Methods and apparatus to communicate via a welding arc
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsCraig Steven Knoener, Milad Pashapour Nikou, Andrew James Thielke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus to communicate via a welding arc are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes a power converter, a weld monitor, and an arc modulator. The power converter outputs welding power to sustain a welding-type arc at a welding-type torch. The weld monitor monitors one or more aspects of a weld performed using the welding-type arc and the welding-type torch, and selects an audio message based on the one or more aspects. The arc modulator configured to modify the welding-type arc to output the selected audio message as a plasma speaker.
Claims20
A welding-type power supply, comprising:
- a power converter configured to output welding power to sustain a welding-type arc at a welding-type torch;
- a weld monitor circuit configured to:
- monitor one or more aspects of a weld being performed using the welding-type arc and the welding-type torch;
- and
- select an audio message based on the one or more aspects;
- an arc modulator configured to modify the welding-type arc to output the selected audio message as a plasma speaker;
- and
- a storage device configured to store the audio message;
- wherein the storage device is configured to store the audio message as digital audio data, the arc modulator configured to convert the digital audio data to an audio signal and to modify the welding-type arc to output the audio message.
A welding-type device, comprising:
- a welding-type circuit coupler configured to couple the welding-type device to a welding-type circuit that is configured to conduct welding-type current for sustaining a welding-type arc at a welding torch;
- and
- an arc modulator configured to modulate an audio signal onto the welding-type current to output audio using the welding-type arc as a plasma speaker;
- and
- wherein the welding-type circuit coupler comprises at least one of:
- a current transformer configured to magnetically couple the arc modulator to the welding-type circuit;
- or
- first and second welding-type circuit connectors configured to physically couple the arc modulator to the welding-type circuit.
A welding-type power supply, comprising:
- a power converter configured to output welding power to sustain a welding-type arc at a welding-type torch;
- a weld monitor circuit configured to:
- monitor one or more aspects of a weld being performed using the welding-type arc and the welding-type torch;
- and
- select an audio message based on the one or more aspects;
- an arc modulator configured to modify the welding-type arc to output the selected audio message as a plasma speaker;
- and
- communications interface configured to receive audio information from an external device, the arc modulator configured to modify the welding-type arc to output the audio message based on the audio information from the external device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.