welding helmet

Abstract

Welding helmet which maintains an on state after initial power supply, wherein the welding helmet has the following features: - a circuit unit (200) that controls a shutter liquid crystal display (230) based on whether welding light exists and / or on the intensity of the welding light, - a power supply unit (300) that supplies power to the circuit unit (200), and - a switching unit (100) that controls an electrical connection between the switching unit (200) and the power supply unit (300), wherein the switching unit (100) maintains the on-state after an initial switching to an on-state and has the following features: - a first switching unit (110) that controls a connection between the switching unit (200) and the power supply unit (300), - a battery (120) that provides a voltage to maintain an off state of the first switching unit (110), - a user control unit (130) that switches a voltage of an input terminal from the voltage of the battery (120) to a reference voltage for switching a state of the first switching unit (110) in response to a commissioning by a user, and - a second switching unit (140) which maintains the voltage of the input terminal at the reference voltage based on a control signal of the switching unit (200) after the switching unit (100) has initially been switched to the ON state, wherein the first switching unit (110) is in an ON state when the voltage of the input terminal is the reference voltage.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a welding helmet.

[0002] Generally, welding is a process in which two metals are joined by locally heating and melting them, utilizing the fusibility of metals. Because welding generates high-temperature, bright light and gas, the operator (e.g., a welder) wears a welding helmet as part of their protective equipment.

[0003] In the case of a manually operated welding helmet according to the prior art, the operator experiences the inconvenience of having to repeatedly hold and release the helmet's handle during a welding process. Therefore, to improve upon the aforementioned manually operated welding helmet, various prior art designs have proposed a band-type welding helmet that can be attached to the operator's head.

[0004] A welding helmet is used to protect the face and eyes of an operator during a process such as welding or cutting. The welding helmet is also equipped with a glare shield (referred to below as a "filter insert") to protect the user's eyes from intense, harmful light generated during such a process.

[0005] In general, the filter insert can block rays with wavelengths of 780 nm or more and less than 365 nm and control the transmission of visible rays, thus enabling the user to perform a welding operation by visually determining a welding position without glare.

[0006] However, if the user of the welding helmet performs a welding operation in a state where the power has been forgotten (i.e., in a state where the aforementioned filter insert is not in operation), it is possible that the user may suffer serious damage due to the characteristics of a welding operation, such as damage to the optic nerves.

[0007] Therefore, it may be desirable for the welding helmet to receive power regularly, even if the user forgets to switch it on; however, if the welding helmet is allocated power that originates from power supplied during the manufacturing process, it is possible that the user will receive the welding helmet in a discharged or nearly discharged state in some cases.

[0008] In the company publication Digital EliteTM Series: Auto Darkening Helmets, Miller Electric Mfg. Co., Appleton, WI, USA, Jan. 2016, Index No. AY / 43.0, welding helmets are disclosed which have a lens and, in an associated operating mode, allow the lens to darken using sunlight before the start of a welding process.

[0009] Patent specification KR 101 163 420 B1 discloses a control circuit for a self-darkening welding helmet.

[0010] The technical problem underlying the invention is to provide a welding helmet which has improved properties such that the difficulties of welding helmets according to the prior art, as explained above, are avoided or at least partially reduced.

[0011] The invention solves this problem by providing a welding helmet with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. According to the invention, the welding helmet maintains an switched-on state after power has initially been supplied to it.

[0012] According to the invention, the welding helmet, which maintains an on-state after initial power supply, comprises the following: a circuit unit that controls a shutter liquid crystal display (LCD) based on whether welding light is present and / or on the intensity of the welding light; a power supply unit that supplies power to the circuit unit; and a switching unit that controls an electrical connection between the circuit unit and the power supply unit, wherein the switching unit, after being switched to an on-state at the beginning, maintains the on-state.

[0013] Corresponding embodiments of the invention include welding helmets in which power can be supplied regularly after power has initially been supplied.

[0014] Corresponding embodiments of the invention include welding helmets that can efficiently manage power by blocking the regularly supplied power after a certain period of time has elapsed.

[0015] Before the switching unit is switched to the ON state at the beginning, it can maintain an OFF state to block the electrical connection between the switching unit and the power supply unit.

[0016] The switching unit comprises the following: a first switching unit that controls a connection between the switching unit and the power supply unit; a battery that provides a voltage to maintain an off state of the first switching unit; a user control unit that switches the voltage of an input terminal from the battery voltage to a reference voltage to change the state of the first switching unit in response to a user activation; and a second switching unit that maintains the input terminal voltage at the reference voltage based on a control signal from the switching unit after the switching unit has been initially switched to the on state, whereby the first switching unit may be in an on state when the input terminal voltage is equal to the reference voltage.

[0017] The circuit unit can include a control unit that controls the shutter LCD. The control unit can output a control signal to the circuit unit to maintain its on-state when power is supplied by the power supply unit.

[0018] The control unit can stop the output of the control signal if a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of the control signal output. The switching unit can be switched to an off state to block the electrical connection between the switching unit and the power supply unit when the control signal output is stopped by the control unit.

[0019] These and / or further aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings, the accompanying claims, and the following detailed description of the present disclosure. Further aspects are partly set forth in the following description and partly become apparent from the description or can be ascertained by applying the embodiments of the disclosure shown. The drawings include: Fig. 1 a perspective view showing the external appearance of a welding helmet according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a block diagram schematically representing a configuration of a welding helmet according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B and Fig. 3C block diagrams, which illustrate in detail the respective configurations of a welding helmet according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4A a block diagram to describe the operation of a switching unit before power is initially supplied to a welding helmet; Fig. 4B a block diagram to describe the operation of a switching unit while power is initially supplied to a welding helmet; and Fig. 4C is a block diagram describing the operation of a switching unit after power has initially been supplied to a welding helmet.

[0020] The following section refers in detail to embodiments for which examples are shown in the accompanying drawings, whereby identical reference numerals consistently refer to the same elements and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted. Dimensions of components in the drawings may be exaggerated for the sake of clarity. In other words, since the dimensions and shapes of components in the drawings are arbitrarily represented for the sake of clarity, the present disclosure is not limited to them.

[0021] Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a welding helmet 10 according to an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically representing a configuration of a welding helmet according to one embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, the Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B and Fig. 3C block diagrams, which illustrate in detail the respective configurations of a welding helmet according to an embodiment of the invention. Descriptions follow with reference to the Fig. 1 to 3C.

[0022] A welding helmet 10 according to an embodiment of the invention can protect the face and eyes of an operator (e.g. a welder) by controlling a shutter liquid crystal display (LCD) based on whether welding light exists and / or on the intensity of the welding light.

[0023] The welding helmet shown, model 10, includes the following: a housing which is in Fig. Figure 1 shows a switching unit 100, a switching unit 200, and a power supply unit 300, which are arranged in the housing. In this case, the housing can contain a non-flammable, lightweight material, such as a non-flammable plastic.

[0024] The power supply unit 300 according to an embodiment of the invention can serve to supply power to the circuit unit 200 according to the operation of the switching unit 100, and can include a first battery 310, a solar cell 320 and a power supply circuit unit 330.

[0025] The first battery 310 can refer to a storage unit for electrical energy that temporarily stores electrical energy (or power) and supplies the circuit unit 200 with electrical energy (or power) as needed. The first battery 310 can, for example, include a lithium-ion battery pack that has at least one lithium-ion cell and a battery management system (BMS) for managing that at least one lithium-ion cell.

[0026] The solar cell 320 can refer to an energy conversion unit for converting welding light and / or sunlight into electrical energy. The electrical energy generated by the solar cell 320 can be stored in the first battery 310 described above or can be used to operate the circuit unit 200.

[0027] The power supply circuit unit 330 can supply the circuit unit 200 with the electrical energy provided by the first battery 310 and / or the solar cell 320 described above. In this case, the power supply circuit unit 330 can adjust the voltage of the electrical energy provided by the first battery 310 and / or the solar cell 320 according to the nominal voltage of the circuit unit 200 in a suitable manner.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment, the power supply circuit unit 330 can transmit the electrical energy generated by the solar cell 320 to the first battery 310 in order to charge the first battery 310.

[0029] The circuit unit 200 shown according to an embodiment of the invention serves to control a shutter LCD 230 based on whether welding light exists and / or on the intensity of the welding light, and includes a control unit 210, a shutter control unit 220, a shutter LCD 230, a display unit 240, a memory 250, a light sensor 260 and an image acquisition unit 270.

[0030] The control unit 210 according to an embodiment of the invention can control the shutter LCD 230 based on whether welding light exists and / or on the intensity of the welding light.

[0031] If power is supplied at the beginning by the power supply unit 300 described above, the control unit 210 can also generate a control signal to keep the switching unit 100 in an on state to maintain the power supply by the power supply unit 300, and can output the generated control signal to the switching unit 100.

[0032] In addition, the control unit 210 can control other components of the welding helmet (such as the light sensor 260 and the image acquisition unit 270).

[0033] The control unit 210 can include any type of component capable of processing data, such as a processor. The processor can, for example, refer to a data processing unit integrated into hardware and comprising a physically structured circuit to perform a function represented by the instructions or code in a program. As an example, the hardware-integrated data processing unit can include any processing unit, such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA); however, the invention is not limited to these.

[0034] The shutter control unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention can vary the dimming level of the shutter LCD 230 according to the user's operation and / or the control of the control unit 210 described above. In this case, the shutter LCD 230 can be a unit for appropriately adjusting the welding light reaching the face and / or eyes of a user.

[0035] With regard to a bright welding light, for example, the control unit 210 can receive a signal corresponding to the bright welding light from the light sensor 260 described below and, in response, output a control signal to the shutter control unit 220 to increase the dimming level of the shutter LCD 230.

[0036] The display unit 240 according to one embodiment of the invention can, for example, display the result of a user's operation and / or the operating status of the welding helmet 10. The display unit 240 can, for example, display the accumulated working time and the like.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the memory 250 can, for example, store the welding force, welding time, idle time, and the number of welding operations determined by the control unit 210. The memory 250 can, for example, store an image relating to the welding condition, acquired by the image acquisition unit 270 described below. Furthermore, the memory 250 can store source code and / or software for driving the control unit 210 described above. The memory 250 can include magnetic storage media or flash memory media; however, the invention is not limited to these.

[0038] The light sensor 260 according to an embodiment of the invention can detect whether welding light exists, and / or it can detect the intensity of the welding light and transmit the detection result to the control unit 210.

[0039] The image acquisition unit 270 according to an embodiment of the invention can acquire an image relating to the welding condition.

[0040] The switching unit 100 according to an embodiment of the invention can serve to control the electrical connection between the switching unit 200 and the power supply unit 300 according to the operation of a user and / or according to the control of the control unit 210, and can include a first switching unit 110, a second battery 120, a user operating unit 130, a second switching unit 140 and an input connection 150 for switching the state of the first switching unit 110.

[0041] The first switching unit 110 according to one embodiment of the invention can control the electrical connection between the circuit unit 200 and the power supply unit 300 according to user operation and / or according to the control of the control unit 210. The first switching unit 110 can include any of the following: a field-effect transistor (FET), a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), and a relay for controlling the opening / closing of the circuit according to a control signal. However, this is only one example, and the invention is not limited to this.

[0042] Meanwhile, the on / off state of the first switching unit 110 can be switched based on the voltage of the input terminal 150. For example, if the voltage of the input terminal 150 is equal to a reference voltage (e.g., 0 [V]), the first switching unit 110 can be switched on to electrically connect the circuit unit 200 to the power supply unit 300.

[0043] Conversely, if the voltage at input terminal 150 is higher than the reference voltage (e.g., equal to the voltage of the second battery (e.g., 3 V)), the first switching unit 110 can be switched off to block the electrical connection between the switching unit 200 and the power supply unit 300. However, this operation is only one example, and the invention is not limited to it.

[0044] According to the invention, an 'on' state of a switching unit can be a short-circuited state of the switching unit, and this can mean a state in which two contact points connected to the switching unit are electrically connected to each other. Conversely, an 'off' state of the switching unit can, according to the invention, be an open state of the switching unit, and this can mean a state in which two contact points connected to the switching unit are electrically separated from each other.

[0045] The second battery 120 according to one embodiment of the invention can supply a voltage to keep the first switching unit 110 in an off state, as described above. The second battery 120 can be a separate battery, distinct from the first battery 310 described above, or it can be essentially the same battery as the first battery 310 described above. In an alternative embodiment, the second battery 120 can be a battery that is charged by the first battery 310 described above.

[0046] The user control unit 130 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can serve to effect commissioning by a user for the initial use of the welding helmet. The user control unit 130 can, for example, include a button for initial commissioning or a key box for initial commissioning. However, this is merely an example, and the invention is not limited to this.

[0047] The user control unit 130, however, can serve to prevent the welding helmet 10 from becoming inoperable due to the first battery 310 becoming depleted during the distribution of the welding helmet 10.

[0048] If the user of the welding helmet 10 performs a welding operation in a state where the power has been forgotten (i.e., in a state where the darkening of the shutter LCD 230 is not in operation), it is possible that the user may suffer serious damage due to the characteristics of a welding operation, such as damage to the optic nerves.

[0049] Therefore, it may be desirable for the welding helmet 10 to be supplied with power regularly, even if the user forgets to switch on the power; however, if the welding helmet 10 is distributed with the power supplied during the manufacturing period, it is possible that the user will receive the welding helmet 10 in a discharged state in some cases.

[0050] Accordingly, it may be necessary to supply power regularly only after power has been supplied at the beginning, as in the case of the welding helmet 10 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0051] The user can enter a command into the user control unit 130 at the time of first use of the welding helmet 10 in order to supply power to the welding helmet 10 regularly, thus preventing serious damage caused by forgetting, such as damage to the optic nerves.

[0052] The second switching unit 140 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can serve to maintain the voltage of the input terminal 150 at a reference voltage (e.g., 0 V) ​​in response to a control signal from the control unit 210. The second switching unit 140 can include any of the following: a field-effect transistor (FET), a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), and a relay for controlling the opening / closing of the circuit in response to a control signal from the control unit 210. However, this is merely an example, and the invention is not limited to this one.

[0053] The following refers to the Fig. Sections 4A to 4C describe a process in which the welding helmet 10, after an initial current has been supplied to it, maintains a switched-on state, with a focus on the operation of the switching unit 100. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, it is assumed that terminal A is a connection for linking the power supply unit 300 to the switching unit 100, that terminal B is a connection for linking the switching unit 100 to the circuit unit 200, and that terminal G is a connection for providing a reference voltage.

[0054] Fig. 4A is a block diagram describing the operation of the switching unit 100 before power is initially supplied to the welding helmet 10.

[0055] As described above, the second battery 120 can provide a voltage through the input terminal 150 of the first switching unit 110 to keep the first switching unit 110 in an off state. Accordingly, the electrical connection between the power supply unit 300 and the switching unit 200 can be blocked.

[0056] In other words, until switching unit 100 is switched to an on state at the beginning, switching unit 100 can maintain the off state to block the electrical connection between circuit unit 200 and power supply unit 300. The voltage supplied by the second battery 120 can be higher than the reference voltage (i.e., the voltage of terminal G).

[0057] Since the electrical connection between the switching unit 200 and the power supply unit 300 is thus blocked, as described above, the control unit 210 cannot output a control signal to control the second switching unit 140, and thus the second switching unit 140 can maintain the off state. In this case, the off state of the second switching unit 140 can be a state in which the input terminal 150 of the first switching unit 110 and terminal G are not electrically connected.

[0058] Fig. 4B is a block diagram describing the operation of the switching unit 100, in which power is initially supplied to the welding helmet 10.

[0059] As described above, the user control unit 130 can serve to initiate commissioning by a user for initial use of the welding helmet, and it can, for example, be a key input switch 131 for initial commissioning, as shown in Fig. 4B is shown.

[0060] By commissioning the user control unit 130, the voltage of the input terminal 150 of the first switching unit 110 can be temporarily switched from the voltage of the second battery 120 to the reference voltage (i.e. the voltage of terminal G).

[0061] Due to the switching of the voltage of the input terminal 150, the first switching unit 110 can be switched to an on state, and thus the power P of the power supply unit 300 can be supplied to the switching unit 200.

[0062] The switching unit 200 can start operation through the supplied power P and can generate a control signal to maintain the on state of the first switching unit 110, and can output the generated control signal to the second switching unit 140.

[0063] Fig. 4C is a block diagram describing the operation of the switching unit 100 after power has initially been supplied to the welding helmet 10.

[0064] As described above, after initial power supply, the circuit unit 200 can generate a control signal to keep the first switching unit 110 in an on state and can output the generated control signal to the second switching unit 140. Based on the control signal, the second switching unit 140 can maintain the voltage of the input terminal 150 of the first switching unit 110 at the reference voltage (i.e., the voltage of terminal G). Accordingly, according to one embodiment of the invention, the welding helmet 10 can maintain the on state from a time desired by the user.

[0065] In an alternative embodiment, if a certain period of time has elapsed since the time at which an output of a control signal is started to keep the first switching unit 110 in the on state, the control unit 210 of the switching unit 200 can stop the output of the control signal according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0066] If the welding helmet 10 is not used for an extended period of time, the power P supplied to the circuit unit 200 can be blocked according to the invention, thus extending the service life of the welding helmet 10. The aforementioned 'time interval' can be specified by the user, for example, as 12 hours, 7 days, or similar.

[0067] According to the invention, it is possible to provide a welding helmet in which power is only supplied regularly after power has initially been supplied.

[0068] In particular, according to the invention, the user can start a power supply for the welding helmet from the time of first use of the welding helmet, so that serious damage can be prevented, such as damage to the optic nerves caused by forgetting or misjudging the operating state of the welding helmet.

[0069] Furthermore, according to the invention, the regularly supplied power can be blocked after a certain period of time has elapsed, and thus the power for the welding helmet can be managed efficiently.

[0070] Certain implementations described herein are merely embodiments and do not in any way limit the scope of the invention. For the sake of clarity, descriptions of electronic configurations, control systems, software, and other functional aspects of the systems may be omitted in accordance with the prior art. Furthermore, the connecting lines or connecting elements between different components shown in the drawings represent examples of functional and / or physical or logical connections between the various components, and various alternative or additional functional, physical, or logical connections may be present in practical devices. Moreover, no element is essential for the application of the invention unless the element is expressly described as "essential" or "indispensable."

[0071] It is understood that the embodiments described herein are to be considered descriptive only and not for the purpose of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment are normally to be considered valid for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. Although one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it is understood by a person skilled in the art that various modifications with respect to shapes and details may be made without departing from the content and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.

Claims

[1] Welding helmet which maintains a switched-on state after initial power supply, wherein the welding helmet has the following features: - a circuit unit (200) that controls a shutter liquid crystal display (230) based on whether welding light exists and / or on the intensity of the welding light, - a power supply unit (300) that supplies power to the circuit unit (200), and - a switching unit (100) that controls an electrical connection between the switching unit (200) and the power supply unit (300), wherein the switching unit (100) maintains the on-state after an initial switching to an on-state and has the following features: - a first switching unit (110) that controls a connection between the switching unit (200) and the power supply unit (300), - a battery (120) that provides a voltage to maintain an off state of the first switching unit (110), - a user control unit (130) that switches a voltage of an input terminal from the voltage of the battery (120) to a reference voltage for switching a state of the first switching unit (110) in response to a commissioning by a user, and - a second switching unit (140) which maintains the voltage of the input terminal at the reference voltage based on a control signal of the switching unit (200) after the switching unit (100) has initially been switched to the ON state, wherein the first switching unit (110) is in an ON state when the voltage of the input terminal is the reference voltage. [2] Welding helmet according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit (100) maintains an off state before it is initially switched to the on state in order to block the electrical connection between the switching unit (200) and the power supply unit (300). [3] Welding helmet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the circuit unit (200) comprises a control unit (210) which controls the shutter liquid crystal display (230). [4] Welding helmet according to claim 3, wherein the control unit (210) outputs a control signal to the switching unit (100) to maintain the on state of the switching unit (100) when power is supplied by the power supply unit (300). [5] Welding helmet according to claim 4, wherein the control unit (210) stops the output of the control signal when a certain period of time has elapsed since the time of starting the output of the control signal. [6] Welding helmet according to claim 5, wherein the switching unit (100) is switched to an off state to block the electrical connection between the switching unit (200) and the power supply unit (300) when the output of the control signal by the control unit (210) is stopped.

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