Patents by Inventor James M. Walker

James M. Walker 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: 11883910
    Abstract: A retrofit module includes at least one of a current sensing component that has a first circuit or a voltage sensing component that has a second circuit. The current sensing component and the voltage sensing component may be disposed in a torch head of a welding or plasma cutting torch. The current sensing component is configured to measure a welding or plasma cutting current of the torch head, and the voltage sensing component is configured to measure a welding or plasma cutting voltage of the torch head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20230267852
    Abstract: A welding system includes a welding torch. The welding torch includes a sensor configured to detect a motion associated with the welding torch, a temperature associated with the welding torch, or some combination thereof. A display of the welding torch is activated, a determination is made that the welding torch has been involved in a high impact event, live welding using the welding torch is disabled, a software selection is made, or some combination thereof, based on the motion, the temperature, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Patent number: 11676509
    Abstract: A welding system includes a welding torch. The welding torch includes a sensor configured to detect a motion associated with the welding torch, a temperature associated with the welding torch, or some combination thereof. A display of the welding torch is activated, a determination is made that the welding torch has been involved in a high impact event, live welding using the welding torch is disabled, a software selection is made, or some combination thereof, based on the motion, the temperature, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Patent number: 11241754
    Abstract: A method includes displaying, on a display of a welding torch, a welding parameter in relation to a predetermined threshold range for the welding parameter, a target value for the welding parameter, or some combination thereof as a position of the welding torch changes, an orientation of the welding torch changes, a movement of the welding torch changes, or some combination thereof, to enable a welding operator to perform a welding operation with the welding parameter within the predetermined threshold range, at the target value, or some combination thereof. The welding parameter is associated with the position of the welding torch, the orientation of the welding torch, the movement of the welding torch, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20210174704
    Abstract: A welding system includes a welding torch. The welding torch includes a sensor configured to detect a motion associated with the welding torch, a temperature associated with the welding torch, or some combination thereof. A display of the welding torch is activated, a determination is made that the welding torch has been involved in a high impact event, live welding using the welding torch is disabled, a software selection is made, or some combination thereof, based on the motion, the temperature, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Patent number: 10964229
    Abstract: A welding system includes a welding torch. The welding torch includes a sensor configured to detect a motion associated with the welding torch, a temperature associated with the welding torch, or some combination thereof. A display of the welding torch is activated, a determination is made that the welding torch has been involved in a high impact event, live welding using the welding torch is disabled, a software selection is made, or some combination thereof, based on the motion, the temperature, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Patent number: 10913126
    Abstract: A method used in a welding system includes detecting multiple markers on a welding torch. The markers are detected using one or more cameras. The method also includes blocking live welding using the welding torch while the one or more cameras are unable to detect at least one of the multiple markers on the welding torch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20200101552
    Abstract: A retrofit module includes at least one of a current sensing component that has a first circuit or a voltage sensing component that has a second circuit. The current sensing component and the voltage sensing component may be disposed in a torch head of a welding or plasma cutting torch. The current sensing component is configured to measure a welding or plasma cutting current of the torch head, and the voltage sensing component is configured to measure a welding or plasma cutting voltage of the torch head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: James M. Walker
  • Patent number: 10493552
    Abstract: A retrofit module includes at least one of a current sensing component that has a first circuit or a voltage sensing component that has a second circuit. The current sensing component and the voltage sensing component may be disposed in a torch head of a welding or plasma cutting torch. The current sensing component is configured to measure a welding or plasma cutting current of the torch head, and the voltage sensing component is configured to measure a welding or plasma cutting voltage of the torch head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20190076950
    Abstract: A method includes displaying, on a display of a welding torch, a welding parameter in relation to a predetermined threshold range for the welding parameter, a target value for the welding parameter, or some combination thereof as a position of the welding torch changes, an orientation of the welding torch changes, a movement of the welding torch changes, or some combination thereof, to enable a welding operator to perform a welding operation with the welding parameter within the predetermined threshold range, at the target value, or some combination thereof. The welding parameter is associated with the position of the welding torch, the orientation of the welding torch, the movement of the welding torch, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: William J. Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Patent number: 10198780
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating virtual safety assessment. In accordance with one aspect, the framework receives image data of an environment to be assessed for safety from an agent support system. The framework sends such image data to an expert support system and receives safety assessment information from the expert support system determined based on the image data. The framework then provides a report based at least in part on such safety assessment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Walker, Jan DeHaan
  • Patent number: 10170019
    Abstract: A welding system includes a welding torch. The welding torch includes a sensor configured to detect a motion associated with the welding torch, a temperature associated with the welding torch, or some combination thereof. A display of the welding torch is activated, a determination is made that the welding torch has been involved in a high impact event, live welding using the welding torch is disabled, a software selection is made, or some combination thereof, based on the motion, the temperature, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Patent number: 10105782
    Abstract: A method includes displaying, on a display of a welding torch, a welding parameter in relation to a predetermined threshold range for the welding parameter, a target value for the welding parameter, or some combination thereof as a position of the welding torch changes, an orientation of the welding torch changes, a movement of the welding torch changes, or some combination thereof, to enable a welding operator to perform a welding operation with the welding parameter within the predetermined threshold range, at the target value, or some combination thereof. The welding parameter is associated with the position of the welding torch, the orientation of the welding torch, the movement of the welding torch, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20180301059
    Abstract: A welding system includes a welding torch. The welding torch includes a sensor configured to detect a motion associated with the welding torch, a temperature associated with the welding torch, or some combination thereof. A display of the welding torch is activated, a determination is made that the welding torch has been involved in a high impact event, live welding using the welding torch is disabled, a software selection is made, or some combination thereof, based on the motion, the temperature, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: William J. Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20170323411
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating virtual safety assessment. In accordance with one aspect, the framework receives image data of an environment to be assessed for safety from an agent support system. The framework sends such image data to an expert support system and receives safety assessment information from the expert support system determined based on the image data. The framework then provides a report based at least in part on such safety assessment information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: James M. Walker, Jan DeHaan
  • Patent number: 9747654
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating virtual safety assessment. In accordance with one aspect, the framework receives image data of an environment to be assessed for safety from an agent support system. The framework sends such image data to an expert support system and receives safety assessment information from the expert support system determined based on the image data. The framework then provides a report based at least in part on such safety assessment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc.
    Inventors: James M Walker, Jan DeHaan
  • Patent number: 9724788
    Abstract: A welding system includes a protective cover selectively movable between a first position and a second position. While in the first position the protective cover is configured to block environmental elements from contacting a display, and while in the second position the protective cover is not configured to block environmental elements from contacting the display. The welding system also includes control circuitry configured to detect whether the protective cover is in the first position or the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20170165776
    Abstract: A method used in a welding system includes detecting multiple markers on a welding torch. The markers are detected using one or more cameras. The method also includes blocking live welding using the welding torch while the one or more cameras are unable to detect at least one of the multiple markers on the welding torch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: William J. Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Patent number: 9589481
    Abstract: A method used in a welding system includes detecting multiple markers on a welding torch. The markers are detected using one or more cameras. The method also includes blocking live welding using the welding torch while the one or more cameras are unable to detect at least one of the multiple markers on the welding torch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, James M. Walker, Jeremy J. Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20160246941
    Abstract: Managing a medication may involve identifying an event relating to the medication. Managing a medication may also involve determining a task for a course of care of a patient due to the event relating to the medication, and providing a notification to interested parties regarding the task and the event relating to the medication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Shadeequa Miller, James M. Walker, Shipeng Yu, Jodi Kodish-Wachs, Bijan John Parsia, Balaji Krishnapuram