Systems and Methods Providing a Computerized Eyewear Device to Aid in Welding

Abstract

Systems and methods to aid a welder or welding student. A system may provide a real-world arc welding system or a virtual reality arc welding system along with a computerized eyewear device having a head-up display (HUD). The computerized eyewear device may be worn by a user under a conventional welding helmet as eye glasses are worn and may wirelessly communicate with a welding power source of a real-world arc welding system or a programmable processor-based subsystem of a virtual reality arc welding system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A virtual reality welding system, comprising:
 a programmable processor-based subsystem; and   a computerized eyewear device having a head-up display (HUD) and control and communication circuitry (CCC) operatively connected to the HUD, wherein the computerized eyewear device is configured to:
 be worn by a user as eye glasses are worn; and 
 wirelessly communicate with the programmable processor-based subsystem. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control and communication circuitry is configured to wirelessly receive information from the programmable processor-based subsystem and display the information on the HUD. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computerized eyewear device further includes a microphone operatively connected to the control and communication circuitry and configured to receive voice-activated user command information and wirelessly transmit the voice-activated user command information to the programmable processor-based subsystem. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computerized eyewear device further includes a camera operatively connected to the control and communication circuitry and configured to capture one or more of still pictures and moving video. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control and communication circuitry is configured to access the internet through a wireless access point. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computerized eyewear device further includes a frame configured to be worn on the head of a user. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the computerized eyewear device further includes at least one housing affixed to the frame containing one or more of the control and communication circuitry, a microphone, a motion sensing device, a touch-sensitive user interface, and a camera. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the HUD is affixed to the frame and is movable with respect to the frame through rotation about a first axis that extends parallel to a brow portion of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the computerized eyewear device further includes at least one prescription optical lens held in place by the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the frame includes a bridge configured to be supported on the nose of the user, a brow portion coupled to and extending away from the bridge to a first end remote therefrom and configured to be positioned over a first side of a brow of the user, and a first arm having a first end coupled to the first end of the brow portion and extending to a free end, the first arm being configured to be positioned over a first temple of the user with the free end disposed near a first ear of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the bridge is adjustable for selective positioning of the brow portion relative to an eye of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computerized eyewear device further includes at least one motion sensing device operatively connected to the control and communication circuitry and configured to provide spatial information to the programmable processor-based subsystem as a user moves his head. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computerized eyewear device further includes a touch-sensitive user interface operatively connected to the control and communication circuitry and configured to allow a user to select command information and wirelessly transmit the command information to the programmable processor-based subsystem. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the programmable processor-based subsystem and the computerized eyewear device are cooperatively configured to provide one or more of virtual reality images associated with a virtual reality welding process and virtual cues and indicators associated with a virtual reality welding process on the HUD. 
     
     
         15 . A welding simulator, comprising:
 a programmable processor-based subsystem configured to simulate a welding operation; and   a computerized eyewear device configured to be worn by a user during the simulated welding operation, the computerized eyewear device having a wireless communication interface, a head-up display, a processor, and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored on the memory to configure the computerized eyewear device to:
 communicate with the programmable processor-based subsystem via the wireless communication interface; and 
 display information related to the simulated welding operation on the head-up display. 
   
     
     
         16 . The welding simulator of  claim 15 , wherein the computerized eyewear device further includes a microphone, and
 wherein the computerized eyewear device is further configured to voice commands from the user via the microphone and communicate information related to the voice commands to the programmable processor-based subsystem via the wireless communication interface.   
     
     
         17 . The welding simulator of  claim 15 , wherein the computerized eyewear device further includes a camera, and wherein the computerized eyewear device is further configured to capture images with the camera during the simulated welding operation. 
     
     
         18 . The welding simulator of  claim 15 , wherein the computerized eyewear device further includes at least one motion sensing device, and
 wherein computerized eyewear device is further configured to spatially track a motion of the user's head with the at least one motion sensing device and communicate information related to the motion to the programmable processor-based subsystem via the wireless communication interface.   
     
     
         19 . The welding simulator of  claim 15 , wherein the programmable processor-based subsystem executes computer instructions to cause the programmable processor-based subsystem to generate a virtual weld during the simulated welding operation and to communicate images corresponding to the virtual weld to the computerized eyewear device. 
     
     
         20 . The welding simulator of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem; and   a mock welding tool manipulated by the user during the simulated welding operation, the mock welding tool is configured to be spatially tracked by the spatial tracker during the simulated welding operation.