Handheld measurement tool with user defined display

• US 8,978,263 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Inventors: Nahum, Michael, Atherton, Kim W.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUADALUPE, YARITZA
• Application Number:
  US13/563,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20140033554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 337/83, 337/84
• US Class Current: 33/784
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/18 Micrometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/22 Feeler-pin gauges, e.g. dial gauges for measuring contours or curvatures G01B5/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/24 with open yoke, i.e. calipers
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/28 Depth gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A handheld measurement tool with a display that can be defined by a user. The handheld measurement tool may be a portable measurement gauge (e.g. a digital caliper, digital “dial” gauge, height gauge, micrometer, indicator, etc.) that may be utilized for measuring precise physical dimensions of workpieces. The display may be independently modified according to a customer'"'"'s individual needs for various precision measurement applications. A remote device (e.g. PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) may be utilized for reconfiguring the display, wherein a user can select and modify display format arrangements on the remote device. When the remote device is coupled to the portable measurement gauge, the gauge display is reconfigured so as to have a similar appearance to the defined display format arrangement. In certain embodiments, voice commands may be reconfigured and used for controlling the gauge display.

Claims

1. A system for modifying a gauge display that presents workpiece measurement information on a portable measurement gauge, the system comprising:

a first portable measurement gauge which measures one or more physical dimensions of an object, the first portable measurement gauge comprising a configurable gauge display which indicates measurement information based on workpiece measurements performed by the first portable measurement gauge; and

a remote device that can be coupled by at least one of a wired or wireless connection to at least the first portable measurement gauge, the remote device comprising a remote memory and a remote display, the remote memory storing one or more display format options which are selectable to be represented in a display format arrangement on the remote display, wherein when the remote device is coupled to the first portable measurement gauge and a user defines a display format arrangement using the remote device, the remote device commands the first portable measurement gauge to reconfigure the gauge display so as to have a similar appearance to the defined display format arrangement.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote device is one of a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portable measurement gauge is one of a digital caliper, digital “

dial”

gauge, height gauge, micrometer or indicator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one display format option controls at least one of a change in the size, location, orientation, color or units of at least one number or letter on the display that is related to or representative of a workpiece measurement performed by the first portable measurement gauge.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one display format option represents the addition of at least one visual indicator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one display format option represents a function which may be modified by a user on the remote device and then represented on the gauge display.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one display format option represents a graphical display of measurement data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one display format option represents a statistical display of a plurality of workpiece measurements performed by the first portable measurement gauge.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one internal characteristic of the first portable measurement gauge is downloaded to the remote device to either activate or deactivate at least one display format option presented on the remote device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one internal characteristic of the first portable measurement gauge is downloaded to the remote device to be mimicked in a display format arrangement on the remote display.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the internal characteristic is a color on the gauge display which is represented by a corresponding color in the display format arrangement on the remote display.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the display format arrangement on the remote display is operational as the first portable measurement gauge is used such that the behavior in response to any measurement operations can be viewed in the display format arrangement on the remote display.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein a real time link may be established when the first portable measurement gauge is coupled to the remote device such that changes on one of the gauge display or remote display are mimicked on the other display in real time.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portable measurement gauge further comprises a voice input element that is capable of sensing a voice command from a user, and the remote device further associates a voice command with a display format option, wherein the display format option and associated voice command may be downloaded to the first portable measurement gauge such that when the associated voice command is sensed by the voice input element of the first portable measurement gauge, the gauge display is controlled in accordance with the associated display format option.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least a second portable measurement gauge which measures one or more physical dimensions of an object, the second portable measurement gauge comprising a configurable gauge display which indicates measurement information in a manner similar to the configurable gauge display of the first portable measurement gauge, based on workpiece measurements performed by the second portable measurement gauge, wherein:

the remote device is furthermore configured to be coupled by at least one of a wired or wireless connection to the second portable measurement gauge; and

when a user defines a display format arrangement for the first portable measurement gauge using the remote device, the remote device is furthermore configured to command the second portable measurement gauge to reconfigure the gauge display of the second portable measurement so as to have a similar appearance to the defined display format arrangement.

16. A system for modifying a gauge display that presents workpiece measurement information on a portable measurement gauge, the system comprising:

a portable measurement gauge which measures one or more physical dimensions of an object, the portable measurement gauge comprising a configurable gauge display and a voice input element, the configurable gauge display indicating measurement information based on workpiece measurements performed by the portable measurement gauge, and the voice input element being capable of sensing a voice command from a user; and

a remote device that can be coupled by at least one of a wired or wireless connection to the portable measurement gauge, the remote device comprising a remote memory and a remote display, the remote memory storing one or more display format options, wherein when a voice command is defined as being associated with a display format option, the display format option and associated voice command may be downloaded to the portable measurement gauge such that when the associated voice command is sensed by the voice input element of the portable measurement gauge, the gauge display is controlled in accordance with the associated display format option.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the portable measurement gauge is one of a digital caliper, digital “

dial”

gauge, height gauge, micrometer or indicator.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the associated voice command controls at least one of a change in the size, location, orientation, color or units of at least one number or letter on the display that is related to or representative of a workpiece measurement performed by the portable measurement gauge, or the addition of at least one visual indicator to the display.

19. A non-transitory, computer readable media with instructions stored thereon that are executable by a processor to perform operations of:

providing one or more display format options on a remote display of a remote device, wherein the remote device may be coupled by at least one of a wired or wireless connection to a portable measurement gauge which measures one or more physical dimensions of an object and comprises a configurable gauge display which indicates measurement information based on workpiece measurements performed by the portable measurement gauge;

providing a display format arrangement on the remote display corresponding to one or more selected display format options; and

reconfiguring the gauge display on the portable measurement gauge so as to have a similar appearance to a defined display format arrangement on the remote display of the remote device when the remote device is coupled to the portable measurement gauge and a display format arrangement is defined on the remote device.

20. The non-transitory, computer readable media of claim 19, wherein the portable measurement gauge is one of a digital caliper, digital “

dial”

gauge, height gauge, micrometer or indicator.