WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR WELDING-TYPE DEVICES

• US 20070080149A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Ulrich, James, Albrecht, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/130.10
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/10 Other electric circuits therefor; Protective circuits; Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1087 Arc welding using remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4063 Monitoring general control system G05B19/4062 takes precedence

Abstract

A welding-type device has wireless communications to transmit wireless signals comprising at least identification information or location information. The information may be transmitted either automatically or in response to request signals. Such a welding-type device may be configured to communicate with other welding-type devices, a monitoring device, or both. A wireless communication system has at least one welding-type device, at least one wireless communication assembly, and at least one monitoring device and is capable of assisting a user in locating particular welding-type devices, preventing theft of welding-type devices, and scheduling preventive maintenance.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a welding-type device;

a data storage unit associated with the welding-type device and having identification information of the welding-type device and location information of the welding-type device within a network stored thereon; and

a wireless communication unit operationally attached to the data storage unit, the wireless communication unit configured to emit a signal carrying the identification information and the location information from the data storage unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to periodically emit a beacon signal containing the identification information and the location information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the identification information further comprises a unique ID number, an ownership identifier, or a system identifier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive signals and emit corresponding response signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to emit a signal containing operation information upon receiving a status request signal and to emit a signal containing identification information upon receiving a location request signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sensors and interfaces connected to the data storage unit and configured to upload system software upgrades and input operation information including at least one of a history of usage, a history of maintenance performed, a schedule of preventive maintenance, existing and imminent operational problems, current device resources, real-time operation status, or operator notes to the data storage unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data storage unit and the wireless communication unit comprise an active or a passive RFID device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication unit communicates by at least one of RF signals, infrared signals, optical signals, sub-sonic signals, or ultra-sonic signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network is a mesh network comprising at least one other welding-type device and at least one monitoring device so as to relay signals across the network, thereby extending a range of the network.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the data storage unit or the wireless communication unit is disposed in the welding-type device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the data storage unit or the wireless communication unit is affixed to an outer surface of the welding-type device.

12. A wireless communication system for welding-type devices comprising:

at least one welding-type device;

at least one RF transmitter connected to the at least one welding-type device and configured to emit signals containing device-specific location information of the at least one welding-type device therefrom; and

at least one remote monitoring device configured to receive the signals from the at least one RF transmitter.

13. The wireless communication system of claim 12 wherein the at least one RF transmitter is further configured to wirelessly receive software upgrades and options and upload them to the at least one welding-type device.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 12 wherein the signals further contain operation information of the at least one welding-type device encoded thereon.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 12 wherein the at least one welding-type device further comprises a number of data input and output devices connected to the at least one RF transmitter.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 12 wherein the device-specific location information includes at least one of GPS data, inertial sensor data, LORAN signals, and DME/VOR information, and the operation information includes at least one of a history of usage, a history of maintenance performed, a schedule of preventive maintenance, existing and imminent operational issues, current device resources, current software versions, real-time operational status, or operator notes.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 12 wherein the at least one remote monitoring device comprises a hand-held device, a portable station, or a desktop device.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 12 wherein the at least one remote monitoring device processes the signals to hone in on an origin of the signals, triangulate the origin of the signals, read GPS data, process inertial sensor data, measure LORAN signals, or process DME/VOR information to find the given welding-type device.

20. The wireless communication system of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of welding-type devices, and a plurality of RF transmitters, and wherein the at least one remote monitoring device and the plurality of RF transmitters are arranged in a network capable of relaying signals therebetween.

21. The wireless communication system of claim 12 wherein the at least one RF transmitter further comprises a passive or an active RFID device;

an infrared communication device;

an optical communication device;

a sub-sonic communication device;

or an ultra-sonic communication device.

22. The wireless communication system of claim 12 wherein the at least one RF transmitter is mounted to an outer housing of the at least one welding-type device.

23. The wireless communication system of claim 12 wherein the at least one RF transmitter is mounted inside the at least one welding-type device.

18. (canceled)

24. A wireless communication kit for a welding-type device comprising:

a data storage unit configured to store device-specific location information of a welding-type device therein;

a processing unit operably connected to the data storage unit;

a wireless transmitter connected to the processing unit and configured to transmit the welding-type device-specific location information from the data storage unit; and

wherein the data storage unit, processing unit, and wireless transmitter are each associated with a specific welding-type device.

25. The wireless communication kit of claim 24 further comprising an upload module to allow entry of the welding-type device-specific location information to the data-storage unit.

26. The wireless communication kit of claim 24 further comprising a bracket configured to secure the data storage unit, processing unit, and wireless transmitter to the welding-type device.

27. The wireless communication kit of claim 24 wherein the data storage unit, the processing unit, and the wireless transmitter are in a single integrated package.

28. The wireless communication kit of claim 24 wherein the data storage unit, the processing unit, and the wireless transmitter comprise an RFID device.

29. The wireless communication kit of claim 28 wherein the RFID device is configured to be adopted into a network.

30. The wireless communication kit of claim 24 wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to communicate by RF, infrared, optical, sub-sonic, or ultra-sonic.

31. A monitor to supervise a remote welding-type device, the monitoring having a controller configured to:

wirelessly receive a signal encoded with location information of a remote welding-type device; and

determine a real-time location of the remote welding-type device from the location information encoded in the signal.

32. The monitor of claim 31 wherein the controller is further configured to cause a transmitter to wirelessly transmit an operation status request signal to the remote welding-type device to initiate transmission of a signal encoded with operation information by the remote welding-type device.

33. The monitor of claim 31 wherein the controller is further configured to determine a real-time operational status by determining at least one of a power on/off state, a torch engagement state, current user information, component fault information, current device resources, current software version, or current or imminent device requirements.

34. A method of manufacturing a welding-type wireless communication system comprising:

configuring a plurality of welding-type devices to transmit wireless data signals containing at least a device-specific identifier; and

providing a monitoring device to receive the wireless data signals and determine location information for the plurality of welding-type devices therefrom.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising configuring the monitoring device to assess a proximity, a direction, a relative location, or an absolute location of the plurality of welding-type devices from the location information.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the step of configuring the plurality of welding-type devices includes attaching wireless transmitters to the plurality of welding-type devices.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising attaching at least one sensor to each of the plurality of welding-type devices to provide feedback of the plurality of welding-type devices to the wireless transmitters.

39. The method of claim 34 further comprising programming the monitoring device to determine GPS data, inertial sensor data, LORAN signals, or DME/VOR information from the location information.

40. The method of claim 34 further comprising configuring the monitoring device to locate an origin of a wireless data signal by triangulating an origin of the wireless data signal, reading GPS data, processing inertial sensor data, measuring LORAN signals, or processing DME/VOR information.

41. The method of claim 34 further comprising arranging the plurality of welding-type devices and the monitoring device to operate in a network.

42. The method of claim 34 wherein the step of configuring the plurality of welding-type devices further comprises configuring the plurality of welding-type devices to transmit wireless data signals via one of an RF medium, an infrared medium, an optical medium, a sub-sonic medium, or an ultra-sonic medium.

36. (canceled)

43. A welding-type network comprising:

a first processor configured to transmit a wireless data signal from a first node associated with a first welding-type device; and

a second processor configured to;

(A) receive the wireless data signal at a second node associated with a second welding-type device or a monitoring apparatus;

(B) determine an intended recipient identifier from the wireless data signal; and

(C) if the intended recipient identifier matches an identifier of the second node, process the wireless data signal, otherwise relay the wireless data signal.

44. The welding-type network of claim 43 wherein the first processor is further configured to receive a wireless request signal at the first node before transmitting the wireless data signal from the first node.

45. The welding-type network of claim 43 wherein the second processor is arranged to detect arrivals and departures of welding-type devices from a work site.

46. The welding-type network of claim 43 wherein the second processor is further configured to interpret at least one of operation information or location information from the wireless data signal if the intended recipient identifier matches an identifier of the second node.

47. The welding-type network of claim 46 wherein the second processor is further configured to determine at least one of a history of usage, a history of maintenance, a schedule of preventive maintenance, a power on/off state, a torch engagement state, current user information, component fault information, current device resources, current software versions, current and imminent device requirements, or operator notes from the operation information.

48. The welding-type network of claim 46 wherein the second processor is further configured to determine a device-specific ID number, GPS data, inertial sensor data, LORAN signals, or DME/VOR information from the location information.

49. The welding-type network of claim 48 wherein the second processor is further configured to hone in on an origin of the wireless data signal, triangulate the origin of the wireless data signal, read GPS data, process inertial sensor data, measure LORAN signals, or process DME/VOR information to locate the first node.

50. The welding-type network of claim 43 wherein the first processor is further configured to transmit the wireless data signal from a transmitter attached to the first node.

51. The welding-type network of claim 43 wherein the first and second processors are further configured to transmit RF signals, infrared signals, optical signals, sub-sonic signals, or ultra-sonic signals.

52. -56. (canceled)