WELDING VISION AND CONTROL SYSTEM

摘要

A welding vision and control system generates composite images that can image bright features as well as darker features in a welding region of a welding process in a single composite image or in a video stream of composite images for use in manual as well as automated control of the welding system. A plurality of raw images are generated from exposure time periods that occur during specific phases of a cyclical power waveform that powers the welding system. The exposure time periods can be triggered by detection of threshold levels of an electrical characteristic in the cyclical power waveform or by time delays. Certain features in the weld occur during specific phases of the cyclical power waveform, and such features can be isolated and viewed in video displays in real time by creating the exposure time periods during those specific phases. The composite images are generated by selection of individual non-saturated and non-dark pixels from a plurality of the raw images obtained during different exposure time period durations, different phases of the cyclical power waveform, different camera sensitivity and aperture settings, or a combination of those parameters.

主权项

1. A welding vision and control system for an arc welding system in which the arc welding system is powered by a cyclical power waveform from a welding power supply to produce a weld bead on a work piece in a welding region, comprising:
a camera that has a light sensor array focused on the welding region or on a feature in the welding region, said camera being responsive to exposure initiating control signals to expose the light sensor array to light energy emanating or reflecting from the welding region or from a feature in the welding region to produce a series of raw images of the welding region or the feature in the welding region; and a vision system controller that generates the exposure initiating control signals to the camera at a predetermined trigger point on a cyclical power waveform.