Wireless communication network sensor information for control of industrial equipment in harsh environments
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- a master node device comprising;
communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with a welding power supply unit via a communication link, and to facilitate wireless communication with one or more welding-related devices via a wireless communication network; and
control circuitry configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors within a physical vicinity of the wireless communication network, to route the sensor data to final destinations for the one or more sensors, and to provide a capabilities list to the one or more sensors upon request from the one or more sensors, wherein the capabilities list includes whether the master node device has access to the World Wide Web (WWW), if the master node device is aware of other master node devices that have access to the WWW, a lifetime duration of the wireless communication network, a battery status of the master node device, and a sleep period of the wireless communication network, wherein the communication link has a greater transmission range than the wireless communication network.
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Abstract
In certain embodiments, a system includes a master node device. The master node device includes communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with a welding power supply unit via a long-range communication link, and to facilitate wireless communication with one or more welding-related devices via a short-range wireless communication network. The master node device also includes control circuitry configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors within a physical vicinity of the short-range wireless communication network, and to route the sensor data to final destinations for the one or more sensors.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
a master node device comprising; communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with a welding power supply unit via a communication link, and to facilitate wireless communication with one or more welding-related devices via a wireless communication network; and control circuitry configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors within a physical vicinity of the wireless communication network, to route the sensor data to final destinations for the one or more sensors, and to provide a capabilities list to the one or more sensors upon request from the one or more sensors, wherein the capabilities list includes whether the master node device has access to the World Wide Web (WWW), if the master node device is aware of other master node devices that have access to the WWW, a lifetime duration of the wireless communication network, a battery status of the master node device, and a sleep period of the wireless communication network, wherein the communication link has a greater transmission range than the wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 24)
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14. A method, comprising:
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wirelessly communicating between one or more welding-related devices and a master node device via a wireless communication network; communicating between the master node device and a welding power supply unit via a communication link; receiving sensor data from one or more sensors within a physical vicinity of the wireless communication network; routing the sensor data to final destinations for the one or more sensors; and providing a capabilities list from the master node device to the one or more sensors upon request from the one or more sensors, wherein the capabilities list includes whether the master node device has access to the World Wide Web (WWW), if the master node device is aware of other master node devices that have access to the WWW, a lifetime duration of the wireless communication network, a battery status of the master node device, and a sleep period of the wireless communication network, wherein the communication link has a greater transmission range than the wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A wireless communication network, comprising:
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one or more welding-related devices, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding wire feeder, a welding torch, a welding helmet, a welding pendant, or a welding foot pedal; a welding power supply unit configured to convert power from a power grid to power for a welding operation performed using the one or more welding-related devices; and a master node device configured to facilitate wireless communication between the one or more welding-related devices and the master node device via a wireless communication network, to facilitate communication between the master node device and the welding power supply unit via a communication link, to receive sensor data from one or more sensors within a physical vicinity of the wireless communication network, to route the sensor data to final destinations for the one or more sensors, and to provide a capabilities list to the one or more sensors upon request from the one or more sensors, wherein the capabilities list includes whether the master node device has access to the World Wide Web (WWW), if the master node device is aware of other master node devices that have access to the WWW, a lifetime duration of the wireless communication network, a battery status of the master node device, and a sleep period of the wireless communication network, wherein the communication link has a greater transmission range than the wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification