User interface for tool configuration and data capture

• US 10,295,990 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Dey, IV, John S., Huber, Alex, Mergener, Matthew J., Stampfl, Burtrom L., Matson, Stephen, Obermann, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leggett, Andrea C
• Application Number:
  US15/155,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20160342151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2216/00 Details of portable percussive machines with superimposed rotation, the rotational movement of the output shaft of a motor being modified to generate axial impacts on the tool bit
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2250/221 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4155 characterised by programme execution, i.e. part programme or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a programme
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39438 Direct programming at the console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A programmable power tool and method and systems of programming a power tool using wireless communication. An external device having a processor and a transceiver establishes a communication link with the power tool. The external device receives, with the transceiver, a first mode profile stored on the power tool. The first mode profile is defined by a profile type and a first value associated with a parameter for executing the profile type. The external device displays a control screen including the profile type and the parameter at the first value, and receives a user input. The external device generates, in response to the user input, a second mode profile by modifying the parameter to be at a second value. The external device transmits, with the transceiver, the second mode profile to the power tool.

Claims

1. A method of programming a power tool, the method comprising:

establishing, with a transceiver, a first communication link between a first power tool and an external device, the external device having the transceiver and an electronic processor;

receiving, with the transceiver and from the first power tool, a first mode profile stored on the first power tool, the first mode profile being defined by a first profile type and a first value associated with a first parameter to control performance of an operation of the first power tool;

displaying, at the external device, a first control screen including the first profile type and the first parameter at the first value, the first control screen being based on a type of the first power tool;

receiving a first user input at the external device;

generating, in response to the first user input, a second mode profile by modifying the first parameter to be at a second value;

transmitting, with the transceiver, the second mode profile to the first power tool;

establishing, with the transceiver, a second communication link between a second power tool and the external device, the second power tool being a different type of power tool than the first power tool;

receiving, with the transceiver and from the second power tool, a third mode profile stored on the second power tool, the third mode profile including a second parameter to control performance of an operation of the second power tool;

displaying, at the external device, a second control screen including the second parameter at a third value, the second control screen being based on the type of the second power tool and being different than the first control screen;

receiving a second user input at the external device;

generating, in response to the second user input, a fourth mode profile by modifying the second parameter to be at a fourth value; and

transmitting, with the transceiver, the fourth mode profile to the second power tool.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, from the external device, the second mode profile to a remote server communicatively coupled to the external device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

establishing, with the transceiver, a third communication link between a third power tool and the external device;

receiving, with the transceiver, the first mode profile stored on the third power tool;

receiving, at the external device, the second mode profile from the remote server;

comparing, with the electronic processor, the first mode profile with the second mode profile; and

generating, with the electronic processor, an indication to a user when the first mode profile and the second mode profile are different.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the first communication link between the first power tool and the external device includes:

wirelessly scanning, with the external device, for local power tools within a communication range of the transceiver;

receiving, at the external device, identification information for each of the local power tools in response to wirelessly scanning the communication range;

displaying, at the external device, a list of the local power tools detected by the external device, the list including the first power tool; and

receiving, at the external device, a selection of the first power tool from the list of local power tools.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the list of the local power tools includes

transmitting, with the external device, the identification information to a remote server;

receiving, at the external device, a name and an icon for each of the local power tools; and

displaying, at the external device, the name and the icon for each of the local power tools.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, with the electronic processor, that the first power tool is in an adaptive mode before generating the second mode profile.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein transmitting the second mode profile includes transmitting, with the transceiver, the second mode profile to the first power tool in response to generating the second mode profile when the first power tool is in the adaptive mode.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, with the transceiver, a fifth mode profile, the fifth mode profile being stored on the first power tool and being defined by a second profile type different than the first profile type, and a fifth value associated with a third parameter for executing the second profile type; and

displaying, at the external device, a third control screen including the second profile type and the third parameter at the fifth value, the third control screen being different than the first control screen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first mode profile stored on the first power tool includes

receiving, at the external device, a user selection of a mode profile button, the mode profile button corresponding to the first mode profile stored on the first power tool;

transmitting, with the transceiver, a request to the first power tool for the first mode profile stored on the first power tool; and

receiving, with the transceiver, the first mode profile stored on the first power tool based on the user selection.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving, with the transceiver, identification information from the first power tool, the identification information indicative of a type of power tool corresponding to the first power tool;

displaying, at the external device, a list of mode profiles based on the type of power tool corresponding to the first power tool;

receiving, at the external device, a selection of one of the mode profiles from the list of mode profiles; and

transmitting, with the transceiver, the selected one of the mode profiles from the list of mode profiles to the first power tool.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the external device, a user selection of a reset actuator; and

transmitting, with the transceiver, a predetermined set of default mode profiles to the first power tool in response to receiving the user selection.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein establishing the first communication link includes:

broadcasting, with the transceiver, an identifier of the first power tool periodically; and

pairing, with the transceiver, the first power tool with the external device when the first power tool is within a communication range of the external device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein broadcasting the identifier includes broadcasting, with the transceiver, the identifier of the first power tool, the identifier indicating the type of the first power tool, and a unique identifier for the first power tool.

14. A method of programming a power tool, the method comprising:

establishing, with a transceiver, a first communication link between a first power tool and an external device, the first power tool including the transceiver, a memory, and an electronic processor;

transmitting, with the transceiver and to the external device, a first mode profile stored on the memory, the first mode profile being defined by a first profile type and a first value associated with a first parameter to control performance of an operation of the first power tool;

displaying, with the external device, the first profile type and the first value on a first control screen, the first control screen being based on a type of the first power tool;

receiving a first user input at the external device;

generating, with the external device and in response to the first user input, a second mode profile by modifying the first parameter to be at a second value;

transmitting, with the external device, the second mode profile to the first power tool;

receiving, with the transceiver, the second mode profile from the external device, the second mode profile being defined by the first profile type and the second value associated with the first parameter to control performance of the operation of the first power tool;

overwriting in the memory, with the electronic processor, the first mode profile with the second mode profile;

operating, with the electronic processor, the first power tool according to the second mode profile;

establishing, with the external device, a second communication link between a second power tool and the external device, the second power tool being a different type of power tool than the first power tool;

receiving, with the external device and from the second power tool, a third mode profile stored on the second power tool, the third mode profile including a second parameter to control performance of an operation of the second power tool;

displaying, at the external device, a second control screen including the second parameter at a third value, the second control screen being based on the type of the second power tool and being different than the first control screen;

receiving a second user input at the external device;

generating, with the external device and in response to the second user input, a fourth mode profile by modifying the second parameter to be at a fourth value; and

transmitting, with the external device, the fourth mode profile to the second power tool.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising

receiving, via a mode selector of the first power tool, a selection of an adaptive mode profile;

and

entering, with the electronic processor, an adaptive mode in which the first power tool is programmed in response to the selection of the adaptive mode profile.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the second mode profile includes receiving, with the transceiver, the second mode profile from the external device in response to the external device receiving the first user input that changes the first value to the second value when the first power tool is in the adaptive mode.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the first mode profile includes transmitting, with the transceiver, a temporary mode profile associated with the adaptive mode, to the external device, and further comprising

receiving, with the transceiver, a message from the external device indicating that a mode button corresponding to a first mode of the first power tool has been selected by a user;

overwriting in the memory, with the electronic processor, the temporary mode profile with a fifth mode profile associated with the first mode of the first power tool to generate an updated temporary mode profile; and

transmitting, with the transceiver, the updated temporary mode profile to the external device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the first mode profile to the external device includes

receiving, with the transceiver, a request from the external device for the first mode profile stored on the first power tool;

and

transmitting, in response to the request, the first mode profile stored on the first power tool to the external device.

19. A power tool communication system comprising:

an external device configured to communicate with at least one power tool, display information to a user, and receive an input from the user; and

a first power tool including

a motor,

a wireless communication controller including a transceiver, the wireless communication controller configured to establish a first communication link between the first power tool and the external device,

a memory configured to store at least one mode profile for operating the motor, and

an electronic processor coupled to the motor, the memory, and the wireless communication controller;

wherein the first power tool is configured to transmit, with the transceiver and to the external device, a first mode profile stored on the memory, the first mode profile being defined by a first profile type and a first value associated with a first parameter for controlling the motor,

wherein the external device is configured to display the first profile type and the first value on a first control screen, the first control screen being based on a type of the first power tool,

wherein the external device is configured to

receive a first user input,

generate, in response to the first user input, a second mode profile by modifying the first parameter to be at a second value, and

transmit the second mode profile to the first power tool,

wherein the first power tool is configured to

receive, with the transceiver, the second mode profile from the external device, the second mode profile being defined by the first profile type and the second value associated with the first parameter for controlling the motor,

overwrite, on the memory, the first mode profile with the second mode profile, and

control the motor to operate according to the second mode profile,

wherein the external device is configured to

establish a second communication link between a second power tool and the external device, the second power tool being a different type of power tool than the first power tool,

receive, from the second power tool, a third mode profile stored on the second power tool, the third mode profile including a second parameter to control performance of an operation of the second power tool,

display a second control screen including the second parameter at a third value, the second control screen being based on the type of the second power tool and being different than the first control screen,

receive a second user input,

generate, in response to the second user input, a fourth mode profile by modifying the second parameter to be at a fourth value, and

transmit the fourth mode profile to the second power tool.

20. The power tool communication system of claim 19, wherein the wireless communication controller is configured to periodically broadcast an identifier of the first power tool using the transceiver;

and wherein the wireless communication controller established the first communication link by pairing the wireless communication controller with the external device when the first power tool is within a communication range of the external device.

21. The power tool communication system of claim 20, wherein the identifier indicates the type of the first power tool, and a unique identifier for the first power tool.

22. The power tool communication system of claim 19, further comprising

a mode selector coupled to the electronic processor, the mode selector configured to indicate to the electronic processor a selection of an adaptive mode profile in which the first power tool can receive the second mode profile from the external device;

and

the electronic processor being further configured to operate the first power tool in an adaptive mode in response to the selection of the adaptive mode profile with the mode selector.

23. The power tool communication system of claim 19, wherein the wireless communication controller is further configured to:

receive, with the transceiver, a request from the external device for the first mode profile stored on the memory; and

transmit, in response to receiving the request, the first mode profile stored on the first power tool to the external device.

24. An external device configured to communicate with at least one power tool, the external device comprising:

a display;

a transceiver; and

an electronic processor;

wherein the external device is configured to

establish, with the transceiver, a first communication link between a first power tool and the external device,

receive, with the transceiver and from the first power tool, a first mode profile stored on the first power tool, the first mode profile being defined by a first profile type and a first value associated with a first parameter to control performance of an operation of the first power tool,

display, on the display, a first control screen including the first profile type and the first parameter at the first value, the first control screen being based on a type of the first power tool,

receive a first user input at the external device,

generate, in response to the first user input, a second mode profile by modifying the first parameter to be at a second value,

transmit, with the transceiver, the second mode profile to the first power tool,

establish, with the transceiver, a second communication link between a second power tool and the external device, the second power tool being a different type of power tool than the first power tool,

receive, with the transceiver and from the second power tool, a third mode profile stored on the second power tool, the third mode profile including a second parameter to control performance of an operation of the second power tool,

display, on the display, a second control screen including the second parameter at a third value, the second control screen being based on the type of the second power tool and being different than the first control screen,

receive a second user input at the external device,

generate, in response to the second user input, a fourth mode profile by modifying the second parameter to be at a fourth value, and

transmit, with the transceiver, the fourth mode profile to the second power tool.