Systems and methods for prioritization of wireless control of a welding power supply

• US 9,718,141 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Peotter, Benjamin G., Denis, Marc Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): JENNISON, BRIAN W
• Application Number:
  US14/229,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20150273609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1043 characterised by the electric circuit B23K9/1012 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1087 Arc welding using remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

Embodiments described herein include wireless control of a welding power supply via portable electronic devices. In particular, operating parameters and statuses of the welding power supply may be modified by the portable electronic device, as well as be displayed on the portable electronic device. For example, in certain embodiments, the welding power supply may be an engine-driven welding power supply, and the portable electronic device may be configured to start and/or stop an engine of the engine-driven welding power supply. A pairing procedure may be used to pair the welding power supply and the portable electronic device in a wireless communication network. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, a method of prioritization of control between a control panel of the welding power supply and the portable electronic device may be implemented.

Claims

1. A welding power supply comprising:

power conversion circuitry configured to convert an input power into an output power for a welding operation; and

control circuitry configured to control operation of the power conversion circuitry, to set prioritization of control of the welding power supply between a control panel of the welding power supply and a portable electronic device that is wirelessly paired with the welding power supply via a wireless communication network to either the control panel or the portable electronic device, to lock out from controlling at least one operational parameter of the welding power supply the one of the control panel of the welding power supply or the portable electronic device that is not prioritized for control of the welding power supply, and to enable transfer of the prioritization of control of the welding power supply from the control panel to the portable electronic device and from the portable electronic device to the control panel.

2. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to lock out from controlling a plurality of operational parameters of the welding power supply the one of the control panel of the welding power supply or the portable electronic device that is not prioritized for control of the welding power supply.

3. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to lock out from controlling all operational parameters of the welding power supply the one of the control panel of the welding power supply or the portable electronic device that is not prioritized for control of the welding power supply.

4. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to automatically set the prioritization of control of the welding power supply to the one of the control panel of the welding power supply or the portable electronic device that first issues a control command after the welding power supply is changed from a powered off state to a powered on state.

5. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to set the prioritization of control of the welding power supply based on a switching mechanism disposed on the welding power supply.

6. The welding power supply of claim 4, wherein the one of the control panel of the welding power supply or the portable electronic device that is not prioritized for control of the welding power supply is capable of changing the welding power supply from the powered on state to the powered off state.

7. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to override the prioritization of control of the welding power supply between the control panel of the welding power supply and the portable electronic device based on input from the one of the control panel of the welding power supply or the portable electronic device that is prioritized for control of the welding power supply.

8. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the welding power supply comprises an engine-driven welding power supply.

9. The welding power supply of claim 8, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to start an engine of the welding power supply when the portable electronic device is prioritized for control of the welding power supply.

10. The welding power supply of claim 8, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to stop an engine of the welding power supply.

11. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to change a current of the welding operation.

12. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to change a voltage of the welding operation.

13. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to change a process type of the welding operation.

14. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to change a polarity of the welding operation.

15. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a cellular phone.

16. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a laptop computer.

17. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a tablet computer.

18. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a dedicated original equipment manufacturer (OEM) remote control device.