Patents by Inventor William J. Beckers

William J. Beckers 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: 9728103
    Abstract: A welding training system includes a camera configured to capture video data corresponding to a welding training operation. The welding training system also includes a storage device configured to store the video data, and to store welding parameter data corresponding to the welding training operation. The welding training system includes a welding training software configured to retrieve the video data from the storage device, to retrieve the welding parameter data from the storage device, to synchronize the video data with the welding parameter data, and to provide the synchronized video and welding parameter data to a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, Ashok Darisipudi
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9713852
    Abstract: A welding tool includes a first handle and a second handle. The welding tool also includes a torch nozzle holder configured to hold a nozzle of a welding torch therein, and to block the nozzle from extending therethrough. The welding tool includes a blade assembly positioned a predetermined distance from the torch nozzle holder. The blade assembly is configured to cut welding wire extending through the blade assembly to calibrate wire stickout from the welding torch to the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, Richard Beeson, David P. Marcusen
  • Publication number: 20170169729
    Abstract: A welding training system includes a welding training software having a first training mode configured to simulate a welding arc and a second training mode configured to use a live welding arc. The welding training system is configured to block welding power flow between a welding power supply and a welding torch while the welding training software is in the first training mode. The welding training system is also configured to enable the welding power to flow between the welding power supply and the welding torch while the welding training software is in the second training mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: William J. Becker, Kyle A. Pfeifer
  • 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: 9672757
    Abstract: A welding training system includes a welding training software having three or more modes. The three or more modes include a live-arc mode, a simulation mode, a virtual reality mode, an augmented reality mode, or some combination thereof. The live-arc mode is configured to enable training using a live welding arc, the simulation mode is configured to enable training using a welding simulation, the virtual reality mode is configured to enable training using a virtual reality simulation, and the augmented reality mode is configured to enable training using an augmented reality simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, Richard Beeson, Steven D. Hidden, Ashok Darisipudi
  • Patent number: 9666100
    Abstract: A welding training system includes a welding surface, a computer configured to execute a welding training software, and a calibration device. The welding training system also includes a sensor communicatively coupled to the computer and configured to sense a position of the calibration device, an orientation of the calibration device, or some combination thereof. The sensor is also configured to provide calibration data to the welding training software to calibrate a location of the welding surface relative to the sensor. The calibration data includes the position of the calibration device, the orientation of the calibration device, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, Kyle A. Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20170148352
    Abstract: A system and device for welding training. In one example, a welding training system includes a position detecting system configured to detect a distance between the position detecting system and objects within a field of view of the position detecting system, and to produce a map corresponding to the objects. The welding training system also includes a markers configured to be coupled to a device of the welding training system. Furthermore, the markers are configured to be detected by the position detecting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventor: William J. Becker
  • Publication number: 20170143549
    Abstract: A welding helmet for detecting arc data is provided. One embodiment of the welding helmet includes an arc detection system configured to detect one or more welding arcs that occur during one or more welding operations. The welding helmet also includes control circuitry configured to count a number of the one or more welding arcs detected by the arc detection system. The welding helmet includes a storage device configured to store the number of the one or more welding arcs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: William J. Becker, Kyle A. Pfeifer, Eric T. Sommers
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9583014
    Abstract: A system and device for welding training. In one example, a welding training system includes a position detecting system configured to detect a distance between the position detecting system and objects within a field of view of the position detecting system, and to produce a map corresponding to the objects. The welding training system also includes a markers configured to be coupled to a device of the welding training system. Furthermore, the markers are configured to be detected by the position detecting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: William J. Becker
  • Patent number: 9583023
    Abstract: A welding training system includes a welding training software having a first training mode configured to simulate a welding arc and a second training mode configured to use a live welding arc. The welding training system is configured to block welding power flow between a welding power supply and a welding torch while the welding training software is in the first training mode. The welding training system is also configured to enable the welding power to flow between the welding power supply and the welding torch while the welding training software is in the second training mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, Kyle A. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 9566192
    Abstract: A welding helmet for detecting arc data is provided. One embodiment of the welding helmet includes an arc detection system configured to detect one or more welding arcs that occur during one or more welding operations. The welding helmet also includes control circuitry configured to count a number of the one or more welding arcs detected by the arc detection system. The welding helmet includes a storage device configured to store the number of the one or more welding arcs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, Kyle A. Pfeifer, Eric T. Sommers
  • Publication number: 20160358503
    Abstract: A welding training system includes one or more welding operator device which provides positional feedback relevant to a quality weld. The positional feedback is analyzed and, when the positional feedback is outside of a predetermined range, a signal is provided to the welding operator. In one embodiment, tactile feedback is provided in a welding gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Todd Gerald Batzler, Bruce Patrick Albrecht, William J. Becker
  • Publication number: 20160250706
    Abstract: A system in accordance with an example implementation of this disclosure comprises welding headwear to be worn by a welder during a live welding operation, the headwear comprising: a camera operable to capture an image of a live welding operation; circuitry operable to analyze the captured image to determine a characteristic of the live welding operation, and associate the characteristic with the captured image; and memory operable to store the captured image and the associated characteristic for later retrieval. The headwear may comprise a communication interface operable to communicate with a remote server. The determined characteristic may comprise a welding parameter of a welding torch in the captured image. The determined characteristic may comprise a setting, or measured output, of welding equipment that powers and/or feeds wire to a torch being used in the live welding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Richard Beeson, William J. Becker
  • Publication number: 20160250723
    Abstract: Welding headwear comprises a display operable to present images for viewing by a wearer of the welding headwear, and comprises circuitry operable to determine an identifier associated with a workpiece, retrieve, from memory, welding work instructions associated with the identifier, and generate the images for presentation on the display based on said work instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Bruce Albrecht, Richard Beeson, William J. Becker
  • Publication number: 20160214200
    Abstract: Welding headwear comprises a camera, a display, memory, and circuitry. The welding headwear is operable to: capture, via the camera, images of a first live welding operation performed on a sample workpiece; store, to the memory, the captured images of the first live welding operation; play back, on the display, the stored images of the first live welding operation; select, during the play back and based on the captured images, image capture settings of the welding headwear to be used for a second live welding operation; capture, via the camera, images of a second live welding operation using the selected image capture settings; and display, on the display in real-time, the images of the second live welding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Richard Beeson, William J. Becker
  • Publication number: 20160207135
    Abstract: Welding headwear comprises one or more image sensors, processing circuitry, and a display. The image sensor(s) are operable to capture an image of an unpowered weld torch as the torch passes along a joint of a workpiece to be welded. The processing circuitry is operable to: determine, through processing of pixel data of the image, one or more welding parameters as the torch passes along the joint to be welded; generate, based on the one or more welding parameters, a simulated weld bead; and superimpose on the image, in real time as the torch passes along the joint, the simulated weld bead on the joint. The display is operable to present, in real time as the torch passes along the joint, the image with the simulated bead overlaid on it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Richard Beeson, William J. Becker
  • Publication number: 20160207134
    Abstract: A system comprises one or more image sensors, processing circuitry, and communication interface circuitry. The image sensor(s) are operable to capture an image of a weld in progress powered by welding equipment. The processing circuitry is operable to, while the weld is in progress, analyze pixel data of the image, generate a welding equipment control signal based on the analysis of the pixel data, and output the generated welding equipment control signal via the communication interface circuit. The image sensor(s), processing circuitry, and communication interface circuitry may be integrated into welding headwear. The processing circuitry may be operable to determine, from the analysis of the pixel data, one or more welding parameters for the weld and to compensate for variations in the parameters by varying the welding equipment control signal to vary the welding equipment settings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Richard Beeson, William J. Becker, Bruce Albrecht
  • Patent number: 9368045
    Abstract: A system and device for welding training. In one example, a welding system includes a device configured to be used with the welding system. The device includes a first marker having a first shape and a first color. The welding device also includes a second marker having a second shape and a second color. The first and second colors are different or the first and second shapes are different. Further, the first and second markers are configured to be detected by a video game system, a computer accessory, or some combination thereof, to determine a position of the device, an orientation of the device, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: William J. Becker