Wireless communication network for control of industrial equipment in harsh environments

• US 10,286,475 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Dina, Daniel, Downie, Kathy Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maye, Ayub A
• Application Number:
  US13/795,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20140048522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,254 Days
• Field of Search: 21913001, 219132, 219108, 219109, 219110, 2191301
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1087 Arc welding using remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a system includes a master node device. The master node device includes communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with a welding power supply unit via a long-range communication link, and to facilitate wireless communication with one or more welding-related devices via a short-range wireless communication network.

Claims

1. A system for wireless communication with one or more welding-related devices, comprising:

a master node device comprising;

communication circuitry configured to;

communicate with internal communication circuitry of a welding power supply unit via a long-range communication link;

determine whether each of one or more welding-related devices are authorized and certified for use with the master node device;

communicate with internal wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices via a short-range wireless communication network in response to a determination that the one or more welding-related devices are authorized and certified for use with the master node device; and

route and prioritize messages between the internal wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices and the internal communication circuitry of the welding power supply unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the long-range communication link comprises a wireless communication link having a transmission range of approximately 300 feet or more from the master node device to the welding power supply unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless communication network comprises a wireless communication network having a transmission range of approximately 20-25 feet from the master node device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding wire feeder.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding torch.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding helmet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding pendant.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding foot pedal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a welding-related device of the one or more welding-related devices comprises the master node device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the master node device comprises weld cable communication circuitry configured to communicate with communication circuitry of the welding power supply unit via a weld cable.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry of the master node device includes radio frequency (RF) transmitters and sensors.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the master node device comprises a synchronization mechanism for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry is configured to determine whether each of one or more welding-related devices meet safety and reliability standards, and communicate with internal wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices via the short-range wireless communication network in response to a determination that the one or more welding-related devices meet the safety and reliability standards.

14. A wireless communication network for wireless communication with one or more welding-related devices, comprising:

one or more welding-related devices, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding wire feeder, a welding torch, a welding helmet, a welding pendant, or a welding foot pedal;

a welding power supply unit configured to convert power from a power grid to power for a welding operation performed using the one or more welding-related devices; and

a master node device configured to;

determine whether each of the one or more welding-related devices are authorized and certified for use with the master node device;

communicate with internal wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices via a short-range wireless communication network in response to a determination that the one or more welding-related devices are authorized and certified for use with the master node device;

communicate with internal communication circuitry of the welding power supply unit via a long-range communication link;

communicate with internal communication circuitry of the welding power supply unit via a weld cable; and

route and prioritize messages between the one or more welding-related devices and the welding power supply unit.

15. The wireless communication network of claim 14, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise the welding wire feeder.

16. The wireless communication network of claim 14, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise the welding torch.

17. The wireless communication network of claim 14, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise the welding helmet.

18. The wireless communication network of claim 14, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise the welding pendant.

19. The wireless communication network of claim 14, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise the welding foot pedal.

20. The wireless communication network of claim 14, wherein the master node device comprises a synchronization mechanism for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network.

21. The wireless communication network of claim 14, wherein the master node device is configured to determine whether each of one or more welding-related devices meet safety and reliability standards, and communicate with internal wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices via the short-range wireless communication network in response to a determination that the one or more welding-related devices are determined to meet the safety and reliability standards.