Electronic tool unlocking system

• US 10,437,228 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ridge Tool Company (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Ridge Tool Company (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kreuzer, Rudolf, Krondorfer, Harald, Pond, Frederick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alizada, Omeed
• Application Number:
  US14/665,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20150286209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• 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 19/4063 Monitoring general control system G05B19/4062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50206 Tool monitoring integrated in nc control
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/08 Registering or indicating the production of the machine either with or without registering working or idle time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for governing and monitoring operations of tools. The systems include a registration and control computer, one or more mobile devices, and one or more tools. The tools include electronic locking provisions which upon activation selectively enable tool operation.

Claims

1. A system for governing use of a tool, the system comprising:

a registration and control component;

at least one mobile device remote from the registration and control component;

a tool having data storage provisions, communication provisions, and electronic lock provisions, the electronic lock provisions initially provided to allow infinite use of the tool;

wherein the system is configured such that upon communication between the mobile device and the registration and control component, the registration and control component issues a first signal to the mobile device thereby enabling communication between the mobile device and the tool, and the mobile device issues a second signal to the tool such that the electronic lock provisions of the tool are capable of disabling the tool without further communication from the registration and control component or the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein communication between the mobile device and the registration and control component is via the internet.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the communication between the mobile device and the registration and control component includes cloud-based infrastructure.

5. The system of claim 1, further including visual indicia indicating that the tool includes the electronic lock provisions.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the visual indicia is in the form of a label affixed to the tool.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the tool includes an illuminated indicator that emits light upon the electronic lock provisions being in a state that prevents tool operation.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the illuminated indicator is in the form of a light emitting diode (LED).

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein after the tool is disabled, only the at least one mobile device is capable of reactivating the tool.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tool is configured such that after expiration of a preset activation time period, the tool is disabled without further communication from the registration and control component or the mobile device.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the activation time period is selected from the group consisting of 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.

12. The system according to claim 10 wherein the activation time period is set in the registration and control component or the mobile device.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tool is configured such that after expiration of a preset date, the tool is disabled without further communication from the registration and control component or the mobile device.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the date is set in the registration and control component or the mobile device.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tool is configured such that upon exceeding a preset number of tool actuations, the tool is disabled without further communication from the registration and control component or the mobile device.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein the number of tool actuations is selected from the group consisting of 10 cycles, 100 cycles, 500 cycles, 1,000 cycles, and 10,000 cycles.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the number of tool actuations is set in the registration and control component or the mobile device.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tool is configured such that upon exceeding a preset sensor condition, the tool is disabled without further communication from the registration and control component or the mobile device.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the sensor condition is provided by a sensor in the tool selected from the group consisting of temperature sensors, pressure sensors, force sensors, electrical current sensors, electrical voltage sensors, accelerometers, counters, and time sensors.

20. The system according to claim 19 wherein the sensor is an electrical current sensor.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the sensor condition is set in the registration and control component or the mobile device.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tool is configured such that upon exceeding a preset number of sensed electrical current conditions, the tool is disabled without further communication from the registration and control component or the mobile device.