Patent Description:
Myriad interface types have been used for conventional power supplies. Conventional user interface for power supplies (see <CIT>) either rely on the operator to manually select the appropriate parameters, such as voltage and wire feed speed, or rely on the operator specifying the material thickness and then calculating appropriate parameters from the material thickness.

A welding power supply according to the invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

As used herein, the term "inductance parameter" refers to a parameter used to control a rate of change (or slope) of a welding output, and may be controlled by directly controlling a physical inductance of a circuit and/or by controlling to mimic an induction effect in a weld circuit.

Disclosed example power supplies, wire feeders, and/or other welding equipment include user interfaces that may be used to control output polarity from a welding power supply. In disclosed examples, the welding power supply includes two output terminals which may be alternated in polarity by controlling polarity switching circuitry. In some examples, the user interface enables control and adjustment of inductance, or arc control or arc force. By accessing the inductance parameter menu and adjusting the inductance parameter, an output polarity can be changed. The inductance parameter may have a range (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>), and adjusting the inductance parameter outside of the range results in a change in welding process (e.g., from gas metal arc welding (GMAW) to flux-cored arc welding (FCAW)) and/or a change in polarity from direct current electrode positive (DCEP) to direct current electrode negative (DCEN). The selection of the output polarity via the inductance parameter menu causes control of the power conversion circuitry to output welding power with a corresponding output polarity from the two output terminals.

Disclosed user interfaces displays an indication of the output polarity selection to inform the operator. The polarity selection and/or the display may occur at the power supply and/or remotely at a remote wire feeder or remote pendant connected to the power supply.

Disclosed example welding power supplies include: a first terminal and a second terminal configured to be connected to welding equipment; power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to weld power and to output the weld power via the first and second terminals; an interface, and control circuitry. The interface includes one or more first input devices configured to receive a selection of a wire feeding weld process, and one or more second input devices configured to receive a selection of a polarity of the weld power. The control circuitry is configured to, in response to receiving, via the interface, an input associated with at least one of the wire feeding weld process or the selection of the output polarity, control the polarity of the weld power output via the power conversion circuitry to the first and second terminals.

In some examples, the power conversion circuitry includes at least one of a full bridge topology or a half bridge topology. In some examples, the control circuitry is configured to control the polarity of the weld power by controlling a commutator portion of the power conversion circuitry. In some example welding power supplies, the interface is configured to receive the selection of the polarity of the weld power in association with a weld inductance parameter. In some examples, the control circuitry is configured to, in response to selection of the polarity of the weld power, control the weld inductance parameter to have a predetermined value.

In some example welding power supplies, the interface is configured to receive the selection of the polarity of the weld power in association with a selection of a flux-cored electrode wire type. In some examples, the interface is configured to display an indication of the selected polarity in response to receiving the selection of the polarity of the weld power or the selection of the wire feeding weld process.

In some example welding power supplies, the interface includes communications circuitry configured to communicate with a remote device, in which the control circuitry is configured to transmit, via the communications circuitry, at least one of an indication of the polarity of the weld power or an indication of the selected wire feeding weld process. In some examples, the communications circuitry is configured to communicate with the remote device via at least one of the first and second terminals. In some examples, the interface is configured to receive the selection of a wire feeding weld process and the selection of a polarity of the weld power via the communications circuitry.

Disclosed example welding power supplies include: a first terminal and a second terminal configured to be connected to welding equipment; power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to weld power and to output the weld power via the first and second terminals; an interface, and control circuitry. The interface includes a first input device configured to receive a selection of a wire feeding weld process or a non-wire feeding weld process, and a second input device configured to receive a selection of an inductance parameter of the weld power for a first wire feeding weld process and to alternately receive a selection of a polarity of the weld power for a second wire feeding weld process. The control circuitry is configured to, in response to receiving, via the interface, an input associated with the wire feeding weld process from the first input device and an input associated with the first wire feeding weld process or the second wire feeding weld process or the selection of the output polarity, control the polarity of the weld power output via the power conversion circuitry to the first and second terminals.

In some example power supplies, the power conversion circuitry includes at least one of a full bridge topology or a half bridge topology. In some examples, the control circuitry is configured to control the polarity of the weld power by controlling a commutator portion of the power conversion circuitry. In some examples, the interface is configured to receive the selection of the polarity of the weld power in association with a weld inductance parameter via the second input device. In some examples, the control circuitry is configured to, in response to selection of the polarity of the weld power, control the weld inductance parameter to have a predetermined value.

In some example power supplies, the interface is configured to receive the selection of the polarity of the weld power in association with a selection of a flux-cored electrode wire type as the second wire feeding weld process. In some examples, the interface is configured to display an indication of the selected polarity in response to receiving the selection of the polarity of the weld power or the selection of the second wire feeding weld process.

In some examples, the interface includes communications circuitry configured to communicate with a remote device, and the control circuitry is configured to transmit, via the communications circuitry, at least one of an indication of the polarity of the weld power or an indication of the selected wire feeding weld process. In some examples, the communications circuitry is configured to communicate with the remote device via at least one of the first and second terminals. In some examples, the interface is configured to receive the selection of a wire feeding weld process and the selection of a polarity of the weld power via the communications circuitry.

Turning now to the drawings, <FIG> is a block diagram of an example welding system <NUM> having a welding-type power supply <NUM>, a wire feeder <NUM>, and a welding torch <NUM>. The welding system <NUM> powers, controls, and supplies consumables to a welding application. In some examples, the power supply <NUM> directly supplies input power to the welding torch <NUM>. The welding torch <NUM> may be a torch configured for shielded metal arc welding (SMAW, or stick welding), tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), based on the desired welding application. In the illustrated example, the power supply <NUM> is configured to supply power to the wire feeder <NUM>, and the wire feeder <NUM> may be configured to route the input power to the welding torch <NUM>. In addition to supplying an input power, the wire feeder <NUM> may supply a filler metal to a welding torch <NUM> for various welding applications (e.g., GMAW welding, flux core arc welding (FCAW)). While the example system <NUM> of <FIG> includes a wire feeder <NUM> (e.g., for GMAW or FCAW welding), the wire feeder <NUM> may be replaced by any other type of remote accessory device, such as a stick welding and/or TIG welding remote control interface that provides stick and/or TIG welding.

The power supply <NUM> receives primary power <NUM> (e.g., from the AC power grid, an engine/generator set, a battery, or other energy generating or storage devices, or a combination thereof), conditions the primary power, and provides an output power to one or more welding devices in accordance with demands of the system <NUM>. The primary power <NUM> may be supplied from an offsite location (e.g., the primary power may originate from the power grid). The power supply <NUM> includes power conversion circuitry <NUM>, which may include transformers, rectifiers, switches, and so forth, capable of converting the AC input power to AC and/or DC output power as dictated by the demands of the system <NUM> (e.g., particular welding processes and regimes). The power conversion circuitry <NUM> converts input power (e.g., the primary power <NUM>) to welding-type power based on a weld voltage setpoint and outputs the welding-type power via a weld circuit.

The power supply <NUM> includes a control circuitry <NUM> to control the operation of the power supply <NUM>. The power supply <NUM> also includes a user interface <NUM>. The control circuitry <NUM> receives input from the user interface <NUM>, through which a user may choose a process and/or input desired parameters (e.g., voltages, currents, particular pulsed or non-pulsed welding regimes, and so forth). The user interface <NUM> may receive inputs using one or more input devices <NUM>, such as via a keypad, keyboard, physical buttons, a touch screen (e.g., software buttons), a voice activation system, a wireless device, etc. Furthermore, the control circuitry <NUM> controls operating parameters based on input by the user as well as based on other current operating parameters. Specifically, the user interface <NUM> may include a display <NUM> for presenting, showing, or indicating, information to an operator. The control circuitry <NUM> may also include interface circuitry for communicating data to other devices in the system <NUM>, such as the wire feeder <NUM>. For example, in some situations, the power supply <NUM> wirelessly communicates with other welding devices within the welding system <NUM>. Further, in some situations, the power supply <NUM> communicates with other welding devices using a wired connection, such as by using a network interface controller (NIC) to communicate data via a network (e.g., ETHERNET, 10baseT, 10base100, etc.). In the example of <FIG>, the control circuitry <NUM> communicates with the wire feeder <NUM> via a communications transceiver <NUM>, as described below.

The control circuitry <NUM> includes at least one controller or processor <NUM> that controls the operations of the power supply <NUM>. The control circuitry <NUM> receives and processes multiple inputs associated with the performance and demands of the system <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may include one or more microprocessors, such as one or more "general-purpose" microprocessors, one or more special-purpose microprocessors and/or ASICS, and/or any other type of processing device. For example, the processor <NUM> may include one or more digital signal processors (DSPs).

The example control circuitry <NUM> includes one or more storage device(s) <NUM> and one or more memory device(s) <NUM>. The storage device(s) <NUM> (e.g., nonvolatile storage) may include ROM, flash memory, a hard drive, and/or any other suitable optical, magnetic, and/or solid-state storage medium, and/or a combination thereof. The storage device <NUM> stores data (e.g., data corresponding to a welding application), instructions (e.g., software or firmware to perform welding processes), and/or any other appropriate data. Examples of stored data for a welding application include an attitude (e.g., orientation) of a welding torch, a distance between the contact tip and a workpiece, a voltage, a current, welding device settings, and so forth.

The memory device <NUM> may include a volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), and/or a nonvolatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM). The memory device <NUM> and/or the storage device(s) <NUM> may store a variety of information and may be used for various purposes. For example, the memory device <NUM> and/or the storage device(s) <NUM> may store processor executable instructions <NUM> (e.g., firmware or software) for the processor <NUM> to execute. In addition, one or more control regimes for various welding processes, along with associated settings and parameters, may be stored in the storage device <NUM> and/or memory device <NUM>, along with code configured to provide a specific output (e.g., initiate wire feed, enable gas flow, capture welding current data, detect short circuit parameters, determine amount of spatter) during operation.

In some examples, the welding power flows from the power conversion circuitry <NUM> through a weld cable <NUM> to the wire feeder <NUM> and the welding torch <NUM>. The example weld cable <NUM> is attachable and detachable from output terminals <NUM> at each of the power supply <NUM> and the wire feeder <NUM> (e.g., to enable ease of replacement of the weld cable <NUM> in case of wear or damage). Furthermore, in some examples, welding data is provided with the weld cable <NUM> such that welding power and weld data are provided and transmitted together over the weld cable <NUM>. The communications transceiver <NUM> is communicatively coupled to the weld cable <NUM> to communicate (e.g., send/receive) data over the weld cable <NUM>. The communications transceiver <NUM> may be implemented using serial communications (e.g., full-duplex RS-<NUM> or RS-<NUM>, or half-duplex RS-<NUM>), network communications (e.g., Ethernet, PROFIBUS, IEEE <NUM>. 1X wireless communications, etc.), parallel communications, and/or any other type of communications techniques. In some examples, the communications transceiver <NUM> may implement communications over the weld cable <NUM>.

The example communications transceiver <NUM> includes a receiver circuit <NUM> and a transmitter circuit <NUM>. Generally, the receiver circuit <NUM> receives data transmitted by the wire feeder <NUM> via the weld cable <NUM> and the transmitter circuit <NUM> transmits data to the wire feeder <NUM> via the weld cable <NUM>. The communications transceiver <NUM> enables remote configuration of the power supply <NUM> from the location of the wire feeder <NUM>, and/or command and/or control of the wire feed speed output by the wire feeder <NUM> and/or the weld power (e.g., voltage, current) output by the power supply <NUM>.

The example wire feeder <NUM> also includes a communications transceiver <NUM>, which may be similar or identical in construction and/or function as the communications transceiver <NUM>. While communication over a separate communications cable is illustrated in <FIG>, other communication media, such as wireless media, power line communications, and/or any other communications media, may be used.

In some examples, a gas supply <NUM> provides shielding gases, such as argon, helium, carbon dioxide, and so forth, depending upon the welding application. The shielding gas flows to a valve <NUM>, which controls the flow of gas, and if desired, may be selected to allow for modulating or regulating the amount of gas supplied to a welding application. The valve <NUM> may be opened, closed, or otherwise operated by the control circuitry <NUM> to enable, inhibit, or control gas flow (e.g., shielding gas) through the valve <NUM>. Shielding gas exits the valve <NUM> and flows through a cable <NUM> (which in some implementations may be packaged with the welding power output) to the wire feeder <NUM> which provides the shielding gas to the welding application. In some examples, the welding system <NUM> does not include the gas supply <NUM>, the valve <NUM>, and/or the cable <NUM>.

In some examples, the wire feeder <NUM> uses the welding power to power the various components in the wire feeder <NUM>, such as to power a wire feeder controller <NUM>. As noted above, the weld cable <NUM> may be configured to provide or supply the welding power. The power supply <NUM> may also communicate with a communications transceiver <NUM> of the wire feeder <NUM> using the weld cable <NUM> and the communications transceiver <NUM> disposed within the power supply <NUM>. In some examples, the communications transceiver <NUM> is substantially similar to the communications transceiver <NUM> of the power supply <NUM>. The wire feeder controller <NUM> controls the operations of the wire feeder <NUM>. In some examples, the wire feeder <NUM> uses the wire feeder controller <NUM> to detect whether the wire feeder <NUM> is in communication with the power supply <NUM> and to detect a current welding process of the power supply <NUM> if the wire feeder <NUM> is in communication with the power supply <NUM>.

A contactor <NUM> (e.g., high amperage relay) is controlled by the wire feeder controller <NUM> and configured to enable or inhibit welding power to continue to flow to the weld cable <NUM> for the welding application. In some examples, the contactor <NUM> is an electromechanical device. However, the contactor <NUM> may be any other suitable device, such as a solid state device. The wire feeder <NUM> includes a wire drive <NUM> that receives control signals from the wire feeder controller <NUM> to drive rollers <NUM> that rotate to pull wire off a spool <NUM> of wire. The wire is provided to the welding application through a torch cable <NUM>. Likewise, the wire feeder <NUM> may provide the shielding gas from the cable <NUM> through the cable <NUM>. The electrode wire, the shield gas, and the power from the weld cable <NUM> are bundled together in a single torch cable <NUM> and/or individually provided to the welding torch <NUM>. In some examples, the contactor <NUM> is omitted and power is initiated and stopped by the power supply <NUM>.

The welding torch <NUM> delivers the wire, welding power, and/or shielding gas for a welding application. The welding torch <NUM> is used to establish a welding arc between the welding torch <NUM> and a workpiece <NUM>. A work cable <NUM> couples the workpiece <NUM> to the power supply <NUM> (e.g., to the power conversion circuitry <NUM>) to provide a return path for the weld current (e.g., as part of the weld circuit). The example work cable <NUM> attachable and/or detachable from the power supply <NUM> for ease of replacement of the work cable <NUM>. The work cable <NUM> may be terminated with a clamp <NUM> (or another power connecting device), which couples the power supply <NUM> to the workpiece <NUM>.

The weld cable <NUM> and the work cable <NUM> are coupled to the welding power supply <NUM> via output terminals <NUM>. The example power conversion circuitry <NUM> of <FIG> includes polarity switching circuitry <NUM> to control the polarity of the output power with respect to the output terminals <NUM>. That is, the power conversion circuitry <NUM> may output positive polarity power to the weld cable <NUM> (e.g., for DCEP welding) or negative polarity power to the weld cable <NUM> (e.g., for DCEN welding). Example polarity switching circuitry <NUM> may include commutation circuitry that directs current from switched mode power supply circuitry to either of the terminals <NUM> and controls the return of current via the other of the terminals <NUM>. The power conversion circuitry <NUM> may be, for example, a half-bridge or a full-bridge topology, and/or any other type of power conversion topologies.

The control circuitry <NUM> controls the polarity switching circuitry <NUM> to output the power from the power conversion circuitry <NUM> as electrode positive, electrode negative, and/or alternating (e.g., AC, pulse, etc.). As explained in more detail below, the example control circuitry <NUM> may control the polarity switching circuitry <NUM> based on the selection of one or more parameters via the user interface <NUM> (e.g., via the input device(s) <NUM>). The user interface <NUM> may receive a selection of a wire feeding weld process and/or a selection of a polarity of a weld power via the input devices <NUM>. The selection of the wire feeding weld process and/or the selection of the polarity of the weld power may be received in association with designated weld parameters.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of another example welding system <NUM> in which the wire feeder <NUM> includes the user interface <NUM> in addition or as an alternative to the user interface on the welding power supply <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the control circuitry <NUM> of the wire feeder <NUM> implements the determinations of the welding program and welding parameters which are described with reference to the control circuitry <NUM> of <FIG>.

In some examples, the wire feeder <NUM> (or other welding device) provides user input to the power supply <NUM> and/or visual output from the power supply <NUM> for adjusting parameters. For example, the communications transceivers <NUM>, <NUM> may communicate commands and/or data to enable a user to adjust parameters of the power supply <NUM> remotely via the wire feeder <NUM>. For example, the user interface <NUM> of the wire feeder <NUM> may display an indication of the polarity of the weld power or an indication of the selected wire feeding weld process. Additionally or alternatively, the power supply <NUM> may receive the selection of a wire feeding weld process and/or the selection of a polarity of the weld power from the wire feeder <NUM> via the communications circuitry <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of another example welding system <NUM> including a separate user interface <NUM>. The user interface <NUM> is a separate device, and may be connected to the welding power supply <NUM> and/or to the wire feeder <NUM> to provide commands and/or control information. The example user interface <NUM> includes the input devices <NUM> and the display <NUM>, and includes control circuitry <NUM>. The example control circuitry <NUM> includes the processor(s) <NUM> and the memory <NUM> storing the instructions <NUM>. The example user interface <NUM> further includes a communications transceiver <NUM> to enable communications between the user interface <NUM> and the welding power supply <NUM> and/or the wire feeder.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an example user interface <NUM> that may be used to implement the user interface <NUM> of <FIG>. The example user interface <NUM> includes selection input devices 202a-<NUM> to enable selection of one or more parameters. The selection input devices 202a-<NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> are hardware buttons, but may be implemented using other types of input devices.

The selection input device 202a enables selection between AC and DC polarities. The selection input device 202b enables selection between welding processes, such as GMAW welding using a voltage-sensing wire feeder (e.g., process <NUM>), GTAW welding using high frequency impulse starting, GTAW welding using lift arc starting, SMAW welding, and/or any other type of welding processes.

The selection input device 202c enables selection between trigger modes, such as using a remote foot or hand control, an enabled output (e.g., hot output for SMAW or GTAW processes). The selection input device 202d enables configuration of pulse parameters, and the selection input device 202e enables configuration of weld sequence parameters.

The selection input device 202f enables selection of gas pre-flow, gas post-flow, and/or arc control parameters. In some examples, the selection input device 202f further enables selection of an inductance setting when a GMAW process is selected (e.g., via the selection input device 202b). The selection input device <NUM> enables selection and configuration of AC parameters.

The example user interface <NUM> further includes an amperage selection input <NUM> and a parameter adjustment device <NUM>. The example amperage selection input <NUM> selects the amperage parameter to be adjusted by the parameter adjustment device <NUM>. The parameter adjustment device <NUM> may be used to adjust a selected parameter, such as the amperage or a parameter selected by one or more of the selection input devices 202c-<NUM>.

The user interface <NUM> further includes display devices <NUM>, <NUM>, which may implement the display(s) <NUM> of <FIG>. The display devices <NUM>, <NUM> may be liquid crystal display (LCD) screens, LED segment displays, and/or any other type of display devices. The control circuitry <NUM> may output information associated with a selected parameter, selected values, and/or any other information to be provided to the user via the user interface <NUM>.

In some examples, when the voltage sensing feeder GMAW process is selected (via the selection input device 202b), the selection input device 202f may be selected to select an inductance (or "arc control") parameter. The control circuitry <NUM> may limit the availability of the inductance parameter to selected weld processes.

The control circuitry <NUM> may permit selection of an electrode negative polarity via the inductance parameter. For example, the voltage sensing feeder GMAW process typically has a DCEP polarity via the output terminals, and the control circuitry <NUM> may control an inductance parameter of the power conversion circuitry <NUM> between a range of values based on the inductance value specified via the parameter adjustment device <NUM>.

The user interface <NUM> may also enable the selection of a DCEN polarity by increasing the inductance value above the upper limit of the inductance parameter (or below the lower limit of the inductance parameter). For example, if the nominal inductance range is <NUM>-<NUM>, increasing the inductance parameter value above <NUM> via the parameter adjustment device <NUM> causes the control circuitry <NUM> to select a DCEN polarity. As illustrated in <FIG>, the control circuitry <NUM> outputs an indication of the selected DCEN polarity via the display devices <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the display device <NUM> shows "FLUX" and the display device <NUM> shows "EN" (electrode negative). After a short time, the display device <NUM> may revert to showing "CORE," such that the display devices <NUM>, <NUM> show, in combination, "FLUX CORE. " Other example indications may include displaying "DCEN," "Negative," or the like, to indicate the electrode negative polarity. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the input devices 202a-<NUM>, <NUM> may cause the display devices <NUM>, <NUM> to show the electrode polarity and/or other information, such as the selected voltage setpoint. For example, selection of the amperage selection input <NUM> while the voltage sensing wire feeding process <NUM> is shown causes the display device <NUM> to show the voltage setpoint and the display device <NUM> to show the polarity (e.g., EN or EP).

The foregoing selection and display interactions are examples, and other implementations may be used to select the output polarity, display the output polarity and/or welding process, and/or to control the power conversion circuitry <NUM> and/or polarity switching circuitry <NUM> based on the selected polarity.

While the inductance parameter is set to electrode negative, the control circuitry <NUM> controls the power conversion circuitry <NUM> to output electrode negative welding power during welding operations. The control circuitry <NUM> may use a predetermined inductance value. In other examples, the control circuitry <NUM> may also permit the user to select an inductance value for use in electrode negative polarity.

The user interface <NUM> may include other input and/or output devices, such as a power or standby button <NUM> (e.g., to turn the power supply <NUM> on or off) and/or or a storage card interface <NUM> (e.g., to enable a user to insert data storage media).

<FIG> is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions <NUM> which may be executed by the example welding power supply <NUM> of <FIG> to control an output polarity using the user interface <NUM>. The example instructions <NUM> may be executed by the control circuitry <NUM> and/or stored in the storage device <NUM> and/or the memory <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the control circuitry <NUM> determines whether a selection of an inductance parameter has been received (e.g., via the selection input devices 202f). If selection of an inductance parameter has been received (block <NUM>), at block <NUM> the control circuitry <NUM> displays the selected inductance value (e.g., via the displays <NUM>, <NUM>).

At block <NUM>, the control circuitry <NUM> determines whether a flux-cored wire process has been selected via an input device. For example, the control circuitry <NUM> may determine whether a value of the inductance parameter has exceeded the value range for the inductance parameter via the parameter adjustment device <NUM>. If the flux-cored wire process has been selected (block <NUM>), at block <NUM> the control circuitry <NUM> displays an indication of the flux-cored wire process selection and an electrode negative output polarity (e.g., via the displays <NUM>, <NUM>). On the other hand, if the flux-cored wire process has not been selected (block <NUM>), at block <NUM> the control circuitry <NUM> continues to display the selected inductance value.

After displaying the indication of flux-cored wire selection and electrode negative output polarity (block <NUM>) or after displaying the selected inductance value (block <NUM>), control returns to block <NUM>.

If the selection of the inductance parameter has not been received (block <NUM>), at block <NUM> the control circuitry <NUM> determines whether a welding operation is being performed. For example, the control circuitry <NUM> may determine whether the trigger of the welding torch <NUM> has been depressed to initiate delivery of welding current. If a welding operation is not being performed (block <NUM>), control returns to block <NUM>.

If a welding operation is being performed (block <NUM>), at block <NUM> the control circuitry <NUM> determines whether a flux-cored wire process is selected. If the flux-cored wire process is selected (block <NUM>), at block <NUM> the control circuitry <NUM> controls the power conversion circuitry <NUM> (e.g., via the polarity switching circuitry <NUM>) to output electrode negative welding power via the output terminals <NUM>). Conversely, if the flux-cored wire process is not selected (block <NUM>), at block <NUM> the control circuitry <NUM> controls the power conversion circuitry <NUM> (e.g., via the polarity switching circuitry <NUM>) to output electrode positive welding power via the output terminals <NUM>). After controlling the power conversion circuitry (block <NUM>, <NUM>), control returns to block <NUM>.

The present devices and/or methods may be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present methods and/or systems may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least one computing system, processors, and/or other logic circuits, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computing systems, processors, and/or other logic circuits. A typical combination of hardware and software may be a processing system integrated into a welding power supply with a program or other code that, when being loaded and executed, controls the welding power supply such that it carries out the methods described herein. Another typical implementation may comprise an application specific integrated circuit or chip such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a programmable logic device (PLD) or complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and/or a system-on-a-chip (SoC). Some implementations may comprise a non-transitory machine-readable (e.g., computer readable) medium (e.g., FLASH memory, optical disk, magnetic storage disk, or the like) having stored thereon one or more lines of code executable by a machine, thereby causing the machine to perform processes as described herein. As used herein, the term "non-transitory machine readable medium" is defined to include all types of machine readable storage media and to exclude propagating signals.

The control circuitry <NUM> may identify welding conditions of a given weld and automatically find the optimum value of rate of current rise for the welding conditions. An example control circuit implementation may be an Atmel Mega16 microcontroller, a STM32F407 microcontroller, a field programmable logic circuit and/or any other control or logic circuit capable of executing instructions that executes weld control software. The control circuit could also be implemented in analog circuits and/or a combination of digital and analog circuitry. Examples are described herein with reference to an engine-driven stick welder, but may be used or modified for use in any type of high frequency switching power source.

Claim 1:
A welding power supply (<NUM>), comprising:
a first terminal (<NUM>) and a second terminal (<NUM>) configured to be connected to welding equipment;
power conversion circuitry (<NUM>) configured to convert input power to weld power and to output the weld power via the first and second terminals;
an interface (<NUM>; <NUM>), comprising:
one or more first input devices (<NUM>; 202b) configured to receive a selection of a wire feeding weld process; and
one or more second input devices (<NUM>; 202f) configured to receive a selection of a polarity of the weld power; and
control circuitry (<NUM>) configured to, in response to receiving, via the interface, an input associated with the wire feeding weld process or
the selection of the output polarity, control the polarity of the weld power output via the power conversion circuitry to the first and second terminals, characterized in that the interface is configured to receive the selection of the polarity of the weld power in association with selection of a weld inductance parameter.