Binary Signal Detection

1 . A system for identifying a torch assembly associated with a thermal processing system comprising:

a detector that detects a multi-bit binary signal based on a plurality of open circuits or closed circuits with the thermal processing system; and

a control mechanism in communication with the detector, the control mechanism identifying at least one characteristic of the torch assembly based upon the multi-bit binary signal.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the thermal processing system is at least one of a welding apparatus or a plasma arc torch system.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the torch assembly comprises a connector assembly configured to engage with a corresponding connector assembly to establish the plurality of open circuits or closed circuits.

4 . The system of claim 3 wherein the corresponding connector assembly comprises a plurality of features adapted to receive a pin, wherein a feature receiving a pin of the connector assembly forms the closed circuit and a feature that does not receive a pin of the connector assembly forms the open circuit.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the open circuit corresponds to a logic high or logic low, defining the bit pattern of the multi-bit binary signal identifying the torch assembly.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the control mechanism includes at least one of an integrated circuit, software, or a digital logic device to process the multi-bit binary signal.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the control mechanism identifies the torch assembly on a look up table, the multi-bit binary signal corresponding to the torch assembly.

8 . A method for identifying a torch assembly associated with a thermal processing system comprising:

connecting a torch assembly to the thermal processing system; and

detecting a plurality of open and closed circuits between the torch and the thermal processing system that establish a multi-bit binary signal, wherein the signal corresponds to a characteristic of the torch assembly.

9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising varying at least one of a gas pressure, gas timing, pilot timing, cut timing or mechanized remote in the thermal processing system, based on the identified torch assembly.

10 . The method of claim 8 further comprising associating an open circuit with at least one of a logic high or a logic low, defining the bit pattern of the multi-bit binary signal.

11 . A torch for a plasma arc torch system comprising:

a plurality of electrical paths configured to carry a current; and

a plurality of devices having a first state that permits current to pass through the electric path and a second state that prevents current from passing through the electric path, the selective configuration of each device to one of the first or second state forming a multi-bit binary signal identifying the torch.

12 . The torch of claim 11 wherein the devices are pin locations, a populated pin location corresponding to a first state that forms a closed circuit and an unpopulated pin location corresponding to a second state that forms an open circuit.

13 . The torch of claim 11 wherein the devices are switches.

14 . The torch of claim 11 wherein a device in the first state generates a closed circuit and a device in the second state generates an open circuit.

15 . The torch of claim 14 wherein the closed circuit corresponds to a logic high or a logic low, defining a bit pattern of the multi-bit binary signal identifying the torch.

16 . The torch of claim 14 further comprising:

a detector to detect the multi-bit binary signal based on a plurality of open or closed circuits; and

a control mechanism processing a multi-bit binary-signal based on the at least one of the open or closed circuits, wherein a bit pattern of the multi-bit binary signal identifies the torch.

17 . A connector assembly for a plasma arc torch system, comprising:

a housing;

a gas conduit in the housing for passing a gas between a gas supply and a plasma arc torch assembly;

an operational current conduit in the housing to conduct an operational current from a power supply to the plasma arc torch assembly;

a plurality of pin locations, wherein the selective population of a pin location corresponds to a characteristic of the plasma torch assembly.

18 . The connector assembly of claim 17 wherein the selective population of a pin location generates a binary signal that corresponds to the identification of the manufacturer of the torch assembly.

19 . The connector assembly of claim 17 wherein a populated pin location forms a portion of a closed circuit and an unpopulated pin location forms an open circuit, such that a combination of open circuits or closed circuits create a binary signal.

20 . The connector assembly of claim 17 wherein the connector assembly is disposed relative to the plasma arc torch.

21 . The connector assembly of claim 20 further comprising a power supply having a corresponding connector assembly that receives the connector assembly, wherein closed circuits are generated in populated pin locations and open circuits are generated in unpopulated pin locations.

22 . The connector assembly of claim 17 wherein the characteristic of the plasma torch assembly is identified by a look-up table stored in a memory device of a power supply using a binary signal based on the selective population of a pin location.

23 . An assembly for identifying a torch assembly associated with a thermal processing system comprising:

a means for detecting at least one of an open circuit means or a closed circuit means;

a control means for forming a binary signal based on the detected open circuit means or closed circuit means; and

a means for identifying the device associated with the thermal processing system based on the binary signal.

24 . The assembly of claim 23 further comprising a power supply means engaged with a torch means associated with the thermal processing system to generate at least one of the open circuit means or closed circuit means.