Wireless communication network for control of industrial equipment in harsh environments

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.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 determining whether each of one or more welding-related devices are authorized and certified for use with a master node device;   facilitating wireless communication between the one or more welding-related devices and the master node device via a short-range wireless communication network in response to determining that each of the one or more welding-related devices are authorized and certified for use with the master node device;   facilitating communication between the master node device and a welding power supply via a long-range communication link; and   routing and prioritizing messages communicated between the one or more welding-related devices and the welding power supply.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the long-range communication link comprises a wireless communication link having a transmission range of approximately 300 feet or more from the master node device to the welding power supply unit. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the short-range wireless communication network comprises a wireless communication network having a transmission range of approximately 20-25 feet from the master node device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise first communication circuitry, the master node comprises second communication circuitry, and the wireless communication between the one or more welding-related devices and the master node is between the first communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices and the second communication circuitry of the master node. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the second communication circuitry of the master node device includes radio frequency (RF) transmitters and sensors. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , 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. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a welding-related device of the one or more welding-related devices comprises the master node device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the communication between the master node device and the welding power supply unit is via a weld cable. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising determining whether each of one or more welding-related devices meet safety and reliability standards, and facilitating wireless communication between the one or more welding-related devices and a master node device via a short-range wireless communication network in response to determining that the one or more welding-related devices meet safety and reliability standards. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising disassociating a welding-related device of the one or more welding-related devices from the short-range wireless communication network in response to a failure by the welding-related device to communicate a heartbeat data packet to the master node over multiple heartbeat intervals. 
     
     
         32 . A system for wireless communication with one or more welding-related devices, comprising:
 a master node device comprising:
 control circuitry configured to determine whether each of one or more welding-related devices are authorized and certified for use with the master node device, and 
 communication circuitry configured to communicate with a welding power supply via a long-range communication link, and to communicate via a short-range wireless communication network with the one or more welding-related devices determined to be authorized and certified for use with the master node device. 
   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine whether each of the one or more welding-related devices meet one or more safety and reliability standards, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate via the short-range wireless communication network with the one or more welding-related devices determined to meet the one or more safety and reliability standards. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the communication circuitry is further configured to communicate a heartbeat interval to the one or more welding-related devices, the heartbeat interval indicating a time interval in with which the one or more welding-related devices must provide a heartbeat data packet to the communication circuitry. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to disassociate a welding-related device of the one or more welding-related devices from the short-range wireless communication network in response to the communication circuitry failing to receive the heartbeat data packet from the welding-related device after multiple heartbeat intervals. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the heartbeat data packet comprises one or more of a battery level, a transmission power level setting, or a receiver sensitivity. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine a power requirement of the one or more welding-related devices. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine a sleep mode schedule based on the power requirement. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine the sleep mode schedule based on one or more of a number of one or more welding-related devices, a type of each of the one or more welding-related, a timing requirement of the one or more welding-related devices, a transmission power footprint of the short-range wireless communication network, or an optimum channel of the short-range wireless communication network. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the communication circuitry is further configured to communicate the sleep schedule to the one or more welding-related devices. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 32 , 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.