Battery-less data transmission module accessory for portable and handheld metrology devices
First Claim
1. A data transmission module for inputting measurement data from a battery-powered portable measuring device and wirelessly communicating corresponding measurement data signals to a remote data node which is configured to generate at least one energy supply field and wirelessly receive the measurement data signals from the data transmission module, the data transmission module comprising:
- a body portion including a data connector which is configured to physically couple to the battery-powered portable measuring device, wherein the battery-powered portable measuring device includes an external data connector for providing a wired connection to an external device, and the body portion of the data transmission module is physically coupled to the battery-powered portable measuring device at least in part by physically coupling the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device;
a field receiver configured to receive the energy supply field from the remote data node;
a wireless data generator that wirelessly communicates the measurement data signals to the remote data node;
a data transmission and energy manager circuit configured to couple through the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector on the battery-powered portable measuring device, and to perform operations comprising;
harvesting energy received by the field receiver, storing at least a portion of the harvested energy in the data transmission module, and managing the harvested energy;
establishing a communication connection with the remote data node;
inputting the measurement data from the battery-powered portable measuring device through the data connector of the body portion as physically coupled to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device; and
wirelessly communicating measurement data signals corresponding to the input measurement data to the remote data node using the wireless data generator,wherein;
the battery-powered portable measuring device is powered by a battery that is not part of the data transmission module and is not connected as a power supply to the data transmission module, and is configured to operate and display the measurement data on a self-contained display, regardless of whether it is coupled to the data transmission module; and
the wireless data generator is configured to wirelessly communicate the measurement data signals to the remote data node using only a) the harvested energy or b) a modulated reflection of, or coupling to, the received energy supply field from the remote data node, or c) a combination of a) and b).
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data transmission module is provided as a battery-less accessory for attachment to portable metrology devices (e.g., handheld digital calipers, micrometers, indicators, etc.). Rather than utilizing battery resources from the metrology devices, the data transmission module utilizes energy harvested wirelessly from a remote data node (e.g., a computer system, display, etc.) to power transmission of measurement data signals to the remote data node. The data transmission module may receive sufficient power when relatively close to the remote data node, such as when a user is near the remote data node when operating the metrology device to obtain dimensional measurements of a workpiece. A wireless data generator of the data transmission module may be configured to wirelessly communicate measurement data signals using: the harvested energy; or a modulated reflection of, or coupling to, a received energy supply field from the remote data node; or a combination thereof.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A data transmission module for inputting measurement data from a battery-powered portable measuring device and wirelessly communicating corresponding measurement data signals to a remote data node which is configured to generate at least one energy supply field and wirelessly receive the measurement data signals from the data transmission module, the data transmission module comprising:
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a body portion including a data connector which is configured to physically couple to the battery-powered portable measuring device, wherein the battery-powered portable measuring device includes an external data connector for providing a wired connection to an external device, and the body portion of the data transmission module is physically coupled to the battery-powered portable measuring device at least in part by physically coupling the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device; a field receiver configured to receive the energy supply field from the remote data node; a wireless data generator that wirelessly communicates the measurement data signals to the remote data node; a data transmission and energy manager circuit configured to couple through the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector on the battery-powered portable measuring device, and to perform operations comprising; harvesting energy received by the field receiver, storing at least a portion of the harvested energy in the data transmission module, and managing the harvested energy; establishing a communication connection with the remote data node; inputting the measurement data from the battery-powered portable measuring device through the data connector of the body portion as physically coupled to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device; and wirelessly communicating measurement data signals corresponding to the input measurement data to the remote data node using the wireless data generator, wherein; the battery-powered portable measuring device is powered by a battery that is not part of the data transmission module and is not connected as a power supply to the data transmission module, and is configured to operate and display the measurement data on a self-contained display, regardless of whether it is coupled to the data transmission module; and the wireless data generator is configured to wirelessly communicate the measurement data signals to the remote data node using only a) the harvested energy or b) a modulated reflection of, or coupling to, the received energy supply field from the remote data node, or c) a combination of a) and b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for utilizing a data transmission module to wirelessly transmit measurement data signals from a battery-powered portable measuring device to a remote data node, wherein:
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the remote data node is configured to generate an energy supply field and to wirelessly receive the measurement data signals from the data transmission module; the data transmission module comprises; a body portion including a data connector which is configured to physically couple to the battery-powered portable measuring device, wherein the battery-powered portable measuring device includes an external data connector for providing a wired connection to an external device, and the body portion of the data transmission module is physically coupled to the battery-powered portable measuring device at least in part by physically coupling the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device; a field receiver configured to receive the energy supply field from the remote data node; a wireless data generator that wirelessly communicates the measurement data signals to the remote data node; and a data transmission and energy manager circuit configured to couple through the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector on the battery-powered portable measuring device; and the method comprises; harvesting energy from the energy supply field of the remote data node as received by the field receiver of the data transmission module and storing at least a portion of the harvested energy in the data transmission module; establishing a communication connection between the data transmission module and the remote data node; inputting the measurement data from the battery-powered portable measuring device through the data connector of the body portion as physically coupled to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device; and wirelessly transmitting measurement data signals corresponding to the input measurement data to the remote data node using the wireless data generator of the data transmission module, wherein the wireless data generator is configured to wirelessly transmit the measurement data signals to the remote data node using a) the harvested energy or b) a modulated reflection of, or coupling to, the received energy supply field from the remote data node, or c) a combination of a) and b). - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for wirelessly transmitting measurement data signals to a remote data node, the system comprising:
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a remote data node configured to generate an energy supply field and to wirelessly receive measurement data signals; a battery-powered portable measuring device comprising a self-contained display and an external data connector for providing a wired connection to an external device, wherein the battery-powered portable measuring device is powered by a battery and is configured to measure a workpiece and display corresponding measurement data on the self-contained display, regardless of whether the battery-powered portable measuring device is coupled to a data transmission module; and a data transmission module comprising; a body portion including a data connector configured to physically couple to the battery-powered portable measuring device, wherein the body portion of the data transmission module is physically coupled to the battery-powered portable measuring device at least in part by physically coupling the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device; a field receiver configured to receive the energy supply field from the remote data node; a wireless data generator that wirelessly communicates the measurement data signals to the remote data node; and a data transmission and energy manager circuit configured to couple through the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector on the battery-powered portable measuring device and to perform operations comprising; harvesting energy received by the field receiver from the remote data node and storing at least a portion of the harvested energy in the data transmission module; establishing a communication connection with the remote data node; inputting the measurement data from the battery-powered portable measuring device through the data connector of the body portion as physically coupled to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device; and wirelessly communicating measurement data signals corresponding to the input measurement data to the remote data node using the wireless data generator, wherein the wireless data generator is configured to wirelessly communicate the measurement data signals to the remote data node using at least primarily a) the harvested energy or b) a modulated reflection of, or coupling to, the received energy supply field from the remote data node, or c) a combination of a) and b). - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification