Intelligent welding end

Abstract

A welding tool may include a tool body and a tip portion, the tool body including a circuit configured to be connected to a controller, the tip portion including a tip heated to melt solder and a handpiece graspable by an operator. The tip portion includes a heater and a sensor disposed in the tip. The tip portion includes a tip memory device disposed at the handpiece. The tip memory device is configured to store parameter data. The tip memory device is configured to exchange data with the controller.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese invention patent application with application number 201980034462.6, application date April 2, 2019, and invention name “Smart Welding End”.

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 62 / 651,344, filed on April 2, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0004] Exemplary embodiments relate generally to soldering tools, and more particularly to such tools having a smart soldering tip for improved monitoring. Background Art

[0005] Soldering tools, sometimes referred to as soldering irons or welding guns, are often used in electronic manufacturing and repair activities along with other processes and industries involving metalworking. Soldering tools are often used to join metal items together at a joint by melting a filler metal, i.e., solder, into the joint. Solder has a lower melting point than the items being joined together at the joint, so the soldering tool needs to apply enough heat to melt the solder but not hot enough to melt the items being joined.

[0006] Although a variety of welding tool designs have been proposed, the basic welding tool design includes at least one tip portion operably connected to a heater. Due to the operation of the heater, the tip portion may become hot enough to melt the solder contacting the tip portion. In some cases, the tip portion may be removable / interchangeable so that tips or bits of many different geometries (e.g., sizes and / or shapes) can be replaced for corresponding different jobs. For example, some tip geometries (or shapes) may include a fine conical tip, a chisel tip, a pyramid tip, a triangular flat tip, a wide flat tip, etc., wherein different sizes may also be provided within each corresponding shape category.

[0007] With a typical welding tool, it is not possible to detect or otherwise determine the geometry of the tip that has been selected. Therefore, the welding tool itself essentially treats all tips or brazing tips as being the same. As a result, different tip temperatures may be experienced at corresponding different tips, and welding performance may vary. In addition, values ​​or parameters related to the life performance of each tip cannot be determined.

[0008] As can be understood from the above limitations, it may be desirable to improve welding tool design. For example, improvements in welding tool design may enable better determination of tip temperature, and therefore better performance and tracking of tip life. Summary of the invention

[0009] Some exemplary embodiments may enable the provision of smart welding tips that improve the overall functionality of typical welding tools.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, a welding tool may be provided. The welding tool may include a tool body and a tip portion, the tool body including a control circuit configured to interface with a controller, the tip portion including a tip heated to melt the solder and a handpiece graspable by an operator. The tip portion includes a heater and a sensor disposed in the tip. The tip portion includes a tip memory device disposed at the handpiece. The tip memory device is configured to store parameter data collected by the sensor. The tip memory device is configured to exchange data with the controller.

[0011] In another exemplary embodiment, a tip portion for a welding tool is provided. The welding tool may include a tool body having a control circuit configured to be connected to a controller. The tip portion may include a tip that is heated to melt the solder based on the operation of a heater, and a handpiece that can be grasped by an operator. A sensor may be disposed in the tip, near the heater. A tip memory device may be disposed at the handpiece. The tip memory device may be configured to store parameter data collected by the sensor and exchange data with the controller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Having generally described some exemplary embodiments, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which:

[0013] Figure 1 A welding tool structure that can be used to provide a smart welding tip portion according to an exemplary embodiment is shown;

[0014] Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a welding tool according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0015] Figure 3 shows two examples of tip portions having different tip lengths according to an exemplary embodiment; and

[0016] Figure 4 Side views and partial cross-sectional views of a tip portion of a robotic system are shown according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Some exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some but not all exemplary embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described and depicted herein should not be construed as limiting the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure. On the contrary, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure meets applicable legal requirements. The same reference numerals always represent the same elements. In addition, as used herein, the term "or" should be interpreted as a logical operator that results in true whenever one or more of its operands are true. As used herein, an operable connection should be understood to involve a direct or indirect connection, which, in either case, enables the functional interconnection of components that are operably connected to each other.

[0018] As described above, some exemplary embodiments may involve providing a welding tool including a smart tip portion. A welding tool employing the smart tip portion of the exemplary embodiments may include, for example, the ability to determine the tip temperature of a variety of different tip types or geometries. Thus, accurate parameter data of the tip portion may be recorded so that various life cycle determinations may be made for the tip portion.

[0019] Figure 1 1 shows a welding tool 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, the welding tool 100 of the exemplary embodiment may include a tip portion 110 that integrates a tip 112 (or a drill bit) with a handpiece 114 in a single structure. The tip 112 may extend in front of the handpiece 114, generally in line with the long axis of the tip portion 110. The handpiece 114 may have an insulated handle disposed on its outer surface. Internally, the handpiece 114 may include electronic components for connecting with the operation of the welding tool 100 or otherwise driving the operation of the welding tool to provide power for generating heat at the tip 112. The tip portion 110 may also include a spike 116 disposed on an opposite side of the handpiece 114 relative to the tip 112. The spike 116 may be coaxial with the tip 112 relative to the long axis of the tip portion 110. The spike 116 may include a first electrical connection 117 for power, a second electrical connection 119 for grounding, and a third electrical connection 121 for transmitting data.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, welding tool 100 may further include a tool body 120 configured to cooperate with end portion 110. In particular, for example, tool body 120 may include a plug connector 122 configured to receive pin 116 of end portion 110. At the same time, tool body 120 may include electronic devices for guiding the operation of components of end portion 110 (e.g., as described below with reference to Figure 2The tool body 120 may include a control circuit 230 discussed above, and a wire or cable 124 that operably couples the tool body 120 to the power unit 130. Thus, the power unit 130 may provide power and / or control signals to the tool body 120 via the cable 124. The plug connector 122 of the tool body 120 may include an electrical interface that enables power and / or control signals to be transferred to the tip portion 110 via the plug connector 122 when the plug 116 is inserted and operably coupled to the plug connector 122.

[0021] Figure 2 A block diagram of various components of welding tool 100 is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Referring now to Figure 2 , the power unit 130 may include a central processing unit (CPU) 200 and processing circuitry in the form of other controllers. According to an exemplary embodiment, the CPU 200 may be configured to perform data processing, control function execution, and / or other processing and management services specifically for the power unit 130 and generally for other parts of the welding tool 100. In some embodiments, the CPU 200 may be implemented as a chip or chipset. In other words, the CPU 200 may include one or more physical packages (e.g., chips) that include materials, components, and / or wiring on a structural assembly (e.g., a substrate). In an exemplary embodiment, the CPU 200 may include one or more instances of a processor and memory that may communicate with or otherwise control various components (e.g., the tool body 120, the tip portion 110, and components thereof) to which the CPU 200 is operably coupled.

[0022] The power unit 130 can provide power to the tip portion 110 via the tool body 120. In this regard, for example, the wire 202 can extend from the power unit 130 and through the tool body 120. The wire 130 can be interrupted at the interface between the tip portion 110 and the tool body 120 (e.g., by removing the spike 116 from the plug connector 122). However, when the spike 116 is inserted into the plug connector 122, the wire 202 can completely enter the tip portion 110 and extend to the heater 210. The ground wire 212 can similarly extend from the heater 210 to the power unit 130 via the tool body 120. The ground wire 212 can also be interrupted in a manner similar to the wire 202 as described above.

[0023] The heater 210 may be or include a resistive element that generates heat in response to an electric current running therethrough. The heater 210 may be disposed at or near the tip 112 of the tip portion 110, and may heat the metal in the tip 112 as the temperature of the heater 210 increases. In an exemplary embodiment, a sensor 220 may also be disposed within the tip 112. The sensor 220 may be disposed near the heater 210 to sense the temperature of the heater 210 and a portion of the tip 112 proximate to the sensor 220.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the CPU 200 may be operably coupled to a control circuit 230 disposed within the tool body 120. The control circuit 230 may include an analog-to-digital (AD) converter 232, a vibration sensor 234, and a memory device 236 (e.g., an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)). The control circuit 230 may be connected to the control circuit 230 via an I 2 C 240 (two-wire communication connection) can be operably connected to CPU 200. At the same time, only a single wire (i.e., connection line 242) can operably connect control circuit 230 to sensor 220. In some cases, connection line 242 can provide continuous (or near-continuous) feedback about the temperature (or other parameter) sensed by sensor 220. Therefore, control circuit 230 can also include converter 244 to obtain feedback from I 2 C 240 is switched to connection line 242. In some cases, control circuit 230 may also include switch 246 for powering a lighting device (e.g., a light emitting diode (LED) ring lighting device) on welding tool 100 to indicate when power is being applied to heater 210. Figure 2 It is understood that the cable 124 can accommodate the wire 202, the ground wire 212 and the I 2 C 240.

[0025] The connecting wire 242 may also be interrupted in a similar manner as the electrical wire 202 and the ground wire 212 described above. In addition, the spike 116 and the plug connector 122 may include an electrical interface to operably couple the separate portions of the ground wire 212, the electrical wire 202, and the connecting wire 242 to one another when the spike 116 is mated with the tool body 120 via the plug connector 122. Thus, for example, control and parameter data communicated between the CPU 200 and the control circuit 230 may be communicated via the I 2 C 240 is provided, while control and parameter data communicated between the control circuit 230 and the sensor 220 can be provided by a conductor in the form of a connecting line 242.

[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, another memory device (e.g., a head memory 250) may be provided in the tip portion 110. In this regard, for example, the head memory 250 may be operably coupled to both the control circuit 230 and the sensor 220 via the connection line 242. Thus, temperature feedback is provided via the connection line 242 and any other parameters, identifying information, etc., communicated to and from the head memory 250. As such, the head memory 250 (which may also be embodied as an EEPROM in some cases) may provide local storage of parameters (i.e., tip parameters) and / or identifying information regarding the tip portion 110. The tip parameters may include data indicating measurements taken by the sensor 220 (which may be temporarily recorded to identify the time associated with each measurement), or any other parameter data associated with the operation of the welding tool 100 (e.g., power-on time, time above a threshold temperature, etc.). Thus, the tip parameters that may be stored locally at the tip portion 110 in the head memory 250 may be very useful in determining a history of the operation of the tip portion 110. However, having the ability to store this information directly associated with the tip portion 110 itself also unlocks many other unique capabilities, as will be discussed in more detail below.

[0027] As described above, the tips 112 of many different embodiments of the tip portion 110 may have different shapes and / or sizes. Given the potential for such variability, it should be appreciated that applying the same amount of heat at the heater 210 (and thus potentially applying the same sensed temperature) may result in different temperatures at the distal end of the tip 112. For example, consider Figure 3In this regard, the first tip portion 300 and the second tip portion 310 may each have substantially the same structure, except that the first tip portion 300 has a first tip 320 that is longer than a second tip 322 disposed on the second tip portion 310. At the same time, in each case, the heater 210 and the sensor 220 may be disposed at approximately the same position relative to the handpiece 114. However, the first tip extension 330 of the first tip portion 300 extends forward of the sensor 220 by a first distance (D1) that is longer than a second distance (D2) that represents the extension amount of the second tip extension 332 of the second tip portion 310. It can be understood that the difference between the first distance (D1) and the second distance (D2) results in a temperature difference (T-Offset) at the distal ends of the first and second headers 320 and 322 (i.e., for the same temperature at the heater 210 (as recorded by the sensor 220), the temperature at the distal end of the first header 320 may be lower than the temperature at the distal end of the second header 322). Therefore, for example, one or more temperature settings may be added to the heater 210, and the corresponding sensed temperature at the sensor 220 of each of the first and second headers 320 and 322 may be recorded. At the same time, an accurate measurement of the temperature at the distal ends of the headers (e.g., the first and second headers 320 and 322) may also be performed. Then, the T-Offset for each header (e.g., the first and second headers 320 and 322) may be determined and stored in the corresponding instances in the header memory 250 in the first and second header portions 300 and 310. Since the header memory 250 may be alternately written and read multiple times, the T-Offset may also be updated. Thus, if calibration is performed, the old calibration data may be replaced with the new calibration data. In addition, in some cases, a history of sequential calibration operations and T-Offset or other calibration data generated may be stored in the head memory 250 .

[0028] By enabling the T-Offset for each tip portion to be stored in the tip memory 250 of the corresponding tip portion, each tip portion can be interchangeably inserted into any tool body and inserted together with any power unit and have its corresponding T-Offset transmitted to the tool body and / or power unit. Thus, the T-Offset can serve as calibration data to enable the tool body and / or power unit to provide a specific target tip temperature regardless of the tip portion being used. Thus, for example, if an operator has a power unit (e.g., power unit 130) that has one or more selectable temperature settings, the operator's selection of a specific temperature setting can be used in conjunction with the calibration data provided by the specific tip portion currently connected to the tool body and power unit to set the heater 210 to a temperature that will result (after taking into account the T-Offset) in a specific temperature setting at the distal end of the specific tip portion.

[0029] As can be appreciated from the above description, temperature calibration can occur based on a specific understanding of the characteristics of the tip portion 110, and such calibration data can be stored locally at the tip portion 110 in the tip memory 250, so that the tip memory 250 can share the calibration data (for temperature) with the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 130. However, it should also be understood that any of a plurality of measurable parameters of the tip portion 110 can also or alternatively be calibrated in a similar manner. For example, control parameters, life cycle data, or other measurable parameters related to the operation of the welding tool 100 can be measured at a separate location and in an instance of a sensor 220 configured to measure (one or more) corresponding parameters. The parameters can then be compensated (e.g., by defining a corresponding parameter offset), and the calibration data associated with such compensation can be stored locally at the tip portion 112. The calibration data can then be shared with the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 130 for each individual instance of the tip portion 112 such that calibration operations for the welding tool 100 can be provided to any random tip portion that is inserted, as long as the instance of the tip memory 250 is capable of transmitting the corresponding calibration data to the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 120.

[0030] One of the parameters that may be stored in the tip memory 250 may be a reference position of the distal end of the tip 112. In other words, the tip memory 250 may define an xyz reference position, for example, based on any desired reference point on the tip portion 110. Figure 4As shown, a reference position 400 may be defined for the tip portion 110. The reference position 400 may be a known position that is common to each instance of the tip portion 110 (i.e., regardless of the length or shape of the tip 112). The distal end of the tip 112 may then be measured from the reference position 400, and the xyz reference position of the distal end of the tip 112 may be stored in the tip memory 250. Thus, for example, if the tip portion 110 is inserted into the tool body 120 of a particular instance of the welding tool 100, the specific position of the distal end of the tip 112 may be known. This knowledge may be useful, for example, for a robotic system in which the welding tool 100 is operated under the control of a robotic arm or other mechanical operator. The CPU 200 is able to know the precise position of the distal end of the tip 112 (in the context of being defined using an xyz coordinate system) to achieve a joint under robotic control.

[0031] Thus, the tip portion 110 may be interchangeable with different instances of the tool body 120 and / or power unit 130 for any of a number of different parameters, and the tip portion 110 may share information about itself (i.e., calibration data or reference position data) to enable the CPU 200 to improve the operation of the welding tool 100 based on specific knowledge of one or more parameter offsets or position information provided by (and stored locally at) the tip portion 110. However, other useful information may also be stored at the tip portion 110 within the tip memory 250 to further enable unique operation of the welding tool 100.

[0032] In this regard, for example, in addition to (or as an alternative to) storing parameter data (e.g., calibration data or reference position data) that uniquely describes an individual instance of the tip portion 110, unique identification information (e.g., a tip identifier) ​​can be stored in the tip memory 250. The tip identifier for the individual instance of the tip portion 110 can allow the parameter data stored at the tip memory 250 to be transferred to the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 130, or to other devices, so that the parameter data can be analyzed. In this way, all parameter data extracted from the individual instance of the tip portion 110 can be associated with the tip identifier of the individual instance of the tip portion 110. The tip identification data (i.e., the parameter data associated with its corresponding tip identifier) ​​can be analyzed to determine life cycle data or other data, which can be used to determine whether the useful life of the tip portion 110 has ended, or whether maintenance should be performed.

[0033] In some examples, the head identifier (or code or other data) of a separate instance of the head portion 110 may also or alternatively be used for the execution of the safety function. For example, the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 130 may be programmed to query the head memory 250 of each head portion inserted into the tool body 120. The query may be used to determine the calibration data and / or reference position data as described above. In addition, as described above, such data associated with the head identifier may also be provided to enable the analysis of the data of the head identification. However, the query may also be an enabling criterion for allowing the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 130 to operate a separate instance of the head portion 110. For example, if the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 130 is queried and does not have the head memory 250, the head identifier cannot be provided in response to the query. In response to a failed query, the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 130 may not operate the head portion 110, and in some cases an alarm, warning or message may be issued to indicate the reason for the non-operation. If the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 130 are provided with a list of acceptable tip identifiers, the query (assuming that the tip portion 110 has a tip memory 250) can result in a tip identifier being returned from the tip portion 110 so that the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 130 can compare the received tip identifier with the list of acceptable tip identifiers. If the received tip identifier is on the list of acceptable tip identifiers, the tip portion 110 can be allowed to be operated with the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 130. However, if the received tip identifier is not on the list of acceptable tip identifiers, the tip portion 110 can be prevented from being operated with the tool body 120 and / or the power unit 130. As described above, an alarm, warning, or message can also be issued to inform the operator of the reason for non-operation. Thus, the operation of a welding tool 100 with a counterfeit tip portion can be prevented. In this way, the tip identifier can serve as a unique serial number for a device for quality inspection or approval, and can enable quality system operation, and can track quality components.

[0034] Based on the above description, it should be understood that exemplary embodiments may provide a read / write enabled memory device (e.g., tip memory 250) directly within tip portion 110 of welding tool 100. However, tip memory 250 is actually disposed in hand piece 114 of tip portion 110 so that the temperature at tip memory 250 remains relatively constant as hand piece 114 remains cool during operation of welding tool 100. This arrangement may ensure fewer component failures and longer component life than any design (e.g., where a memory chip may be disposed within tip 112 itself).

[0035] The tip memory 250 of the exemplary embodiment can store calibration data for various parameters (including temperature) to enable the welding tool 100 to have better predictability and performance. In addition, by storing such calibration data in the tip portion 110, the tip portion 110 can be removed and installed in any different group of the tool body 120 and the power unit 130, and still be able to perform calibration operations using the CPU 200 located in the power unit 130. The exemplary embodiment also uses a "single-wire" communication protocol, in which the tip memory 250 communicates with the CPU using a single wire. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, communication between components is hard-wired (via inserting the pin 116 into the plug connector 122 to form a communication jack or socket), rather than providing error-prone wireless communication. In addition, wireless communication requires additional wireless communication circuitry in both the sending component and the receiving component. By placing the CPU 200 in the power unit 130 and providing a wired communication device from the power unit 130 to the terminal part 110, intelligent communication between the CPU 200 and the terminal memory 250 can be achieved with fewer communication errors and a simpler and cheaper design of the terminal part 110.

[0036] Exemplary embodiments may provide precise control of tip temperature (e.g., by using sensor 220 and T-Offset) across many different types (e.g., shapes and sizes) of tip portions. Other parameters, reference position data, and life cycle data (e.g., predictive maintenance related data) related to the tip portion 110 may also be stored locally. Local storage may also be used to store security information (e.g., a tip identifier or other code), which may be used to prevent the use of counterfeit tip portions. The tip identifier may also provide a unique identification number that may be used for traceability throughout the process. Calibration and customer-initiated recalibration may also each be implemented through exemplary embodiments.

[0037] Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment, a welding tool can be provided. The welding tool may include a tool body and a tip portion, the tool body including a circuit configured to be connected to a controller, the tip portion including a tip heated to melt the solder and a handpiece graspable by an operator. The tip portion includes a heater and a sensor disposed in the tip. The tip portion includes a tip memory device disposed at the handpiece. The tip memory device is configured to store parameter data (e.g., parameter attributes, specific attributes, maintenance / history / usage data, etc.) collected by the sensor. The tip memory device is configured to exchange data (including parameter data) with the controller.

[0038] In some cases, the above-mentioned tool can be expanded or modified by changing the above-mentioned individual features or adding optional features. The expansion or modification can be performed in any combination and in any order. For example, in some cases, the parameter data may include temperature offset data indicating the temperature difference between the temperature sensed at the sensor and the temperature at the far end of the terminal. In an exemplary embodiment, the terminal memory device may be configured to transmit the parameter data to the controller so that the controller can operate the heater based on the parameter data. In some cases, the parameter data stored at the terminal memory device may be updateable. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller may be arranged at a power unit operably connected to the tool body via a cable. In some cases, the cable may include a ground wire and an electric wire, each of which can be interrupted by removing a pin disposed at the terminal portion from a plug connector disposed at the tool body. In an exemplary embodiment, the circuit may include a converter configured to convert from a two-wire communication that operably connects the circuit to the controller to a single-wire communication that operably connects the circuit to the terminal memory and the sensor. In some cases, the terminal memory device may be further configured to store a terminal identifier associated with an identification of the terminal portion. In an exemplary embodiment, the tip identifier may be transmitted to the controller, and the controller is configured to enable operation of the tip portion based on the tip identifier. In some cases, the parameter data may be stored in association with the tip identifier as tip identification data, and the tip identification data may define life cycle data associated with the tip portion for use in determining maintenance to be performed on the tip portion. In an exemplary embodiment, the tip memory device may store information indicating a position of a distal end of the tip portion relative to a reference point disposed at a portion of the handpiece.

[0039] Benefiting from the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings, a person skilled in the art of the invention will think of many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, although the foregoing description and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be understood that different combinations of elements and / or functions can be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, combinations of elements and / or functions different from those explicitly described above are also expected to be set forth in some of the appended claims. Where solutions to advantages, benefits, or problems are described herein, it should be understood that these advantages, benefits, and / or solutions may be applicable to some exemplary embodiments, but not necessarily to all exemplary embodiments. Therefore, any advantages, benefits, or solutions described herein should not be considered to be critical, necessary, or essential to all embodiments or the embodiments claimed herein. Although specific terms are used herein, they are used only in a general and descriptive sense, not for the purpose of limitation.

Claims

1. A tip portion for a welding tool, the tip portion comprising: a handpiece configured to be grasped by an operator; a tip including a heater and a sensor; a spike disposed on an opposite side of the handpiece relative to the tip, the spike being configured to electrically connect the tip portion to a tool body of a welding tool, the spike including a first electrical connection for power, a second electrical connection for ground, and a third electrical connection for transmitting data regarding at least a temperature sensed by the sensor; as well as A header memory device configured to: storing a terminal identifier that uniquely identifies the terminal portion; as well as receiving an inquiry from the tool body or a power unit of the welding tool when the spike is inserted into the tool body and in response providing a tip identifier as an enabling criterion for a safety function thereby allowing operation of the tip portion with the welding tool, When the pin is inserted and operably coupled to the tool body, both power and a control signal regarding the temperature of the tip portion can be transmitted to the tip portion via the pin.

2. The tip portion according to claim 1, wherein: The tip memory device is further configured to store parameter data and transmit the parameter data to control the temperature of the tip.

3. The tip portion according to claim 1, wherein: The connecting wire of the terminal portion connects the sensor to the plug pin as a single-wire interface, wherein the terminal memory device is also connected to the connecting wire; and The heater is connected to the pin to supply power to the heater.

4. The tip portion of claim 1, wherein the tip memory device is configured to provide calibration data for the tip portion or reference position data for the tip of the tip portion in response to the query.

5. A welding tool, comprising: The end portion according to any one of claims 1 to 4; Tool body; as well as Power unit; Wherein, the tool body or the power unit comprises a control circuit, and the control circuit is configured as follows: interrogating the tip memory device when the tip portion is inserted into the tool body; receiving the header identifier from the header memory device in response to the query; determining whether the header identifier is in a list of acceptable header identifiers; and Operation of the header portion is permitted if the header identifier is within the list of acceptable header identifiers, or operation of the header portion is prevented if the header identifier is not within the list of acceptable header identifiers.

6. The welding tool according to claim 5, further comprising a controller; The control circuit includes a converter configured to convert from two-wire communication operably coupling the control circuit to the controller to a single-wire communication operably coupling the control circuit to one of the head memory devices or to both the head memory device and the sensor.

7. The welding tool according to claim 6, wherein: The controller is provided at a power unit operably coupled to the tool body via a cable.

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