USE OF MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES AS USER INTERFACE FOR WELDING EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS

• US 20130112673A1
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chantry, Bruce John, Matthews, William Thomas, Petrilla, Lucian
• Granted Patent: US 10,328,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/130.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/013 Arc cutting, gouging, scarfing or desurfacing
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/02 Seam welding; Backing means; Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/095 Monitoring or automatic control of welding parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1087 Arc welding using remote control

Abstract

A welding or cutting system having a power supply with no user interface hardware or software for controlling the operation of the power supply, and a mobile communication device which contains an application allowing for control of the power supply. The mobile device is coupled to the power supply through either a wired or wireless connection.

Claims

1. A welding or cutting system, comprising:

a welding or cutting power supply which requires the input of at least one operational parameter to perform a desired welding or cutting operation; and

a mobile communication device having a user input application installed thereon which allows a user to input said at least one operational parameter into said mobile communication device;

wherein said mobile communication device communicates said at least one operational parameter to said power supply, and

wherein said power supply does not have a user input interface such that said at least one operational parameter cannot be input into said power supply without said mobile communication device.

2. The welding or cutting system of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device is a third party communication device.

3. The welding or cutting system of claim 1, wherein said welding or cutting power supply comprises a switch to turn said power supply on and off.

4. The welding or cutting system of claim 1, further comprising a wire feeder device which requires the input of a second operational parameter to perform a second desired operation, wherein said mobile communication device communicates said second operational parameter to said wire feeder device, and wherein said wire feeder device does not have a user input interface such that said second operational parameter cannot be input into said wire feeder device without said mobile communication device.

5. The welding or cutting system of claim 1, wherein said system comprises a plurality of welding or cutting power supplies and said mobile communication device communicates with each of said plurality of welding or cutting power supplies to control at least one operational parameter of each of said plurality of welding or cutting power supplies, and wherein none of said plurality of welding or cutting power supplies has a user input interface such that said at least one operational parameter cannot be input into any of said plurality of power supplies without said mobile communication device.

6. The welding or cutting system of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device comprises a display screen which displays said at least one operational parameter and feedback data from said welding or cutting power supply.

7. The welding or cutting system of claim 1, wherein said welding or cutting power supply comprises a housing having a mounting structure and a data connection device such that said mounting structure secures said mobile communication device to said housing and said data connection device couples to said mobile communication device to allow for the exchange of data between said welding or cutting power supply and said mobile communication device.

8. The welding or cutting system of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device has a security key which is transmitted to said welding or cutting power supply prior to operation of said welding or cutting power supply, and wherein said welding or cutting power supply will not operate unless said security key is determined to be an authorized security key.

9. A welding or cutting power supply, comprising:

output power electronics which provide an output power for welding or cutting;

control electronics which controls said output power electronics in accordance with at least one user input parameter; and

a receiver coupled to said control electronics which receives said at least one user input parameter from a mobile communication device,

wherein said power supply does not have a user input interface such that said at least one user input parameter cannot be input into said power supply without said mobile communication device.

10. The welding or cutting power supply of claim 9, wherein said mobile communication device is a third party communication device.

11. The welding or cutting power supply of claim 9, further comprising a switch to turn said power supply on and off.

12. The welding or cutting power supply of claim 9, further comprising a transmitter which transmits at least one feedback parameter from the operation of said output power electronics to said mobile communication device.

13. The welding or cutting power supply of claim 9, wherein said at least one operational parameter is one of wire feed speed, current, and voltage.

14. The welding or cutting power supply of claim 9, further comprising a housing having a mounting structure and a data connection device such that said mounting structure secures said mobile communication device to said housing and said data connection device couples to said mobile communication device to allow for the exchange of data between said welding or cutting power supply and said mobile communication device.

15. The welding or cutting power supply of claim 9, wherein said control electronics validates a security key from said mobile communication device prior to operation of said power supply, where if said control electronics is unable to validate said mobile communication device said power supply will not operate.

16. A method of controlling a welding or cutting power supply, comprising:

providing a welding or cutting power supply for a welding or cutting operation which requires at least one user input parameter to perform said welding or cutting operation;

entering said at least one operational parameter into a mobile communication device having a user input application installed thereon; and

transmitting said at least one operational parameter to said welding or cutting power supply so that said welding or cutting power supply can begin said operation,

wherein said at least one operational parameter cannot be input or transmitted to said welding or cutting power supply without said mobile communication device, and wherein said welding or cutting power supply does not contain a user input interface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said mobile communication device is a third party communication device.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting at least one feedback parameter from said welding or cutting operation to said mobile communication device and displaying said at least one feedback parameter on a display screen of said mobile communication device.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising securing said mobile communication device to a housing of said welding or cutting power supply, coupling said mobile communication device to a data connection device on said power supply, and transmitting data to and from said power supply through said data connection device.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising validating a security key in at least one of said mobile communication device and said welding or cutting power supply prior to performing said welding or cutting operation.