US 11,979,964 B2 · Method and apparatus for temperature characterization in welding

Abstract

Provided is a system for controlling heating of a workpiece that includes an interface to receive a target temperature (TT) for the workpiece. A processor is configured to determine, based on monitoring outputs of temperature sensor(s), a current highest temperature (TH) for the workpiece and set a control temperature (TC) based on the received target temperature and the current highest temperature. A control system is configured to heat the workpiece to substantially the control temperature (TC) by turning on a heating device, and turning off the heating device when the workpiece reaches substantially the control temperature (TC). The processor is further configured to characterize a temperature ramp rate based on a measured temperature overshoot at the workpiece after turning off the heating device, and the control system is configured to heat the workpiece to the received target temperature (TT) by controlling the heating device based on the temperature ramp rate.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for controlling heating of a workpiece, comprising:

an interface configured to receive a target temperature (TT) for the workpiece, where a heating device is configured to heat the workpiece;
a processor configured to:
determine, based on monitoring outputs of one or more temperature sensors, a current highest temperature (TH) for the workpiece;
and
set a control temperature (TC) based on the received target temperature and the current highest temperature;
and
control circuitry configured to:
heat the workpiece to the control temperature (TC) by turning on the heating device and turning off the heating device when the workpiece reaches the control temperature (TC);
wherein:
the processor is configured to characterize a temperature ramp rate based on a measured temperature overshoot at the workpiece after turning off the heating device;
and
the control circuitry is configured to heat the workpiece to the received target temperature (TT) by controlling the heating device based on the temperature ramp rate.

9 more elements

A system for controlling heating of a workpiece, comprising:

an interface configured to receive a target temperature (TT) for the workpiece wirelessly from another device, where an induction heater is configured to heat the workpiece;
a processor configured to:
determine, based on monitoring outputs of one or more temperature sensors, a current highest temperature (TH) for the workpiece, wherein the one or more temperature sensors comprise at least one of an armored temperature sensing device, a spot-welded temperature sensing device, a thermocouple, and an infrared temperature sensor;
and
set a control temperature (TC) based on the received target temperature and the current highest temperature;
and
control circuitry configured to:
heat the workpiece to the control temperature (TC) by turning on the induction heater and turning off the induction heater when the workpiece reaches the control temperature (TC);
wherein:
the processor is configured to characterize a temperature ramp rate based on a measured temperature overshoot at the workpiece after turning off the induction heater;
and
the control circuitry is configured to heat the workpiece to the received target temperature (TT) by controlling the induction heater based on the temperature ramp rate.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for temperature characterization in welding

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for temperature characterization in welding

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20