Adjustable visual effects simulating auto darkening lenses in augmented reality welding systems

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and/or methods are disclosed relating to augmented reality welding systems. In some examples, an augmented reality welding system is configured to apply a visual effect to a simulated rendering of the augmented reality welding system when a simulated arc is present, so as to emulate an auto-darkening lens of a welding helmet. In some examples, the visual effect is impacted by several user adjustable settings. The settings may be adjusted by a user, such as via a helmet interface and/or the user interface of the augmented reality welding system, for example. In some examples, the settings may emulate auto-darkening settings found on conventional auto-darkening welding helmets (e.g., shade, sensitivity, and/or delay). In some examples, the settings may also include other settings unique to the augmented reality welding system, such as, for example a helmet model/type, a difficulty setting, a realism setting, and/or an effect area setting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weld training system, comprising:
 a display screen configured to display a simulated rendering; and   control circuitry configured to:
 determine whether the simulated rendering includes a simulated arc, 
 in response to determining the simulated rendering includes the simulated arc, determine a visual effect to apply to the simulated rendering based on a shade setting or a helmet model setting, and 
 apply the visual effect to at least a portion of the simulated rendering. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the visual effect simulates a darkening effect of an auto-darkening welding helmet. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine the visual effect to apply to the simulated rendering based on the helmet model setting, the helmet model setting comprises a type of welding helmet. 
     
     
         4 . The weld training system of  claim 3 , further comprising a simulated welding helmet having the display screen, and control circuitry. 
     
     
         5 . The weld training system of  claim 4 , wherein the simulated welding helmet further comprises a camera configured to capture an image of a surrounding environment, the control circuitry being further configured to generate the simulated rendering based on the image. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine a threshold based on a sensitivity setting,   in response to determining the simulated rendering includes the simulated arc, determine whether a simulated brightness of the simulated arc is greater than the threshold, and   in response to determining the simulated brightness of the simulated arc is greater than the threshold, determine and apply the visual effect.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine a size or location of the portion of the simulated rendering to which the visual effect will be applied based on a realism setting or a difficulty setting, and   apply the visual effect to at least the portion of the simulated rendering.   
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 displaying a simulated rendering of a welding environment on a display screen;   determining, via control circuitry, whether the simulated rendering includes a simulated arc;   in response to determining the simulated rendering includes the simulated arc, determine, via the control circuitry, a visual effect to apply to the simulated rendering based on a shade setting or a helmet model setting; and   applying the visual effect to at least a portion of the simulated rendering.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the visual effect simulates a darkening effect of an auto-darkening welding helmet. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining, via the control circuitry, the visual effect to apply to the simulated rendering based on the helmet model setting, the helmet model setting comprises a type of welding helmet. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the display screen and control circuitry are part of a simulated welding helmet. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 capturing an image of a surrounding environment using a camera of the simulated welding helmet; and   generating the simulated rending based on the image.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining, via the control circuitry, a threshold based on a sensitivity setting,   in response to determining the simulated rendering includes the simulated arc, determining, via the control circuitry, whether a simulated brightness of the simulated arc is greater than the threshold, and   in response to determining the simulated brightness of the simulated arc is greater than the threshold, determining and applying the visual effect.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining, via the control circuitry, a size or location of the portion of the simulated rendering to which the visual effect will be applied based on a realism setting or a difficulty setting, and   applying the visual effect to at least the portion of the simulated rendering.   
     
     
         15 . A weld training system, comprising:
 a display screen configured to display a simulated rendering of a welding environment;   communication circuitry in communication with a welding tool; and   control circuitry configured to:
 determine whether the communication circuitry has received a trigger signal representative of a trigger pull from the welding tool, and 
 in response to determining the communication circuitry has received the trigger signal, apply a visual effect to at least a portion of the simulated rendering. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the visual effect simulates a darkening effect of an auto-darkening welding helmet. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a simulated welding helmet having the display screen, communication circuitry, and control circuitry. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the simulated welding helmet further comprises a camera configured to capture an image of a surrounding environment, the control circuitry being further configured to generate the simulated rendering based on the image. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising the welding tool comprising a trigger. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the welding tool comprises a welding torch configured for gas metal arc welding (GMAW).