Patents by Inventor Douglas Alan Wills

Douglas Alan Wills has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10213866
    Abstract: Arc welding systems, methods, and apparatus that provide dual-spectrum, real-time viewable, enhanced user-discrimination between arc welding characteristics during an arc welding process. Welding headgear is configured to shield a user from harmful radiation and to include a digital camera or cameras to provide dual-spectrum (i.e., both visible spectrum and infrared spectrum) real-time digital video image frames. The welding headgear is also configured with an optical display assembly for displaying real-time digital video image frames to the user while wearing the headgear during an arc welding process. Image processing is performed on the visible and infrared spectrum video image frames to generate dual-spectrum video image frames providing an integrated and optimized view of both the visible and thermal characteristics of the arc welding process which can be viewed by the user on the optical display assembly in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Alan Wills, William T. Matthews
  • Publication number: 20180071854
    Abstract: Arc welding systems, methods, and apparatus providing dual-spectrum, real-time viewable, enhanced user-discrimination between arc welding characteristics during an arc welding process are disclosed. Welding headgear is configured to shield a user from harmful radiation and to include a digital video camera or cameras to provide dual-spectrum (i.e., both visible spectrum and infrared spectrum) real-time digital video image frames. An exposure controller controls exposure levels of the cameras on a frame-by-frame basis in real-time. The welding headgear is also configured with an optical display assembly for displaying real-time digital video image frames to the user while wearing the headgear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: William T. Matthews, Douglas Alan Wills
  • Publication number: 20150266128
    Abstract: Arc welding systems, methods, and apparatus that provide dual-spectrum, real-time viewable, enhanced user-discrimination between arc welding characteristics during an arc welding process. Welding headgear is configured to shield a user from harmful radiation and to include a digital camera or cameras to provide dual-spectrum (i.e., both visible spectrum and infrared spectrum) real-time digital video image frames. The welding headgear is also configured with an optical display assembly for displaying real-time digital video image frames to the user while wearing the headgear during an arc welding process. Image processing is performed on the visible and infrared spectrum video image frames to generate dual-spectrum video image frames providing an integrated and optimized view of both the visible and thermal characteristics of the arc welding process which can be viewed by the user on the optical display assembly in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Alan Wills, William T. Matthews
  • Patent number: 9073138
    Abstract: Arc welding systems, methods, and apparatus that provide dual-spectrum, real-time viewable, enhanced user-discrimination between arc welding characteristics during an arc welding process. Welding headgear is configured to shield a user from harmful radiation and to include a digital camera or cameras to provide dual-spectrum (i.e., both visible spectrum and infrared spectrum) real-time digital video image frames. The welding headgear is also configured with an optical display assembly for displaying real-time digital video image frames to the user while wearing the headgear during an arc welding process. Image processing is performed on the visible and infrared spectrum video image frames to generate dual-spectrum video image frames providing an integrated and optimized view of both the visible and thermal characteristics of the arc welding process which can be viewed by the user on the optical display assembly in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Alan Wills, William T. Matthews
  • Publication number: 20120291172
    Abstract: Arc welding systems, methods, and apparatus that provide dual-spectrum, real-time viewable, enhanced user-discrimination between arc welding characteristics during an arc welding process. Welding headgear is configured to shield a user from harmful radiation and to include a digital camera or cameras to provide dual-spectrum (i.e., both visible spectrum and infrared spectrum) real-time digital video image frames. The welding headgear is also configured with an optical display assembly for displaying real-time digital video image frames to the user while wearing the headgear during an arc welding process. Image processing is performed on the visible and infrared spectrum video image frames to generate dual-spectrum video image frames providing an integrated and optimized view of both the visible and thermal characteristics of the arc welding process which can be viewed by the user on the optical display assembly in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Alan Wills, William T. Matthews