WIRELESS SYSTEM CONTROL AND INVENTORY MONITORING FOR WELDING-TYPE DEVICES
First Claim
1. A welding-type system comprising:
- a power source to produce a welding-type power, the power source being operable in a plurality of operating modes;
a controller configured to set a plurality of operating parameters within the power source;
at least one wireless monitoring device coupled to the controller;
at least one welding-type consumable associated with a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter configured to emit low frequency magnetic signals having consumable data encoded therein indicative of the at least one welding-type consumable; and
wherein the at least one wireless monitoring device is arranged to communicate with the wireless transmitter by receiving and transmitting the low frequency magnetic signals, the low frequency magnetic signals being transmitted at a frequency of approximately 131 kHz.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A welding-type system is designed for wireless control and for inventory monitoring of welding consumables. The welding-type system includes a power source to produce a welding-type power, wherein the power source is operable in a plurality of operating modes. The welding-type system also includes a controller configured to set a plurality of operating parameters within the power source, at least one wireless monitoring device coupled to the controller, and at least one welding-type consumable associated with a wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter is configured to emit low frequency magnetic signals having consumable data encoded therein that is indicative of the at least one welding-type consumable. The wireless monitoring device is arranged to communicate with the wireless transmitter by receiving and transmitting the low frequency magnetic signals, with the low frequency magnetic signals being transmitted at a frequency of approximately 131 kHz.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A welding-type system comprising:
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a power source to produce a welding-type power, the power source being operable in a plurality of operating modes; a controller configured to set a plurality of operating parameters within the power source; at least one wireless monitoring device coupled to the controller; at least one welding-type consumable associated with a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter configured to emit low frequency magnetic signals having consumable data encoded therein indicative of the at least one welding-type consumable; and wherein the at least one wireless monitoring device is arranged to communicate with the wireless transmitter by receiving and transmitting the low frequency magnetic signals, the low frequency magnetic signals being transmitted at a frequency of approximately 131 kHz. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A wireless communication welding-type system comprising:
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a power source to produce a welding-type power; a controller configured to set a plurality of operating parameters within the power source; at least one wireless monitoring device coupled to the controller; a wireless transceiver tag in communication with the at least one wireless monitoring device, the wireless transceiver tag associated with a welding-type consumable and configured to communicate with the at least one wireless monitoring device by way of a bidirectional, on-demand, peer-to-peer protocol transmitted via substantially magnetic waves emitted at a frequency of approximately 131 kHz; and wherein the protocol includes consumable data encoded therein indicative of the welding-type consumable. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling a welding-type process having a plurality of operating conditions comprising the steps of:
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providing a consumable to be used in a welding-type process; positioning a wireless tag in proximity to the consumable and associating the wireless tag with the consumable, the wireless tag having a memory to store consumable data regarding parameters of the consumable; reading the consumable data from the wireless tag from a wireless monitoring device; transmitting the consumable data from the wireless tag to the wireless monitoring device by way of a low frequency magnetic signal transmitted at a frequency of approximately 131 kHz; and controlling a welding-type device by setting the plurality of operating parameters, the setting of the plurality of operating parameters being determined by the transmitted consumable data. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for monitoring an inventory of consumables in conjunction with performing a welding-type process including the steps of:
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providing a consumable to be used in a welding-type process; positioning a wireless tag in proximity to the consumable and associating the wireless tag with the consumable, the wireless tag having a memory to store data on an available quantity of the consumable; measuring the quantity of consumable consumption during performance of the welding-type process; electronically modifying the memory of the wireless tag to reflect an updated available quantity of the consumable; transmitting a data signal to a wireless monitoring device on an on-demand basis, the data signal including data therein on the updated available quantity of the consumable; and wherein the data signal substantially comprises magnetic waves being transmitted at a frequency of approximately 131 kHz. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for monitoring an inventory of consumables in conjunction with performing a welding-type process including the steps of:
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providing a consumable to be used in a welding-type process; positioning a wireless tag in proximity to the consumable and associating the wireless tag with the consumable, the wireless tag having a memory to store data on an available quantity of the consumable; determining a location of the consumable; and wherein the data signal substantially comprises magnetic waves being transmitted at a frequency of approximately 131 kHz.
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Specification