Wireless industrial control user interface

An industrial automation system comprising:

• a plurality of motor drives configured to control operation of respective motors and having at least a first network communications port configured to receive a wired network connection;
• a plurality of respective peripherals connected to the motor drives;
• a plurality of respective wireless interface modules coupled to the first network communications port of each motor drive;
• and
• a wireless user interface configured to connect to a selected wireless interface module to establish a direct connection to at least one of the motor drive having the selected wireless interface module and the peripheral connected to the motor drive through the wireless interface module and to receive data directly from at least one of the motor drive and the peripheral;
• wherein the wireless user interface is further configured to display at least one of a representative image, an actual image of the peripheral, a name of the peripheral, and a type of the peripheral simultaneously when connected to the peripheral.

A method of communicating with a motor drive comprising:

• providing a motor drive having a wireless interface module;
• providing a wireless user interface configured to connect to the wireless interface module to establish a connection through the wireless interface module to access data stored in the motor drive;
• providing a flash update tool configured to run from the wireless user interface to upgrade a firmware of the motor drive by transferring a flash update data file stored on the wireless user interface to the motor drive through the wireless interface module;
• and
• displaying in a screen of the wireless user interface an image of the motor drive and a device name differentiating the motor drive from another motor drive.

An industrial control system for communicating with a motor drive comprising:

• a motor drive configured to control operation of a motor and having a first and second port;
• a wireless interface module coupled to the first port of the motor drive;
• a wireless user interface configured to communicate with the wireless interface module to establish a first connection to the motor drive through the wireless interface module and receive data directly from the motor drive and display the data received from the motor drive on a screen included in the wireless user interface;
• a communication network;
• a communication module coupled to the second port of the motor drive and in communication with the communication network;
• at least one device coupled to the communication network;
• and
• an HMI coupled to the communication network and configured to communicate with the motor drive over the communications network;
• wherein the motor drive includes at least one of a representative image, an actual image of the motor drive, a name of the motor drive, and a type of the motor drive, wherein the screen is configured to display at least one of the representative image and the actual image of the motor drive, the name of the motor drive, and the type of the motor drive in the screen simultaneously, and wherein the wireless user interface is further configured to establish a second connection through the wireless interface module and the communication module to the at least one device coupled to the communications network.