Systems and methods for wireless control of an engine-driven welding power supply

• US 10,525,545 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2018
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• 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:
  US15/953,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20180229324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 219137 PS, 219133
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1087 Arc welding using remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/06 Small engines with electronic control, e.g. for hand held tools
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/001 Electric control of rotation speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/12 Starting of engines by means of mobile, e.g. portable, starting sets
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/14 Starting of engines by means of electric starters with external current supply F02N11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/00 Parameters used for control of starting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/306 with external senders or receivers, e.g. receiving signals from traffic lights, other vehicles or base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 : Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Systems and methods for wireless control of welding power supplies are disclosed. An example welding power supply includes: a housing comprising a control panel configured to receive inputs from an operator; power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power into output power for a welding operation; and local control circuitry configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from remote control circuitry of a portable electronic device, and to control the welding power supply based on the received control signal; wherein the local control circuitry is configured to set prioritization of control of the welding power supply between the portable electronic device and the control panel of the welding power supply, prevent the control panel from controlling a parameter of the welding power supply when the portable electronic device is prioritized, and prevent the portable electronic device from controlling the parameter when the control panel is prioritized.

Claims

1. A welding power supply comprising:

a housing comprising a control panel configured to receive inputs from an operator;

power conversion circuitry disposed within the housing and configured to convert input power into output power for a welding operation; and

local control circuitry disposed within the housing and configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from remote control circuitry of a portable electronic device, and to control the welding power supply based on the received control signal;

wherein the local control circuitry is configured to set prioritization of control of the welding power supply between the portable electronic device and the control panel of the welding power supply, to prevent the control panel from controlling at least one parameter of the welding power supply when the portable electronic device is prioritized, and to prevent the portable electronic device from controlling the at least one parameter of the welding power supply when the control panel is prioritized.

2. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the remote control circuitry comprises a radio subsystem configured to wirelessly send and receive control signals to and from the local control circuitry using a signaling protocol.

3. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a display, the local control circuitry is configured to wirelessly send data to the remote control circuitry, and the remote control circuitry is configured to display the data on the display.

4. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a display, the local control circuitry is configured to wirelessly send data relating to diagnostic messages or diagnostic codes for the welding power supply to the remote control circuitry, and the remote control circuitry is configured to display the data on the display.

5. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a display, and the local control circuitry is configured to wirelessly send instructions to the remote control circuitry to display a nested graphical hierarchical structure of operating parameters and statuses of the welding power supply via the display.

6. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the remote control circuitry is configured to place the portable electronic device in a sleep mode, and to wirelessly send a control signal to the local control circuitry to place the welding power supply in a sleep mode while maintaining network pairing between the portable electronic device and the welding power supply.

7. The welding power supply of claim 6, wherein the remote control circuitry is configured to wake the portable electronic device from the sleep mode upon detection of activity on the portable electronic device, and to wirelessly send a control signal to the local control circuitry to wake the welding power supply from a sleep mode upon the detection of the activity on the portable electronic device.

8. The welding power supply of claim 6, wherein the local control circuitry is configured to wake the welding power supply from a sleep mode upon detection of activity on the welding power supply, and to wirelessly send a control signal to the remote control circuitry to wake the portable electronic device from the sleep mode upon the detection of the activity on the welding power supply.

9. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the local control circuitry is configured to place the welding power supply in a sleep mode.

10. The welding power supply of claim 9, wherein the local control circuitry is configured to wake the welding power supply from the sleep mode upon detection of activity on the welding power supply, and to wirelessly send a control signal to the remote control circuitry to wake the portable electronic device from a sleep mode upon the detection of the activity on the welding power supply.

11. The welding power supply of claim 9, wherein the remote control circuitry is configured to wake the portable electronic device from a sleep mode upon detection of activity on the portable electronic device, and to wirelessly send a control signal to the local control circuitry to wake the welding power supply from the sleep mode upon the detection of the activity on the portable electronic device.

12. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a memory medium, the local control circuitry is configured to wirelessly send data relating to a user-preferred welding process parameter for the welding power supply to the remote control circuitry for storage in the memory medium, and the remote control circuitry stores the data in the memory medium.

13. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the local control circuitry and the remote control circuitry are configured to bi-directionally communicate information relating to a preset value for a parameter of the welding power supply, wherein the bi-directional communication includes only digital communication.

14. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the local control circuitry is configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from the remote control circuitry to change a welding process type of the welding power supply, and to change the welding process type based on the received control signal.

15. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the local control circuitry is configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from the remote control circuitry to change a current of the welding operation, and to change the current of the welding operation based at least in part on the received control signal.

16. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the local control circuitry is configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from the remote control circuitry to change a voltage of the welding operation, and to change the voltage of the welding operation based at least in part on the received control signal.

17. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the local control circuitry is configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from the remote control circuitry to add advanced welding process functionality to the welding power supply, and to add the advanced welding process functionality based on the received control signal.

18. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the local control circuitry is configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from the remote control circuitry to change a welding arc control parameter of the welding power supply, and to change the welding arc control parameter based on the received control signal.

19. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the local control circuitry is configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from the remote control circuitry to change an operating status of a welding output of the welding power supply, and to change the operating status of the welding output based on the received control signal.

20. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is at least one of a cellular phone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a dedicated original equipment manufacturer (OEM) remote control device.