Lockheed Idaho Technologies Company, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3521

A -- INTEGRATED OPTICAL WELDING SENSOR SOL Cbd1699 DUE 041399 POC Paul Grahovac WEB: Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Laboratory, http://www.inel.gov/procurement/litco/index.htm. E-MAIL: Paul Grahovac, pg2@inel.gov. A- Integrated Optical Welding Sensor. U. S. Patent Number 5,275,327. This is a potential technology development and licensing opportunity with Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company (LMITCO), the prime operating contractor for the Department of Energy at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). Automated welding requires a welding system capable of adapting to changing conditions encountered during the welding process. Many sensor systems have been developed to give automated welding systems the capability to adapt to variations in one parameter. However, effective control requires continuous monitoring, in real-time, of more than one parameter in the welding process. This requires that light be reflected or emitted from those surfaces being monitored at sufficient strength so that attributes of the surface can be detected by the imaging device. The welding arc is a high luminosity light source that degrades the weld pool image to the extent that attributes of the weld pool and adjacent areas are unclear. This patented technology provides continuous, real-time monitoring of multiple welding parameters. It provides an automated multifunction feedback control sensor for welding that is independent of significant operator interaction. The technology utilizes an integrated optical sensor system. The device consists of a computer automated system using an image from a single charged coupled device (CCD) to measure weld pool position, width, and discrete temperature normal to molten weld pool/solidified weld bead interface. The integrated optical sensor also determines solidified weld bead profile and centerline cooling rate. Computer process information from this sensor is passed to a controlling computer for use in feedback control loops to provide control of the welding process. LMITCO is seeking a written indication of interest from industry partners interested in funding a collaborative technology development project and/or entering into a license agreement for the purpose ofdeveloping and commercializing this technology. License terms will include an up-front licensing fee and a running royalty based on a percentage of sales. This is not an opportunity to provide goods or services to LMITCO or the Department of Energy. This Request for Interest (RFI) will close to response 30 days after publication. Interested parties should send e-mail to pg2@inel.gov (Paul Grahovac, Account Executive, Technology Transfer Office, LMITCO). If you do not have e-mail access, send regular mail to Paul Grahovac, Account Executive, Technology Transfer Office, LMITCO, P. O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3805. Posted 03/12/99 (W-SN307924). (0071)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0005 19990316\A-0005.SOL)