Patent ID: 6977357

Claim:
An electrode detection system for a weld determine at least one parameter of a consumable welding wire after the consumable welding wire is moved through a welding gun during a weld process comprising: a welding wire having a width that is feedable through a contact tip of a welding gun; a first electromagnetic wave that is at least partially projected and/or scanned laterally across said welding wire at a location at least partially below said contact tip as said welding wire is moving so that said welding wire eclipses at least a portion of said electromagnetic wave as said moving welding wire is fed from said contact tip, said electromagnetic wave projected and/or scanned over a region larger than said width of said welding wire; a receiver that at least partially receives said first electromagnetic wave; and, a measuring device that determines at least one parameter of said welding wire based on said first electromagnetic wave received by said receiver.