Controller and method, device and system for use in configuring same

An auxiliary device programmed for configuring an industrial appliance having one or more electrically powered components and a programmable controller, the programmable controller comprising a memory module having stored thereon firmware including instructions for controlling operations of the one or more electrically powered components of the industrial appliance, said memory module including a memory component on which at least a portion of the instructions are stored, the programmable controller being programmed for operating the electrically powered components of the industrial appliance at least in part in accordance with the instructions stored on the memory module, said auxiliary device comprising:

• a. a communication interface suitable for communicating with the programmable controller of the industrial appliance over a wireless communication link;
• b. a processing unit in communication with the communication interface programmed for transmitting a signal over the wireless communication link to the programmable controller carrying update information associated with the industrial appliance, the signal being configured for causing a firmware update process to be performed by the programmable controller to modify the instructions based on the update information carried by the signal, at least part of said firmware update process being performed by the programmable controller while the memory component remains activated at least in part using energy drawn from said signal as a source of electrical energy and in the absence of electrical energy being supplied by a source external to the industrial appliance other than the signal carrying the update information.

A method for configuring an industrial appliance having one or more electrically powered components and a programmable controller, the programmable controller comprising a memory module having stored thereon firmware including instructions for controlling operations of the one or more electrically powered components of the industrial appliance, said memory module including a memory component on which at least a portion of the instructions are stored, the programmable controller being programmed for operating the electrically powered component of the industrial appliance at least in part in accordance with the instructions stored in the memory module, said method comprising:

• a. using a portable auxiliary device, obtaining update information associated with the industrial appliance;
• b. using the auxiliary device, transmitting a signal carrying the update information associated with the industrial appliance to the programmable controller over a wireless communication link, the signal being configured for causing a firmware update process to be performed by the programmable controller of the industrial appliance to update the instructions based on the update information carried by the signal, at least part of said firmware update process being performed by the programmable controller while the memory component remains activated at least in part using energy drawn from said signal as a source of electrical energy and in the absence of electrical energy being supplied by a source external to the industrial appliance other than the signal carrying the update information.