Rack mountable weld controller
First Claim
1. A rack mountable weld controller for controlling the operation of a welder having a welder power module for use in a programmable logic controller system including a card adapted for installation in a slot coupled through a backplane to a programmable logic controller, said card comprising:
- a) a microprocessor;
b) backplane input/output means coupled to said microprocessor and for coupling to said backplane for transferring data between said programmable logic controller and said microprocessor;
c) input/output means coupled to said microprocessor and for coupling to said welder power module and said welder for transferring control signals between said welder power module, said welder and said microprocessor;
d) analog to digital converter means coupled to said microprocessor and for coupling to said welder power module for converting power line voltage and welder transformer primary current to digital signals;
e) means coupled to said microprocessor for generating a prefire signal;
f) firing circuit means coupled to said prefire signal generating means and said microprocessor and for coupling to said welder power module for generating a firing signal;
g) means for controlling the operation of said microprocessor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rack mountable weld controller for use as a plug in card within a rack of a programmable logical controller (PLC) system. All signals between the PLC and the weld controller are through the backplane of the rack in which the weld controller is installed. In this manner, the large number of signals which are needed to operate the weld controller may be passed through the backplane rather than over a set of cables connecting the weld controller to an input card and output card which are themselves plugged into a backplane slot.
19 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A rack mountable weld controller for controlling the operation of a welder having a welder power module for use in a programmable logic controller system including a card adapted for installation in a slot coupled through a backplane to a programmable logic controller, said card comprising:
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a) a microprocessor; b) backplane input/output means coupled to said microprocessor and for coupling to said backplane for transferring data between said programmable logic controller and said microprocessor; c) input/output means coupled to said microprocessor and for coupling to said welder power module and said welder for transferring control signals between said welder power module, said welder and said microprocessor; d) analog to digital converter means coupled to said microprocessor and for coupling to said welder power module for converting power line voltage and welder transformer primary current to digital signals; e) means coupled to said microprocessor for generating a prefire signal; f) firing circuit means coupled to said prefire signal generating means and said microprocessor and for coupling to said welder power module for generating a firing signal; g) means for controlling the operation of said microprocessor.
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2. A rack mountable weld controller for controlling the operation of a welder having a welder power module for use in a programmable logic controller system including a card adapted for installation in a slot coupled through a backplane to a programmable logic controller, said card comprising:
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a) microprocessor; b) backplane input/output means coupled to said microprocessor and for coupling to said backplane for transferring data between said programmable logic controller and said microprocessor; c) input/output means coupled to said microprocessor and for coupling to said welder power module and said welder for transferring control signals between said welder power module, said welder and said microprocessor; d) analog to digital converter means coupled to said microprocessor and for coupling to said welder power module for converting power line voltage and welder transformer primary current to digital signals; e) means coupled to said microprocessor for generating a prefire signal; f) firing circuit means coupled to said prefire signal generating means and said microprocessor and for coupling to said welder power module for generating a firing signal; g) memory means for storing a program which performs calculations which enable closed loop control of the operation of the welder by controlling the operation of said microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification