Voice control welding/cutting helmet functions and settings

• US 7,926,118 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Becker, William J., Bachmeier, Hans J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Shaun R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sutton; Andrew W
• Application Number:
  US11/646,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20080158502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 2/8, 244/1, 243/1, 243/2, 245/3, 242/7, 242/9, 2 82- 86, 219/147, 349/58, 359/852
• US Class Current: 2/8.2
• 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;

a non-audible manual input device configured to receive a manual input and to generate a second signal in response to the manual input received, wherein the manual input and the audible input are configured to cooperatively define a function of the manual input; and

an electronic control module coupled to the lens, to the microphone, and to the non-audible manual input device and configured to control the electronically controllable lens based upon the signal and the second 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, wherein the audible input and the manual input are utilized by the electronic control module to simultaneously adjust a function and a setting of the electronically controllable lens.

8. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the manual input device 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 the function is a shade of the electronically controllable lens and the setting is a degree of shade of the electronically controllable lens.

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.