Mobile Welding Interface for Lower-Cost Power Supply Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced welding equipment has become complex and costly, making it difficult to interface and program, particularly due to the need for sophisticated electronics and user input controls, which increases operational complexity and training requirements.
Innovation Solution
A welding or cutting system that utilizes a mobile communication device with camera, display, and motion sensor to input and communicate operational parameters to a power supply, eliminating the need for user input controls on the power supply and allowing remote operation, thereby simplifying the user interface and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If welding power supply includes user input interface and control circuitry, then operational control capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the user input interface and control circuitry from the welding power supply itself, relocating these functions to a separate mobile communication device. The power supply retains only the essential welding functionality and communication interface, while the mobile device handles parameter input, display, and complex control operations through its existing screen, keyboard, and processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the universal capabilities of mobile communication devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) which already possess screens, keyboards, processors, and communication interfaces. By utilizing these existing multi-functional components for welding control, the system avoids duplicating these functions in the power supply, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full operational control capability.
2Ease of operation
If welding power supply includes user input interface and control circuitry, then operational control capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the expensive user input interface and control circuitry components from the welding power supply manufacturing process. By relocating these functions to a separate mobile device that users already possess, the power supply can be manufactured with simpler, less expensive components, directly reducing production costs while maintaining full operational control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the mobile communication device's existing built-in components (screen, keyboard, processor, communication interfaces) that users already own for welding control operations. This self-service approach eliminates the need for the power supply manufacturer to provide these expensive components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining full operational functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If welding power supply includes user input interface, then programming capability is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the programming and parameter input functions from the power supply to the mobile communication device. The mobile device's existing keyboard, screen, and processing capabilities handle all programming operations, parameter entry, and configuration tasks, while the power supply simply executes received commands. This separation reduces operational complexity at the power supply interface while maintaining full programming capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A welding or cutting system having a power supply with no user interface hardware or software for controlling the operation of the power supply, and a mobile communication device which contains an application allowing for control of the power supply. The mobile device is coupled to the power supply through either a wired or wireless connection.