Welding-type power supply with boot loader

• US 7,411,155 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, L. Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw; Clifford C.
• Application Number:
  US11/006,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 219/130.01, 219/130.21, 219/130.4, 219/130.5, 219/130.33, 219/132, 219/137.PS, 219/130.1, 363/140
• US Class Current: 219/130.5
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1062 with computing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power are disclosed. They include a source of welding-type power and at least one welding system peripheral. Each includes a network module that has boot loader software. A network is connected to the two network modules, and the network has connection for updates that is capable of receiving software updates. The network connection for updating may be on a user interface module, disposed inside or outside of a housing of the source of welding-type power and may include an RS232 connection. The network modules may include application software. The peripheral may be a wire feeder, a robot interface, or any other peripheral. A second peripheral, with a network module and boot loader software, may also be connected to the network. The updating can occur when the system is powered up. The software update is obtained from a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or over the internet.

Claims

1. A method of updating software used to control a welding-type system, comprising;

determining, during a boot loader software routine, if an update of software to control a welding-type system is available over a network, including determining if at least one of an application software and application data update is available; and

executing the software update, during the boot loader software routine, over the network if the software update is available.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, before determining, connecting to an internet and obtaining the software update over the internet.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, before determining, connecting to an ethernet connection and obtaining the update over the ethernet connection.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after updating, executing application software.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining the software update from a personal computer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining the software update from a personal digital assistant.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining the software update over the internet.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein executing includes obtaining the software update over an internet connection.

9. An apparatus for updating software used to control a welding-type system, comprising;

means for determining, during a boot loader software routine, if an update of software to control a welding-type system is available over a network, wherein the means for determining includes means for determining if at least one of an application software and a data update is available; and

means for executing the software update, during the boot loader software routine, if the software update is available, connected to the means for determining.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for determining includes means for determining when the system boots up.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising, means for connecting to an internet, connected to the means for determining.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising, means for connecting to an ethernet, connected to the means for determining.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising, means for executing application software, connected to the means for executing a software update.