Method and apparatus for wireless remote control communication of a welder

Abstract

A method and apparatus of communicating control signals to a welding power source from a remote location includes a welding system operated by control signals transmitted by a wireless remote control that can be remotely located from the welding power source. A plurality of welding parameters in the welding system are set and adjusted in response to wireless command signals transmitted to a controller including a control transceiver located on the welding power source. In this regard, an operator is able to quickly and efficiently control a welding system from a remote location, with no more cables than are necessary to perform the intended task.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A welding-type system comprising:
 a power source comprising a control transceiver and configured to generate power suitable for a welding-type process; and   a wireless control panel configured to transmit command signals to the control transceiver both when connected to the power source and when disconnected from the power source.   
     
     
         22 . The welding-type system of  claim 21 , wherein the wireless control panel is configured to connect to the power source via a docking port of the power source. 
     
     
         23 . The welding-type system of  claim 22 , wherein the wireless control panel is configured to transmit the command signals to the control transceiver via the docking port when connected to the power source via the docking port. 
     
     
         24 . The welding-type system of  claim 21 , wherein the wireless control panel is configured to transmit the command signals wirelessly to the control transceiver when disconnected from the power source. 
     
     
         25 . The welding-type system of  claim 24 , wherein the wireless control panel is configured to transmit the command signals wirelessly to the controller transceiver via one of radio control (RC), radio frequency (RF), cellular digital packet data, high speed circuit switched data, packet data cellular, general packet radio service, radio transmission technology, Bluetooth, IrDA, multichannel multipoint distribution service, local multipoint distribution service, WiMAX, 802.11 Wi-Fi, infrared, UHF, VHF, and RIM. 
     
     
         26 . The welding-type system of  claim 21 , wherein the power source is configured to adjust operational parameters of the welding-type process based at least in part on the command signals received from the wireless control panel. 
     
     
         27 . The welding-type system of  claim 26 , wherein the operational parameters include current, voltage, inductance, pulse commands, or gas flow. 
     
     
         28 . The welding-type system of  claim 21 , wherein the wireless control panel is configured to receive feedback received from the control transceiver. 
     
     
         29 . The welding-type system of  claim 21 , wherein the welding-type process is a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding process, a stick welding process, a metal inert gas (MIG) welding process, a plasma cutting process, or an induction heating process. 
     
     
         30 . The welding-type system of  claim 21 , wherein the wireless control panel includes at least one of a process mode selector, voltage adjust, current adjust, output contactor control, inductance or slope control, power on/off, pulse commands, voltage and current feedback displays, engine start/stop, glow plug/choke activation, program select, polarity control, AC waveform control, and wirefeed speed. 
     
     
         31 . The welding-type system of  claim 21 , wherein the wireless control panel includes a process mode selector configured to allow an operator to select a desired welding-type process having operational set points associated therewith. 
     
     
         32 . A wireless control panel comprising:
 a plurality of selectors configured to allow an operator to adjust operational parameters of a welding-type process performed by a welding-type power source; and   a transceiver configured to transmit command signals relating to the operational parameters to the welding-type power source both when attached to the welding-type power source via a docking port of the welding-type power source and when detached from the docking port.   
     
     
         33 . The wireless control panel of  claim 32 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the command signals to the welding-type power source via the docking port when attached to the welding-type power source via the docking port. 
     
     
         34 . The wireless control panel of  claim 32 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the command signals wirelessly to the welding-type power source when detached from the docking port. 
     
     
         35 . The wireless control panel of  claim 32 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the command signals wirelessly to the welding-type power source via one of radio control (RC), radio frequency (RF), cellular digital packet data, high speed circuit switched data, packet data cellular, general packet radio service, radio transmission technology, Bluetooth, IrDA, multichannel multipoint distribution service, local multipoint distribution service, WiMAX, 802.11 Wi-Fi, infrared, UHF, VHF, and RIM. 
     
     
         36 . The wireless control panel of  claim 32 , wherein the operational parameters include current, voltage, inductance, pulse commands, or gas flow. 
     
     
         37 . The wireless control panel of  claim 32 , wherein the transceiver is configured to receive feedback received from the welding-type power source. 
     
     
         38 . The wireless control panel of  claim 32 , wherein the welding-type process is a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding process, a stick welding process, a metal inert gas (MIG) welding process, a plasma cutting process, or an induction heating process. 
     
     
         39 . The wireless control panel of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of selectors include at least one of a process mode selector, voltage adjust, current adjust, output contactor control, inductance or slope control, power on/off, pulse commands, voltage and current feedback displays, engine start/stop, glow plug/choke activation, program select, polarity control, AC waveform control, and wirefeed speed. 
     
     
         40 . The wireless control panel of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of selectors include a process mode selector configured to allow an operator to select a desired welding-type process having operational set points associated therewith.