Systems and methods for pairing of wireless control devices with a welding power supply

• US 10,464,156 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2014
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Denis, Marc Lee, Peotter, Benjamin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jennison, Brian W
• Application Number:
  US14/229,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20150273610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1087 Arc welding using remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Embodiments described herein include wireless control of a welding power supply via portable electronic devices. In particular, operating parameters and statuses of the welding power supply may be modified by the portable electronic device, as well as be displayed on the portable electronic device. For example, in certain embodiments, the welding power supply may be an engine-driven welding power supply, and the portable electronic device may be configured to start and/or stop an engine of the engine-driven welding power supply. A pairing procedure may be used to pair the welding power supply and the portable electronic device in a wireless communication network. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, a method of prioritization of control between a control panel of the welding power supply and the portable electronic device may be implemented.

Claims

1. A welding power supply comprising:

power conversion circuitry configured to convert an input power into an output power for a welding operation; and

control circuitry comprising a memory, wherein data representative of a security key is stored in the memory of the welding power supply during manufacture of the welding power supply, wherein the control circuitry is configured to;

control operation of the power conversion circuitry;

pair a portable electronic device with the welding power supply by joining a mesh wireless communication network, wherein the mesh wireless communication network comprises a ZigBee network;

based on determining that the portable electronic device possesses requisite security keys to access the mesh wireless communication network, coordinate loading of instructions onto the portable electronic device to configure the portable electronic device for operation with the welding power supply; and

wirelessly communicate with the portable electronic device via the mesh wireless communication network,

wherein access to the mesh wireless communication network is secured by verifying the presence of the security key stored in a memory of the portable electronic device and the memory of the control circuitry prior to the pairing of the portable electronic device and the control circuitry,

wherein the security key is not shared between the portable electronic device and the control circuitry via the mesh wireless communication network during the wireless communication or when joining the mesh wireless communication network, and

wherein the presence of the security key is verified during each wireless communication between the portable electronic device and the control circuitry.

2. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to pair the portable electronic device with the welding power supply in a 1:

1 paired relationship.

3. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to coordinate the wireless communication between the portable electronic device and the welding power supply.

4. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to pair the portable electronic device with the welding power supply upon simultaneous manual activation of a first synchronization mechanism on the welding power supply and a second synchronization mechanism on the portable electronic device.

5. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to pair the portable electronic device with the welding power supply upon manual activation of a first synchronization mechanism on the portable electronic device and subsequent manual activation of a second synchronization mechanism on the welding power supply within a given time period.

6. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to pair the portable electronic device with the welding power supply upon manual activation of a first synchronization mechanism on the welding power supply and subsequent manual activation of a second synchronization mechanism on the portable electronic device within a given time period.

7. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to pair the portable electronic device with the welding power supply upon manual activation of a synchronization mechanism on the portable electronic device and subsequent manual confirmation of the activation of the synchronization mechanism via a control panel of the welding power supply.

8. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to pair the portable electronic device with the welding power supply upon manual activation of a synchronization mechanism on the welding power supply and subsequent manual confirmation of the activation of the synchronization mechanism via a display of the portable electronic device.

9. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to pair the portable electronic device with the welding power supply upon entry of a serial number of the welding power supply, a name of the welding power supply, a description of the welding power supply, an input passcode of the welding power supply, or some combination thereof, via a display of the portable electronic device.

10. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to pair the portable electronic device with the welding power supply upon entry of a serial number of the portable electronic device, a name of the portable electronic device, a description of the portable electronic device, an input passcode of the portable electronic device, or some combination thereof, via a control panel of the welding power supply.

11. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the welding power supply comprises an engine-driven welding power supply.

12. The welding power supply of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication with the portable electronic device comprises receiving a command from the portable electronic device to start an engine of the engine-driven welding power supply, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to start the engine in response to the command.

13. The welding power supply of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication with the portable electronic device comprises receiving a command from the portable electronic device to stop an engine of the engine-driven welding power supply, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to stop the engine in response to the command.

14. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication with the portable electronic device comprises receiving a command from the portable electronic device to change a current of the welding operation, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to change the current in response to the command.

15. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication with the portable electronic device comprises receiving a command from the portable electronic device to change a voltage of the welding operation, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to change the voltage in response to the command.

16. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication with the portable electronic device comprises receiving a command from the portable electronic device to change a process type of the welding operation, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to change the process type in response to the command.

17. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication with the portable electronic device comprises receiving a command from the portable electronic device to change a polarity of the welding operation, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to change the polarity in response to the command.

18. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a cellular phone.

19. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a laptop computer.

20. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a tablet computer.

21. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a dedicated original equipment manufacturer (OEM) remote control device.

22. A welding power supply comprising:

power conversion circuitry configured to convert an input power into an output power for a welding operation;

wireless communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with a portable electronic device; and

control circuitry comprising a memory, wherein data representative of a security key is stored in the memory during manufacture of the welding power supply, wherein the control circuitry is configured to;

control operation of the power conversion circuitry;

pair the portable electronic device with the welding power supply by joining a mesh wireless communication network via the wireless communication circuitry,

wherein the mesh wireless communication network comprises a ZigBee network,

wherein access to the mesh wireless communication network is secured by verifying the presence of the security key stored in a memory of the portable electronic device and the memory of the control circuitry prior to the portable electronic device and the control circuitry joining the mesh wireless communication network,

wherein the security key is keys are not shared between the portable electronic device and the control circuitry via the mesh wireless communication network during the wireless communication or when joining the mesh wireless communication network,

wherein the security key is verified during each wireless communication between the portable electronic device and the control circuitry;

based on determining that the portable electronic device possesses requisite security keys to access the mesh wireless communication network, coordinate loading of instructions onto the portable electronic device to configure the portable electronic device for operation with the welding power supply; and

reduce a power level of the wireless communication circuitry during pairing of the portable electronic device with the welding power supply.

23. The welding power supply of claim 22, wherein the control circuitry is configured to increase the power level of the wireless communication circuitry after pairing of the portable electronic device with the welding power supply.