SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A PERSONALLY ALLOCATED INTERFACE FOR USE IN A WELDING SYSTEM

• US 20160045971A1
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Holverson, Todd Earl
• Granted Patent: US 11,103,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1087 Arc welding using remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly

Abstract

A welding system having a welding power supply, a wire feeder coupled to the welding power supply, and a welding torch coupled to the wire feeder and configured to output wire from the wire feeder is provided. In particular, the welding system includes a wireless module (e.g., gateway) disposed within a component of the welding system, or as an independent component within the welding system. For example, the wireless module may be disposed within the welding power supply, the wire feeder, or the welding torch. The wireless module is configured to wirelessly transmit to and receive welding information, such as operator identification information, from a wireless personal device. The wireless personal device is uniquely associated with a welding operator operating the welding system.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing wireless communications between a wireless personal device and a wireless module disposed within a welding system, wherein the wireless personal device is uniquely associated with a particular welding operator;

receiving operator identification information from the wireless personal device;

determining a set of operational parameters within which the operator may operate the welding system; and

enabling operation of the welding system for the operator within the determined set of operational parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing wireless communications between the wireless personal device and the wireless module comprises activating a binding process between the personal device and the wireless module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the binding process comprises scanning, via the personal device, a unique barcode or a unique serial number of a component of the welding system.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the binding process comprises simultaneously engaging a first activation feature on the wireless personal device and a second activation feature on the wireless module.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising verifying the operator identification information to authenticate the welding operator, wherein authenticating the welding operator comprises comparing the operator identification information to information associated with a plurality of operators stored in a local memory location or a remote cloud-based memory location.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising collecting welding information during the operation of the welding system and storing the collected welding information in a local memory location or a remote cloud-based memory location, wherein the welding information is tagged to be associated with the operator operating the welding system.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising detecting one or more wireless personal devices uniquely associated with the same welding operator and establishing wireless communications between the wireless module and at least one of the wireless personal devices associated with the welding operator.

8. A welding system, comprising:

a wireless module configured to communicate with a welding power supply, a wire feeder, or a welding torch, wherein the wireless module is configured to wirelessly receive information from a wireless personal device, and wherein the wireless personal device is uniquely associated with a welding operator operating the welding system.

9. The welding system of claim 8, wherein the wireless personal device comprises a smart phone, a tablet, a notepad, a welding helmet, a welding glove, an audio input device, a personal clothing item, a personal welding clothing item, an employee tag, a laptop, a pair of glasses, a watch, or a personal welding tool.

10. The welding system of claim 8, comprising a remote cloud-based memory location or a local memory location configured to store one or more user profiles, wherein each user profile corresponds to a particular welding operator.

11. The welding system of claim 10, wherein the information comprises operator identification information configured to identify the wireless personal device uniquely associated with the welding operator.

12. The welding system of claim 11, comprising control circuitry configured to retrieve a user profile from the cloud-based memory storage based on the operator identification information received from the wireless personal device, wherein the retrieved user profile corresponds to the welding operator.

13. The welding system of claim 12, wherein the retrieved user profile comprises a set of operational permissions unique to the operator, and wherein the set of operational permissions limits the functionality of the welding system.

14. The welding system of claim 8, wherein the information comprises a welding process, a welding current, a welding voltage, a workpiece identification, a time of the welding operation and a location of the welding operation, and wherein the welding information is associated with the welding operator.

15. The welding system of claim 14, wherein the welding information is stored within a remote cloud-based memory location or a local memory location.

16. A wireless personal device configured to wirelessly transmit information to a welding power supply, a wire feeder, or a welding torch, wherein the wireless personal device is uniquely associated with a welding operator operating the welding system.

17. The welding system of claim 16, wherein the wireless personal device comprises a smart phone, a tablet, a notepad, a welding helmet, a welding glove, an audio input device, a personal clothing item, a personal welding clothing item, an employee tag, a laptop, a pair of glasses, a watch, or a personal welding tool.

18. The welding system of claim 17, wherein the wireless module is configured to establish wireless communications by activating a binding process between the wireless personal device and the welding power supply, the wire feeder, or the welding torch.

19. The welding system of claim 18, wherein the welding helmet is configured to activate a binding process with the welding power supply when the welding helmet is synchronized with one or more signals from the welding power supply.

20. The welding system of claim 17, wherein the wireless personal device is configured with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.

21. A method, comprising:

establishing wireless communications between a wireless personal device and a wireless module, wherein the wireless module is disposed within a welding system, and wherein the wireless personal device is uniquely associated with a particular welding operator; and

receiving operator identification information from the wireless personal device, wherein the welding operator is identified at least in part by the operator identification information.