Electronic Torque Tool with Integrated Real-Time Clock

• US 20140336955A1
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Li, Jie, Lawton, Chris, Lee, Nathan J., King, Jerry A., Lobo, Andrew R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,395,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/41
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/24 for determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member which is similarly stressed
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3065 Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in reporting the monitored data error or fault reporting or logging G06F11/0766

Abstract

Real-time clock circuitry integrated in an electronic torque tool facilitates time-stamping of torque data acquired by the electronic torque tool. The time stamped torque data may be displayed on a display integrated in the electronic torque tool or may be communicated to an external device. The real-time clock circuitry may be adjusted based on information received from an external device or may be manually input to a keypad of the electronic torque tool. A calibration timer integrated in the electronic torque tool monitors time between calibrations of the tool and notifies a user upon expiration of a calibration interval. A secondary power source is coupled to the real-time clock circuitry to maintain power to the real-time clock circuitry during battery replacement.

Claims

1. A torque tool adapted to apply torque to work pieces, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

torque sensor circuitry coupled to the processor;

real-time clock circuitry coupled to the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions executable by the processor to receive time data from the real-time clock circuitry.

2. The torque tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a first power circuitry coupled to the real-time clock circuitry; and

a second power circuitry coupled to the real-time clock circuitry, the second power circuitry configured to provide power to the real-time clock circuitry when the first power circuitry is de-energized.

3. The torque tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a keypad coupled to the processor; and

a display coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions stored in the memory are executable by the processor to

display a time set menu on the display; and

set a time in the clock circuitry based on a user input to the keypad.

4. The torque tool of claim 1, wherein the instructions stored are the memory is executable by the processor to:

generate a time stamp corresponding to an output of the torque sensing circuitry based on the time data; and

store the time stamp in the memory.

5. The torque tool of claim 4, further comprising:

a display coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions stored in the memory are executable by the processor to display the time stamp and a corresponding torque data on the display.

6. The torque tool of claim 4, wherein the instructions stored in the memory are executable by the processor to store a plurality of torque data and corresponding time stamp data in the memory.

7. The torque tool of claim 1, further comprising:

interface circuitry coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions stored in the memory are executable by the processor to set a time in the clock circuitry based on input from an external device via the interface circuitry.

8. The torque tool of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface circuitry coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions stored in the memory are executable by the processor to communicate the time stamp and a corresponding torque data to an external device via the interface circuitry.

9. The torque tool of claim 8, wherein the interface circuitry comprises a transceiver circuitry configured for wireless communication with the external device.

10. The torque tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a calibration reset switch coupled to the processor; and

a calibration timeout indicator coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions stored in the memory are executable by the processor to

initiate a time counter based on a reset signal from the calibration reset switch,

increment the time counter based on the time data, and

activate the calibration time out indicator when the time counter reaches a predetermined time count.

11. A method, comprising:

measuring an amount of torque applied to a work piece by a tool adapted to apply torque to the work piece to generate a torque measurement;

generating a time stamp by a real-time clock circuitry integrated in the tool, the time stamp representing a time of the measuring the torque; and

storing the torque measurement and the time stamp in a memory integrated in the torque tool.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying the torque measurement and the time stamp on a display integrated in the tool.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing a plurality of torque data and corresponding time stamp data in the memory of the tool.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a time set menu on a display integrated in the tool; and

setting a time in the real-time clock circuitry based on a user input to a keypad integrated in the tool.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a clock setting to the tool from an external device; and

setting a time in the real-time clock circuitry based on the clock setting.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

coupling an external device to an interface of the tool; and

communicating the torque measurement and the time stamp to the external device via the interface.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

initiating a time counter after a calibration of the tool is performed;

incrementing the time counter by the real-time clock circuitry; and

activating a calibration time out indicator when the time counter reaches a calibration time limit.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying the calibration time limit on a calibration menu on a display integrated in the tool; and

setting the calibration time limit based on a user input to a keypad integrated in the tool.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a calibration time limit setting to the tool from an external device; and

adjusting the calibration time limit based on the calibration time limit setting.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

storing a time that the calibration was performed in the memory; and

displaying the time of that the calibration was performed on a display integrated in the tool.

21. A torque measuring system, comprising:

a torque tool adapted to apply torque to work pieces, the torque tool comprising;

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a torque sensor circuitry coupled to the processor;

a real-time clock circuitry coupled to the processor;

a first power circuitry coupled to the real-time clock circuitry;

a second power circuitry coupled to the real-time clock circuitry, the second power circuitry configured to provide power to the real-time clock circuitry when the first power circuitry is de-energized;

a keypad coupled to the processor;

a display coupled to the processor, and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions executable by the processor to;

receive time data from the real-time clock circuitry;

generate a time stamp corresponding to a torque measurement output of the torque sensing circuitry based on the time data;

store the time stamp and the torque measurement in the memory;

display a time set menu on the display; and

set a time in the clock circuitry based on a user input to the keypad; and

an external device coupled to the torque tool, the external device including a user interface configured for facilitating the downloading the time stamp and the torque measurement.