The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jan. 07, 2003

Filed:

Sep. 19, 2001
Applicant:
Inventor:

L. Thomas Hayes, Oshkosh, WI (US);

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B23K 9/10 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B23K 9/10 ;
Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power are disclosed. They include a source of welding-type power and at least one welding system peripheral. Each includes a network module that has boot loader software. A network is connected to the two network modules, and the network has connection for updates that is capable of receiving software updates. The network connection for updating may be on a user interface module, disposed inside or outside of a housing of the source of welding-type power and may include an RS232 connection. The network modules may include application software. The peripheral may be a wire feeders a robot interface, or any other peripheral A second peripheral, with a network module and boot loader software, may also be connected to the network. The updating can occur when the system is powered up. The software update is obtained from a personal-computer, a personal digital assistant, or over the internet.


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