Wireless communication network association and security for control of industrial equipment in harsh environments
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsDaniel Dina, Kathy Lee Downie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.