Techniques for controlling a portable welding system
A system, computer-implemented method, and article for controlling a user interface of a portable welding system are described. An input signal receiver, operable on a processor, is configured to receive one or more input signals from one or more input devices. A display controller, operable on the processor, is configured to receive, input information based upon the one or more input signals. A display device is configured to display a user interface provided by the display controller, the user interface including a first portion including an adjustable value and a second portion including a non-adjustable value. The display controller is configured to highlight changes to the non-adjustable value based upon changes made using the one or more input devices to the adjustable value.
1. A welding system, comprising:
a processor operable with a memory and a display device;
one or more input devices;
an input signal receiver operable with the processor to receive one or more input signals from the one or more input devices; and
a display controller responsive to the processor and operable to retrieve user interface information from the memory based upon input information from the one or more input signals for displaying a user interface on the display device, the user interface including:
a first portion displaying a directly adjustable value of a welding parameter controlled directly by one of the one or more input devices, wherein the welding parameter is selected from a range, greater than two, of potential directly adjustable values via the one of the one or more input devices, and
a second portion displaying an indirectly adjustable value that is changed by virtue of adjustments made to the directly adjustable value, wherein the indirectly adjustable value is selected from a range, greater than two, of potential indirectly adjustable values.
2. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more input devices include rotatable knobs.
3. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the display controller is configured to visually highlight the directly adjustable value and the indirectly adjustable value using a common visual feature.
4. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the display controller is configured to visually highlight the directly adjustable value and the indirectly adjustable value with a same color.
5. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes a number of on-screen user interface elements selectable by the one or more input devices.
6. The welding system of claim 5 , wherein the on-screen user interface elements have a diminished contrast value when one or more of the on-screen user interface elements is not adjustable, and wherein the on-screen user interface elements have an increased contrast value when one or more of the on-screen user interface elements is adjustable.
7. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the directly adjustable value is wire feed speed and the indirectly adjustable value is work piece thickness.
8. A computer-implemented method for controlling a user interface of a welding system, comprising:
receiving, by an input signal receiver operable with a processor, one or more input signals from one or more input devices;
receiving, by a display controller operable with the processor, input information based upon the one or more input signals;
displaying, by the display controller operable with the processor, a user interface on a display device, the user interface including:
a first portion displaying a directly adjustable value of a welding parameter controlled directly by one of the one or more input devices, wherein the welding parameter is selected from a range, greater than two, of potential directly adjustable values via the one of the one or more input devices, and
a second portion displaying an indirectly adjustable value that is changed by virtue of adjustments made to the directly adjustable value, wherein the indirectly adjustable value is selected from a range, greater than two, of potential indirectly adjustable values.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more input devices include rotatable knobs.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , comprising highlighting the directly adjustable value and the indirectly adjustable using a common visual feature.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , comprising highlighting the directly adjustable value and indirectly adjustable value with a same color.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the user interface includes a number of on-screen user interface elements selectable by the one or more input devices.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the on-screen user interface elements have a diminished contrast value when one or more of the on-screen user interface elements is not adjustable, and wherein the on-screen user interface elements have an increased contrast value when one or more of the on-screen user interface elements is adjustable.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the directly adjustable value is wire feed speed and the indirectly adjustable value is work piece thickness.
15. An article comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, enable a welding system to:
receive one or more input signals from one or more input devices;
receive input information based upon the one or more input signals;
display a user interface on a display device, the user interface including:
a first portion displaying a directly adjustable value of a welding parameter controlled directly by one of the one or more input devices, wherein the welding parameter is selected from a range, greater than two, of potential directly adjustable values via the one of the one or more input devices,
and a second portion displaying an indirectly adjustable value that is changed by virtue of adjustments made to the directly adjustable value, wherein the indirectly adjustable value is selected from a range, greater than two, of potential indirectly adjustable values.
16. The article of claim 15 , wherein the one or more input devices include rotatable knobs.
17. The article of claim 15 , wherein the instructions enables the welding system to highlight the directly adjustable value and the indirectly adjustable value using a common visual feature.
18. The article of claim 15 , wherein the instructions enables the welding system to highlight the directly adjustable value and the indirectly adjustable value with a same color.
19. The article of claim 15 , wherein the user interface includes a number of on-screen user interface elements selectable by the one or more input devices.
20. The article of claim 19 , wherein the on-screen user interface elements have a diminished contrast value when one or more of the on-screen user interface elements is not adjustable, and wherein the on-screen user interface elements have an increased contrast value when one or more of the on-screen user interface elements is adjustable.