WIRELESS TRACKING OF POWER TOOLS AND RELATED DEVICES

• US 20130109375A1
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zeiler, Jeffrey M., Reading, Leslie J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,467,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• 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: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/05 Anti-theft or abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method and system for wirelessly tracking power tools and related devices to aid with inventory management and to help minimize, prevent, and recover misplaced or stolen tools throughout the job site. The tools and/or batteries include wireless transmitting capabilities (e.g., an ISM unit) to transmit data to a fob, puck repeater, and/or gateway over an ISM network. The gateway is operable to translate and output the ISM communications over a cellular network to a remote monitoring unit, such as a personal computer or smart phone. Additionally, the gateway is further operable to translate and output cellular communications from the remote monitoring unit to ISM communications over the ISM network. A wireless tethering system and method is also disclosed whereby an ISM battery places a power tool in a lock-out or limp mode after the ISM battery remains outside of ISM communications for a prolonged period of time.

Claims

1. A gateway device comprising:

a power interface configured to selectively engage a power source interface of at least one of a power tool battery, a power tool battery charger, and a worksite audio device;

a wireless network module configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless network having at least one power tool device;

a cellular module configured to wirelessly communicate with a cellular network; and

a translation module coupled to the wireless network module and the cellular module and configured to provide

translated communications received from the wireless network via the wireless network module to the cellular module for output to the cellular network, and

translated communications received from the cellular network via the cellular module to the wireless network module for output to the wireless network.

2. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the at least one power tool device is one of a power tool and a power tool battery having a wireless module for communicating via the wireless network.

3. The gateway device of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical coupling mechanism for releasably securing the gateway device to the at least one of a power tool battery, power tool battery charger, and worksite audio device.

4. The gateway device of claim 3, wherein the mechanical coupling mechanism is at least one of

a latching mechanism having a depressible releasing mechanism configured to release the power interface form the power source interface;

and

a groove and rail system enabling the gateway device to slidingly engage the at least one of a power tool battery, power tool battery charger, and worksite audio device.

5. The gateway device of claim 1, further comprising

a housing containing a controller implementing the wireless network module, the cellular module, and the translation module;

and

a data port of the controller, the data port configured to receive a data cable coupled to an external device, wherein the controller communicates with the external device via the data port.

6. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the power interface includes at least a positive power terminal, a negative power terminal, and a data terminal, the data terminal enabling communication between the gateway device and the at least one of a power tool battery, power tool battery charger, and worksite audio device.

7. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a non-cellular network having communications at frequencies between one of:

902 to 928 MHz and 863 to 870 MHz.

8. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein wireless communications output by the cellular module have a higher transmit power than communications output by the wireless network module.

9. The gateway device of claim 1, further comprising

a global positioning unit (GPS) antenna that receives global positioning signals;

a GPS unit that is coupled to the GPS antenna, that receives the global positioning signals from the GPS antenna, and that determines a position of the gateway device based on the received global positioning signals.

10. A method of operating a gateway device including a power interface, a wireless network module, a cellular module, and a translation module coupled to the wireless network module and the cellular module, the method comprising:

selectively engaging the power interface with a power source interface of at least one of a power tool battery, a power tool battery charger, and a worksite audio device;

wirelessly communicating, via the wireless network module, with a wireless network having at least one power tool device;

wirelessly communicating, via the cellular module, with a cellular network;

translating, by the translation module, wireless communications received from the wireless network via the wireless network module and providing the translated wireless communications to the cellular module for output to the cellular network; and

translating, by the translation module, cellular communications received from the cellular network via the cellular module and providing the translated cellular communications to the wireless network module for output to the wireless network.

11. A gateway device comprising:

a power interface configured to selectively engage a power source interface of a power tool battery, wherein the power tool battery is operable to engage and provide power to a power tool when not engaged to the power interface;

a wireless network module coupled to the power interface to receive power therefrom and configured to wirelessly communicate, at a first power level, with a wireless network having at least one power tool device; and

a cellular module coupled to the power interface to receive power therefrom and configured to wirelessly communicate via a cellular network at a second power level, the second power level being greater than the first power level.

12. The gateway device of claim 11, further comprising:

a translation module coupled to the wireless network module and the cellular module and configured to provide

translated communications received from the wireless network via the wireless network module to the cellular module for output to the cellular network, and

translated communications received from the cellular network via the cellular module to the wireless network module for output to the wireless network.

13. The gateway device of claim 11, wherein the power tool battery includes

a pack housing containing a plurality of battery cells;

a positive terminal electrically coupled to the plurality of battery cells; and

a negative terminal electrically coupled to the plurality of battery cells.

14. The gateway device of claim 11, wherein the power tool battery includes a pack housing containing a plurality of lithium ion battery cells.

15. The gateway device of claim 11, further comprising a recess for receipt of a portion of the power tool battery including the power source interface and latching components that selectively secure the gateway device to the power tool battery.

16. A worksite audio device-gateway comprising:

a housing;

a power circuit receiving power from one of a removable DC source and an AC source;

an audio circuit coupled to the power circuit for receipt of power and positioned within the housing, the audio circuit generating audio signals and providing the audio signals to a speaker;

a gateway device coupled to the power circuit for receipt of power, the gateway device including

a wireless network module configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless network having at least one power tool device;

a cellular module configured to wirelessly communicate via a cellular network.

17. The worksite audio device-gateway of claim 16, wherein the gateway device is positioned within the housing.

18. The worksite audio device-gateway of claim 16, further comprising a gateway connector for selectively attaching the gateway to the housing.

19. The worksite audio device-gateway of claim 16, wherein

the housing includes a recess on an outside surface of the housing and a power source interface in the recess;

and

the gateway device is selectively insertable into the recess and includes a power interface configured to engage the power source interface to receive power from the power circuit when inserted into the recess.

20. A gateway device comprising:

a power interface configured to selectively engage a power source interface of a power tool battery charger, wherein the power tool battery charger is operable to engage and charge a power tool battery via the power source interface when not engaged to the power interface;

a wireless network module coupled to the power interface to receive power therefrom and configured to wirelessly communicate, at a first power level, with a wireless network having at least one power tool device; and

a cellular module coupled to the power interface to receive power therefrom and configured to wirelessly communicate via a cellular network at a second power level, the second power level being greater than the first power level.

21. The gateway device of claim 20, further comprising:

a translation module coupled to the wireless network module and the cellular module and configured to provide

translated communications received from the wireless network via the wireless network module to the cellular module for output to the cellular network, and

translated communications received from the cellular network via the cellular module to the wireless network module for output to the wireless network.

22. The gateway device of claim 20, wherein the power tool battery charger includes

a charger housing;

an external power input connector; and

charging circuitry within the charger housing and coupled to the external power input connector and to the power source interface.

23. The gateway device of claim 22, the power tool battery charger further comprising:

a second power source interface operable to engage and charge the power tool battery;

wherein, when the external power input connector is not coupled to an external power source, and the power interface is coupled to the power source interface of the power tool battery charger, the gateway device is powered by the power tool battery coupled of the second power source interface.

24. The gateway device of claim 22, wherein the gateway device is powered by the power tool battery coupled to a second power source interface of the power tool battery charger.