are coupled to the headband and the BCT.

4. The welding helmet of claim 3, wherein the electronics comprise at least one of transmission circuitry, a power source, an amplifier, a power regulator, a transceiver, an FM tuner, a microcontroller, a wireless radio, and a light sensor.

5. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the welding headgear comprises a molded extension and an opening configured to receive safety goggles.

6. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the welding headgear comprises a reinforced base and a hinge structure, and wherein the BCT is mounted to the hinge structure.

7. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the welding headgear comprises one or more levers and a torsion spring mechanism configured to hold the BCT against a cheekbone of the welding operator.

8. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the BCT is mounted to the shell above a lens and/or below a lens through which the welding operator views a welding operation.

9. The welding helmet of claim 1, comprising a microphone disposed in or on the welding headgear for detecting sounds during a welding operation and for generating electric signals representative of the sounds.

10. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the BCT is attached to the welding headgear via adjustable, flexible bands that are configured to be received by a backplate of the headgear, adjusted to positions in the backplate, and/or flexed outward.

11. A system for welding communication, comprising:

welding headgear; and

a bone conduction transducer (BCT) disposed in or on the welding headgear to facilitate communication of signals via bone conduction from a welding operator to one or more external devices or operators, wherein the bone conduction facilitates the transmission of sound from a bone structure of the welding operator to the BCT.

12. The system for welding communication of claim 11, wherein the signals comprise at least one of audio communications and voice commands.

13. The system for welding communication of claim 11, comprising a speaker disposed in or on the welding headgear for transmitting sounds during a welding operation.

14. The system for welding communication of claim 11, wherein the welding headgear comprises a headband, and wherein electronics are coupled to the headband and the BCT.

15. The system for welding communication of claim 14, wherein the electronics comprise at least one of transmission circuitry, a power source, an amplifier, a power regulator, a transceiver, an FM tuner, a microcontroller, wireless radio, and a light sensor.

16. A welding helmet, comprising:

welding headgear comprising a headband; and

a comfort cushion that is removably securable to or integrated with the headband of the welding headgear, wherein a bone conduction transducer (BCT) is embedded in the comfort cushion and configured to receive audio signals from one or more bones of a welding operator via bone conduction and/or to facilitate the transmission of sound directly to an inner ear of the welding operator.

17. The welding helmet of claim 16, wherein the BCT is configured to compress into the comfort cushion when the welding headgear contacts the welding operator.

18. The welding helmet of claim 17, wherein the BCT does not contact the headband during compression.

19. The welding helmet of claim 16, wherein electronics are mounted on the headband and communicatively coupled to the BCT.

20. The welding helmet of claim 19, wherein the electronics comprise at least one of transmission circuitry, a power source, an amplifier, a power regulator, a transceiver, an FM tuner, a microcontroller, a wireless radio, and a light sensor.

21. An accessory for a welding helmet, comprising:

a bone conduction transducer (BCT) integrated with the welding accessory and configured to receive audio signals from one or more bones of a welding operator via bone conduction and/or to facilitate the transmission of sound directly to an inner ear of the welding operator;

electronics integrated with the welding accessory and coupled to the BCT; and

wherein the welding accessory is configured to be removably attached to the welding helmet.

22. The welding accessory of claim 21, wherein the electronics comprise at least one of transmission circuitry, a power source, an amplifier, a power regulator, a transceiver, an FM tuner, a microcontroller, a wireless radio, and a light sensor.

23. The welding accessory of claim 21, wherein the welding accessory comprises a comfort cushion.