IP Library Granted Patent US 12697674
Granted Patent B2
US 12697674 · App. 17/581,029 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Weld tracking systems

Inventor: William Joshua Becker (Manitowoc, WI)
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
B23K9/0956B23K31/125G09B19/24H04L12/28H04L12/2823H04L43/04H04L67/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12697674
App. No.
17/581,029
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein are examples of weld tracking systems. In some examples, a weld tracking system include weld tracking sensors configured to allow the weld tracking system to track a position and/or orientation of a welding-type tool, and/or an arc generated by the welding-type tool. In some examples, the weld tracking system evaluates certain welding technique and/or welding operation parameters based on the tracked position(s) and/or orientation(s), and/or offers corrective feedback. In some examples, one or more calibrations may be performed to aid in evaluation of the welding technique and/or welding operation parameters.

Claims (39)

1 . A weld tracking system, comprising:

a sensor system configured to capture sensor data pertaining to a welding environment; and

control circuitry configured to:

track a welding-type torch position of a welding-type torch based on the sensor data,

track a calibration tool position of a calibration tool based on the sensor data,

identify a first endpoint based on the calibration tool position when the calibration tool is activated at a first time,

identify a second endpoint based on the welding-type torch position when welding is initiated via the welding-type torch at a second time, the second time being after the first time, and

identify a weld path based on the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

2 . The weld tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to identify the weld path as comprising a future planned welding path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

3 . The weld tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to identify the weld path as comprising the shortest path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

4 . The weld tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to identify the weld path as comprising a line between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

5 . The weld tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the calibration tool comprises the welding-type torch.

6 . The weld tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the second endpoint is identified based on the welding-type torch position when welding is initiated via the welding-type torch to perform a tack weld at the second time.

7 . The weld tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to identify the second endpoint based on the welding-type torch position when welding is initiated via the welding-type torch, and the welding lasts for less than one second.

8 . The weld tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

identify an intermediate point based on the calibration tool position when the calibration tool is activated at a third time or the welding-type torch position when welding is initiated via the welding-type torch at the third time, and

identify the weld path as comprising a path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint that also intersects the intermediate point.

9 . The weld tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the calibration tool does not comprise the welding-type torch.

10 . The weld tracking system of claim 1 , further comprising a display screen configured to display a representation of the weld path.

11 . A weld tracking system, comprising:

a sensor system configured to capture sensor data pertaining to a welding environment;

processing circuitry; and

memory circuitry comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:

track a welding-type torch position of a welding-type torch based on the sensor data,

track a calibration tool position of a calibration tool based on the sensor data,

identify a first endpoint based on the calibration tool position when the calibration tool is activated at a first time,

identify a second endpoint based on the welding-type torch position when welding is initiated via the welding-type torch at a second time, the second time being after the first time, and

identify a weld path based on the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

12 . The weld tracking system of claim 11 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to identify the weld path as comprising a future planned welding path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

13 . The weld tracking system of claim 11 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to identify the weld path as comprising the shortest path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

14 . The weld tracking system of claim 11 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to identify the weld path as comprising a line between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

15 . The weld tracking system of claim 11 , wherein the calibration tool comprises the welding-type torch.

16 . The weld tracking system of claim 11 , wherein the second endpoint is identified based on the welding-type torch position when welding is initiated via the welding-type torch to perform a tack weld at the second time.

17 . The weld tracking system of claim 11 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to identify the second endpoint based on the welding-type torch position when welding is initiated via the welding-type torch, and the welding lasts for less than one second.

18 . The weld tracking system of claim 11 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:

identify an intermediate point based on the calibration tool position when the calibration tool is activated at a third time or the welding-type torch position when welding is initiated via the welding-type torch at the third time, and

identify the weld path based on the first endpoint, the intermediate point, and the second endpoint.

19 . The weld tracking system of claim 18 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to identify the weld path as comprising a path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint that also intersects the intermediate point.

20 . The weld tracking system of claim 11 , further comprising a display screen configured to display a representation of the weld path.