Systems and methods providing enhanced education and training in a virtual reality environment

• US 9,280,913 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Peters, Carl, Postlethwaite, Deanna, Wallace, Matthew Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US13/792,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20130189658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 700/104, 382/154, 434/234
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/095 Monitoring or automatic control of welding parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0956 using sensing means, e.g. optical
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/24 Use of tools
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• 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

Virtual reality arc welding systems that provide virtual reality simulations for training purposes. Virtual reality welding systems to aid in training welding students may provide intelligent connections to web sites on the internet, overlays of ideal weld puddles, recommended corrective actions based on virtual testing results, simulations of virtual environments with safety hazards, and simulations of relationships between improperly set welding parameters and weld defects and discontinuities.

Claims

1. A method for a virtual reality welding system having a programmable processor-based subsystem executing computer-executable instructions, stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, for generating a simulation of a virtual reality welding environment including one or more unsafe conditions within the virtual reality welding environment, a spatial tracker operatively coupled to the programmable processor-based subsystem, a mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker, and a display operatively coupled to the programmable processor-based subsystem and configured to display the simulation of the virtual reality welding environment, the method comprising:

displaying the simulation of the virtual reality welding environment on the display, the simulation of the virtual reality welding environment, generated by the programmable processor-based subsystem, includes the one or more unsafe conditions;

receiving, from a user of the virtual reality welding system via a user interface operatively coupled to the processor-based subsystem, a user input identifying the one or more unsafe conditions in the simulation of the virtual reality welding environment; and

enabling operation of the virtual reality welding system for the user to perform a virtual welding activity in the simulation of the virtual reality welding environment via manipulation of the mock welding tool spatially tracked by the spatial tracker when the user input correctly identifies the one or more unsafe conditions in the simulation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the one or more unsafe conditions from the simulation of the virtual reality welding environment generated by the programmable processor-based subsequent in response to the user correctly identifying the one or more unsafe conditions.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing, into the simulation of the virtual reality welding environment generated by the programmable processor-based subsystem, one or more new unsafe conditions during performance of the virtual welding activity by the user using the mock welding tool, wherein the one or more new unsafe conditions are automatically introduced into the virtual reality welding environment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing, into the simulation of the virtual reality welding environment generated by the programmable processor-based subsystem, one or more new unsafe conditions during performance of the virtual welding activity by the user using the mock welding tool, wherein the one or more new unsafe conditions are introduced into the virtual reality welding environment in response to a command from a welding instructor.