Systems and methods for adaptively controlling weld cable communications

• US 9,943,925 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Denis, Marc Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Jennison, Brian
• Application Number:
  US14/575,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20160175969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1062 with computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1087 Arc welding using remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/124 Circuits or methods for feeding welding wire
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A welding system includes a welding power supply. The welding power supply provides a welding power for a welding application through a weld cable. Additionally, the welding power supply includes weld cable communications circuitry including a receiver to receive data from the weld cable and to monitor the weld cable for frequency spurs or other interfering signals. Further, the weld cable communications circuitry includes a transmitter to transmit data across the weld cable. Furthermore, the transmitter adjusts data transmission characteristics based on the frequency spurs or the other interfering signals.

Claims

1. A welding system, comprising:

a welding power supply configured to provide welding power for a welding application through a weld cable, wherein the welding power supply comprises;

weld cable communications circuitry comprising;

a receiver configured to receive data from the weld cable and to monitor the weld cable for frequency spurs, other interfering signals, or a combination thereof, wherein the weld cable communications circuitry is configured to determine an adjustment to data transmission characteristics to compensate for at least the frequency spurs, other interfering signals, or the combination thereof; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data across the weld cable, wherein the transmitter is configured to adjust data transmission characteristics in accordance with the determined adjustment.

2. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit one or more modulated and one or more unmodulated tones.

3. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a modulated tone, which is a complex sinusoidal signal utilized to send the data across the weld cable.

4. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit an unmodulated tone, which is a sinusoidal signal comprising a reference amplitude, a reference phase, and a reference frequency, and wherein the unmodulated tone is utilized as a reference signal to determine compensation coefficients for a tone carrying the data.

5. The welding system of claim 1, comprising at least two transmitters and two receivers coupled along the weld cable to provide two-way data transmission.

6. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the frequency spurs are harmonically related to a switching frequency of the welding power supply.

7. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the weld cable communications circuitry is configured to adjust the data transmission characteristics by blocking use of individual tones with assigned frequencies that are similar to frequencies of the frequency spurs or the other interfering signals.

8. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the welding system is configured to provide the welding power and data from the welding power supply to a wire feeder or a welding torch via the weld cable.

9. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to adjust the data transmission characteristics by changing a transmission frequency of the data.

10. A method, comprising:

transmitting one or more tones through a weld cable from a transmitter disposed along the weld cable via an initial tone assignment of a set of tone assignments;

providing welding power and data communication via the weld cable with a welding system;

monitoring the weld cable with weld cable communications circuitry for interfering signals; and

changing transmission of the one or more tones with the transmitter from the initial tone assignment to a second tone assignment based on the interfering signals.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring the weld cable with the weld cable communications circuitry comprises:

performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the one or more tones on the weld cable for a frequency span of a lowest used data signaling frequency to a highest used data signaling frequency; and

using results of the FFT to determine amplitudes and frequencies of the interfering signals.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein changing transmission of the one or more tones from the initial tone assignment to the second tone assignment comprises selecting an alternate tone assignment from the set of tone assignments.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring the weld cable comprises monitoring the weld cable for frequency spurs.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring the weld cable for interfering signals comprises monitoring the weld cable for noise not otherwise related to a power supply.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising changing a transmission frequency of data during a welding application to avoid the interfering signals or the noise not otherwise related to the power supply.

16. A welding system, comprising:

a wire feeder configured to receive welding power for a welding application through a weld cable, wherein the wire feeder comprises;

weld cable communications circuitry comprising;

a receiver configured to receive data from the weld cable and to monitor the weld cable for frequency spurs, other interfering signals, or a combination thereof, wherein the weld cable communications circuitry is configured to determine an adjustment to data transmission characteristics to compensate for at least the frequency spurs, other interfering signals, or the combination thereof; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data across the weld cable, wherein the transmitter is configured to adjust data transmission characteristics in accordance with the determined adjustment.

17. The welding system of claim 16, wherein the frequency spurs are harmonically related to a switching frequency of a welding power supply of the welding system.

18. The welding system of claim 16, wherein the weld cable communications circuitry is configured to adjust the data transmission characteristics by blocking use of individual tones with assigned frequencies that are similar to frequencies of the frequency spurs or the other interfering signals.

19. The welding system of claim 16, wherein the welding system is configured to provide the welding power and data from a welding power supply to the wire feeder via the weld cable.

20. The welding system of claim 16, wherein the transmitter is configured to adjust the data transmission characteristics by changing a transmission frequency of the data.