Systems and methods providing an enhanced user experience in a real-time simulated virtual reality welding environment
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- generating a virtual weld joint having a virtual weld bead with a simulated welding system including a processor-based subsystem, a spatial tracker, and a mock welding tool, wherein generating the virtual weld joint comprises;
tracking, via the spatial tracker, manipulations of the mock welding tool by a user; and
simulating, by the processor-based subsystem, creation of the virtual weld bead of the virtual weld joint responsive to the manipulations of the mock welding tool by the user as tracked by the spatial tracker;
displaying an image of the virtual weld joint having the virtual weld bead, on a display device of the simulated welding system, that was generated using the simulated welding system;
receiving a user input, via an input device of the simulated welding system, to select a location along a length of the image of the virtual weld joint; and
displaying a cross-sectional image of the virtual weld joint at the location selected by the user input.
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Abstract
A real-time virtual reality welding system including a programmable processor-based subsystem, a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem, at least one mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker, and at least one display device operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem. The system is capable of simulating, in virtual reality space, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics. The system is further capable of displaying the simulated weld puddle on the display device in real-time.
324 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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generating a virtual weld joint having a virtual weld bead with a simulated welding system including a processor-based subsystem, a spatial tracker, and a mock welding tool, wherein generating the virtual weld joint comprises; tracking, via the spatial tracker, manipulations of the mock welding tool by a user; and simulating, by the processor-based subsystem, creation of the virtual weld bead of the virtual weld joint responsive to the manipulations of the mock welding tool by the user as tracked by the spatial tracker; displaying an image of the virtual weld joint having the virtual weld bead, on a display device of the simulated welding system, that was generated using the simulated welding system; receiving a user input, via an input device of the simulated welding system, to select a location along a length of the image of the virtual weld joint; and displaying a cross-sectional image of the virtual weld joint at the location selected by the user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A simulated welding system, comprising:
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a programmable processor-based subsystem; a spatial tracker operatively coupled to the programmable processor-based subsystem; a mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker; an input device operatively coupled to the programmable processor-based subsystem; and a display device operatively coupled to the programmable processor-based subsystem, wherein the programmable processor-based subsystem is operable to execute coded instructions that configure the programmable processor-based subsystem to; generate a simulation of a virtual reality welding environment; simulate creation of a virtual weld bead on a virtual welding coupon within the virtual reality welding environment responsive to manipulations of the mock welding tool tracked by the spatial tracker, wherein the virtual weld bead on the virtual welding coupon creates a virtual weld joint; display an image of the virtual weld joint having the virtual weld bead, on the display device; receive a user input, via the input device, to select a location along a length of the image of the virtual weld joint; and display, on the display device, a cross-sectional image of the virtual weld joint at the location selected by the user input. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification