VIRTUAL REALITY GTAW AND PIPE WELDING SIMULATOR AND SETUP
First Claim
1. A simulator for facilitating virtual welding activity, comprising:
- a logic processor based subsystem operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment in virtual reality space that emulates welding activity on a virtual welding coupon, wherein the interactive welding environment simulates a virtual weld puddle on the virtual welding coupon, having dynamic real time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics, responsive to performing the virtual welding activity in real time;
a foot pedal device in operative communication with the logic processor based subsystem and configured to affect at least one characteristic of the virtual weld puddle in real time, responsive to user control of the foot pedal device; and
displaying means operatively connected to the logic processor based subsystem and configured to visually depict the interactive welding environment, including the virtual weld puddle on the virtual welding coupon, in real time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A simulator facilitating virtual welding activity. The simulator may include a logic processor based subsystem operable to generate an interactive welding environment in virtual reality space that emulates welding activity by simulating a virtual weld puddle having dynamic, real time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics, responsive to performing a simulated welding activity in real time. The simulator may include a foot pedal device in operative communication with the logic processor based subsystem and configured to affect a characteristic of the virtual weld puddle in real time, responsive to user control of the foot pedal device. The simulator may be configured to track the movements of a mock welding tool and a mock filler wire and determine interaction between the virtual weld puddle, a corresponding virtual welding tool, and a corresponding filler wire in virtual reality space that would result in the welding tool becoming contaminated.
181 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A simulator for facilitating virtual welding activity, comprising:
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a logic processor based subsystem operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment in virtual reality space that emulates welding activity on a virtual welding coupon, wherein the interactive welding environment simulates a virtual weld puddle on the virtual welding coupon, having dynamic real time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics, responsive to performing the virtual welding activity in real time; a foot pedal device in operative communication with the logic processor based subsystem and configured to affect at least one characteristic of the virtual weld puddle in real time, responsive to user control of the foot pedal device; and displaying means operatively connected to the logic processor based subsystem and configured to visually depict the interactive welding environment, including the virtual weld puddle on the virtual welding coupon, in real time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for facilitating virtual welding activity, comprising:
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a mock welding coupon represented in virtual reality space by a virtual welding coupon; a mock welding tool represented in virtual reality space by a virtual welding tool; a logic processor based subsystem operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment in virtual reality space that emulates welding activity on the virtual welding coupon by the virtual welding tool, wherein the interactive welding environment simulates a virtual weld puddle on the virtual welding coupon, having dynamic real time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics, responsive to performing the virtual welding activity in real time; a spatial tracking subsystem operatively connected to the logic processor based subsystem; and one or more first sensors configured to facilitate tracking movement of at least a tip of the mock welding tool in real time by communicating data about a temporally changing position of the mock welding tool to the spatial tracking subsystem, wherein the logic processor based subsystem is configured to accept tracking information from the spatial tracking subsystem and determine when the tip of the virtual welding tool, corresponding to the tip of the mock welding tool, intersects a surface of the virtual weld puddle in virtual reality space during the virtual welding activity, and wherein the logic processor based subsystem is further configured to generate an indication, to be provided to a user, that the virtual welding tool has become contaminated due to the intersecting. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification