Welding Helmet Display for In-View Arc Parameter Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Welders face challenges in accessing real-time information about the welding process without distracting themselves from the welding work area, as existing solutions require visual focus away from the work area or rely on audio indicators that are hard to interpret.
Innovation Solution
A welding system that includes a helmet with a visual display and a camera, allowing welders to view real-time information about welding parameters such as current and voltage directly within their field of vision, without needing to look away from the welding area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If welders look at gauges on the control panel to access welding information, then they can obtain current and voltage data, but they must direct their field of vision away from the welding work area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent projects welding information (current, voltage, amperage) from the control panel gauges onto the helmet viewing window, effectively moving the information display from a separate spatial location (control panel) to the same visual plane as the welding work area (helmet window). This dimensional relocation allows welders to access real-time welding parameters without shifting their visual focus away from the weld location.
Solution Approach 2:
The helmet viewing window acts as an intermediary surface that simultaneously serves as both the protective barrier for the welder's eyes and the display medium for welding information. By projecting gauges onto this intermediate surface, the system bridges the gap between the welding work area and the information display, allowing both to be viewed together without requiring the welder to look away.
2Loss of information
If audio arc parameter indicators are used to provide welding information, then welders receive real-time feedback, but the indicators are hard to hear and interpolate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acoustic feedback mechanism (audio arc parameter indicators) with an optical projection system. Instead of relying on audio signals that are difficult to hear and interpret, the system projects visual representations of welding parameters directly onto the helmet viewing window, substituting the sensory modality from auditory to visual to improve information clarity and interpretability.
3Loss of information
If information displays are placed within visual range of the helmet viewing window, then welders can see welding parameters, but they must still move their visual focus away from the welding work area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the welding information display with the helmet viewing window itself, rather than placing it as a separate element within the visual field. By projecting the gauges directly onto the viewing window surface, the information display becomes an integrated part of the visual interface, allowing welders to view both the welding work area and parameter information simultaneously through the same optical path without requiring focus shifts.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A welding system (10) comprising: a welding equipment (14) for generating a welding current and voltage, a welding control system (14) for controlling the welding current and voltage, a monitoring system (14) for monitoring a welding parameter, and a welding helmet (12) including: a main body (22) a visual display (24) connected to the main body, and an information generating mechanism (28) in communication with the monitoring system capable of generating an image representative of information from the monitoring system based upon the monitored welding parameter upon the visual display where the focus of the image is outside of the main body and wherein the focus of the image is in a focus range with an associated welding work area.