US 12,233,489 B2
Methods and apparatus to communicate via a welding arc
Craig Steven Knoener, Appleton, WI (US); Milad Pashapour Nikou, Appleton, WI (US); and Andrew James Thielke, Kaukauna, WI (US)
Assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/231,495.
Application 18/231,495 is a continuation of application No. 16/827,303, filed on Mar. 23, 2020, granted, now 11,717,905.
Application 16/827,303 is a continuation of application No. 15/647,620, filed on Jul. 12, 2017, granted, now 10,596,651, issued on Mar. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0381880 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B23K 9/095 (2006.01); B23K 9/10 (2006.01); B23K 10/00 (2006.01); H04R 23/00 (2006.01); H05H 1/48 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 9/0956 (2013.01) [B23K 9/1006 (2013.01); B23K 9/1062 (2013.01); B23K 10/00 (2013.01); H04R 23/004 (2013.01); H05H 1/48 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A welding-type power supply, comprising:
a power converter configured to output welding power to sustain a welding-type arc at a welding-type torch;
a weld monitor circuit configured to select an audio message; and
a volume control device configured to control volume level of audio; and
an arc modulator configured to modify the welding-type arc to output the selected audio message as a plasma speaker, wherein the arc modulator is configured to modify the welding-type arc to output the audio message based on an input from the volume control device.