Welding-type power supply with boot loader

• US 20050127053A1
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, L. Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,411,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/130.10
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1062 with computing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power are disclosed. They include a source of welding-type power and at least one welding system peripheral. Each includes a network module that has boot loader software. A network is connected to the two network modules, and the network has connection for updates that is capable of receiving software updates. The network connection for updating may be on a user interface module, disposed inside or outside of a housing of the source of welding-type power and may include an RS232 connection. The network modules may include application software. The peripheral may be a wire feeder, a robot interface, or any other peripheral. A second peripheral, with a network module and boot loader software, may also be connected to the network. The updating can occur when the system is powered up. The software update is obtained from a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or over the internet.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A method of updating software used to control a welding-type system;

determining if a software update over a network is available;

executing a software update over the network if a software update is available.

49. The method of claim 49, further comprising obtaining the software update over the internet.

42. The method of claim 49, further comprising performing the method after the system is powered up.

43. The method of claim 49, wherein determining includes determining if at least one of an application software and application data update is available.

44. The method of claim 49, further comprising, before determining, connecting to an internet and obtaining the software update over the internet.

45. The method of claim 49, further comprising, before determining, connecting to an ethernet connection and obtaining the update over the ethernet connection.

46. The method of claim 49, further comprising, after updating executing application software.

47. The method of claim 49, further comprising obtaining the software update from a personal computer.

48. The method of claim 49, further comprising obtaining the software update from a personal digital assistant.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein executing includes obtaining the software update over an internet connection.

52. An apparatus for updating software used to control a welding-type system;

means for determining if a software update over a network is available;

means for executing a software update if a software update is available, connected to the means for determining.

59. A software subroutine which forms a subset of software capable of controlling a welding-type power supply and a welding system peripheral, the software subroutine being capable of transmission through an internet connection to overwrite at least a portion of one of the software and data which controls the welding-type power supply and the welding system peripheral upon prompting.

60. The software subroutine of claim 67, where the transmission through a network connection is prompted upon power up.

51. The method of claim 58, wherein executing includes executing an update of at least one of application software and application data.

53. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the means for executing includes means for determining after the system is powered up.

54. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the means for determining includes means for determining when the system boots up.

55. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the means for determining includes means for determining if at least one of an application software and a data update is available.

56. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising, means for connecting to an internet, connected to the means for determining.

57. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising, means for connecting to an ethernet, connected to the means for determining.

58. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising, means for executing application software, connected to the means for executing a software update.

61. The software subroutine of claim 67 which is prompted upon boot up.

62. The software subroutine of claim 67 wherein the portion of the software is a software update.

63. The software subroutine of claim 67 wherein the portion of the software is application software.

64. The software subroutine of claim 67 wherein the portion of the software is application data.