WIRELESS SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THEFT OF WELDING-TYPE DEVICES

• US 20070080150A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• 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 8,748,776 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. 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 preventing theft of welding-type devices.

Claims

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

at least one welding-type device;

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

at least one remote monitoring device configured to monitor a border of a work site and configured to generate a notification for the given welding-type device when the signals are emitted from the border.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the at least one RF transceiver is further configured to emit the signals as beacon signals, and wherein the at least one remote monitoring device is further configured to generate a notification for the given welding-type device when the beacon signals are not received.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the at least one RF transceiver is further configured to wirelessly receive software upgrades and options and upload them to the at least one welding-type device.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the signals further contain operation information of the at least one welding-type device encoded thereon.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the signals further include device-specific location information that includes at least one of GPS data, inertial sensor data, LORAN signals, and DME/VOR information, and wherein the signals further include operation information that 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.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the at least one remote monitoring device comprises a hand-held device, a portable station, or a desktop device.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 1 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.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the at least one RF transceiver 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.

9. 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;

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

installing the monitoring device at a position to detect arrivals and departures of the plurality of welding-type devices from a work site.

10. The method of claim 9 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 wireless data signals.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the monitoring device is configured to generate a notification for any of the plurality of welding-type devices when arrivals and departures thereof are detected.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of configuring the plurality of welding-type devices includes attaching wireless transceivers to the plurality of welding-type devices.

13. The method of claim 9 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.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of configuring the welding-type device further comprises configuring the welding-type device to transmit wireless data signals via one of RF, infrared, optical, sub-sonic, or ultra-sonic.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a welding-type device;

a data storage unit connected to the welding-type device and having identification information of the welding-type device stored thereon;

a wireless communication unit operationally attached to the data storage unit, the wireless communication unit configured to emit a beacon signal having the identification information encoded thereon; and

at least one remote monitoring device configured to detect the beacon signal and to generate a notification for the welding-type device when the beacon signal is not detected.

16. The welding-type network of claim 15 wherein the at least one remote monitoring device is further configured to generate a notification for the welding-type device when the signal is detected within a gate area of a worksite.

17. The welding-type network of claim 15 wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to periodically emit a beacon signal containing the identification information.

18. The welding-type network of claim 15 wherein the at least one remote monitoring device is further configured to determine a GPS data, inertial sensor data, LORAN signals, or DME/VOR information from location information encoded on the beacon signal.

19. The welding-type network of claim 18 wherein the at least one remote monitoring device is further configured to hone in on an origin of the wireless data signal, triangulate the origin of the wireless data signal, read the GPS data, process the inertial sensor data, measure the LORAN signals, or process the DME/VOR information to locate the welding-type device.

20. The welding-type network of claim 15 wherein the wireless communication unit is further configured to transmit RF signals, infrared signals, optical signals, sub-sonic signals, or ultra-sonic signals.