Wireless communication network association and security for control of industrial equipment in harsh environments

• US 9,756,456 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2015
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Dina, Daniel, Downie, Kathy Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Pablo
• Application Number:
  US14/824,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20150350821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1087 Arc welding using remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/322 Head protecting means masks, shields or hoods for weldersp A61F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

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 associate the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network. The master node device further includes means for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network.

Claims

1. A master node device comprising:

communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with internal communication circuitry of a welding power supply unit via a communication link, and to facilitate wireless communication with internal wireless communication circuitry of one or more welding-related devices via a wireless communication network, wherein the communication link has a greater transmission range than the wireless communication network;

control circuitry configured to associate the one or more welding-related devices with the wireless communication network; and

means for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the wireless communication network via user activation of synchronization mechanisms of the master node device and the one or more welding-related devices.

2. The master node device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to allow association of the one or more welding-related devices with the wireless communication network only if the welding-related devices include authorization credentials that indicate the welding-related devices may be used with the master node device.

3. The master node device of claim 2, wherein the authorization credentials include at least a media access control (MAC) address and a function code of the welding-related devices.

4. The master node device of claim 1, wherein the communication link comprises a wireless communication link having a transmission range of approximately 300 feet or more from the master node device to the welding power supply unit.

5. The master node device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless communication network having a transmission range of approximately 20-25 feet from the master node device.

6. The master node device of claim 1, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding wire feeder.

7. The master node device of claim 1, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding torch.

8. The master node device of claim 1, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding helmet.

9. The master node device of claim 1, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding pendant.

10. The master node device of claim 1, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding foot pedal.

11. The master node device of claim 1, wherein a welding-related device of the one or more welding-related devices comprises the master node device.

12. The master node device of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry includes radio frequency (RF) transmitters and sensors.

13. The master node device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to route and prioritize communications between the internal wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices and the internal communication circuitry of the welding power supply unit via the communication link and the wireless communication network.

14. A method comprising:

manually initiating association of one or more welding-related devices with a wireless communication network having a master node device functioning as a router and prioritization controller for the wireless communication network, wherein manually initiating association comprises user activation of synchronization mechanisms of the master node device and the one or more welding-related devices;

associating the one or more welding-related devices with the wireless communication network;

wirelessly communicating between internal wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices and wireless communication circuitry of the master node device via the wireless communication network; and

communicating between communication circuitry of the master node device and internal communication circuitry of a welding power supply unit via a communication link having a greater transmission range than the wireless communication network.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising associating the one or more welding-related devices with the wireless communication network only if the welding-related devices include authorization credentials that indicate the welding-related devices may be used with the master node device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the authorization credentials include at least a media access control (MAC) address and a function code of the welding-related devices.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless communication network having a transmission range of approximately 20-25 feet from the master node device, and wherein the communication link comprises a wireless communication link having a transmission range of approximately 300 feet or more from the master node device to the welding power supply unit.

18. The method of claim 14, 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.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein a welding-related device of the one or more welding-related devices comprises the master node device.

20. A communication network comprising:

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 internal wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices and wireless communication circuitry of the master node device via a wireless communication network, to facilitate communication between communication circuitry of the master node device and internal communication circuitry of the welding power supply unit via a communication link, to enable manual initiation of association of the one or more welding-related devices with the wireless communication network via user activation of synchronization mechanisms of the master node device and the one or more welding-related devices, and to route and prioritize communications between the internal wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices and the internal communication circuitry of the welding power supply unit via the communication link and the wireless communication network.