Electronic torque tool with integrated real-time clock

• US 9,395,257 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Li, Jie, King, Jerry A., Lawton, Chris, Lee, Nathan J., Lobo, Andrew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Carol S
• Application Number:
  US13/891,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20140336955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 702/41, 814/67, 814/79, 738/622.1, 738/622.3, 738/623.24, 738/623.38, 738/623.33
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 a work piece, comprising:

a processor;

a memory operably coupled to the processor;

a torque sensor operably coupled to the processor;

a real-time clock operably coupled to the processor;

a calibration reset switch operably coupled to the processor;

a calibration timeout indicator operably coupled to the processor, and

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

receive time data from the real-time clock;

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 timeout indicator when the time counter reaches a predetermined time count.

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

first and second power circuitries coupled to the real-time clock, wherein the second power circuitry provides power to the real-time clock when the first power circuitry cannot provide power to the real-time clock.

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

a keypad operably coupled to the processor; and

a display operably coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to further;

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 are executable by the processor to further:

generate time-stamped torque measurement data that includes a time from the real-time clock when a torque measurement from the torque sensor is received by the processor.

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

a display operably coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to further display the time-stamped torque measurement data on the display.

6. The torque tool of claim 4, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to further store the time-stamped torque measurement data in the memory.

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

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

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

an interface operably coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to further communicate the time-stamped torque measurement data to an external device via the interface.

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

10. A method of measuring an amount of torque applied to a work piece by a tool, comprising:

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

generating a time stamp with a real-time clock circuitry operably coupled to the tool representing a time the torque measurement was measured, thereby creating time-stamped torque measurement data that includes the time stamp and torque measurement;

storing the time-stamped torque measurement data in a memory operably coupled to the tool;

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

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

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

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying the time-stamped torque measurement data on a display operably coupled to the tool.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying a time set menu on a display operably coupled to the tool; and

setting a time in the real-time clock circuitry based on an input to a keypad operably coupled to the tool.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

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

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

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

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

communicating the time-stamped torque measurement data to the external device via the interface.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying the calibration time limit on a calibration menu on a display operably coupled to the tool; and

setting the calibration time limit based on an input to a keypad operably coupled to the tool.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

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

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

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

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

displaying the time the calibration was performed on a display operably coupled to the tool.

18. A torque measuring system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory operably coupled to the processor;

a torque sensor circuitry operably coupled to the processor;

a real-time clock circuitry operably coupled to the processor;

first and second power circuitries operably coupled to the real-time clock circuitry, wherein the second power circuitry provides power to the real-time clock circuitry when the first power circuitry cannot provide power to the real-time clock circuitry;

a keypad operably coupled to the processor;

a display operably coupled to the processor;

a calibration reset switch operably coupled to the processor;

a calibration timeout indicator operably coupled to the processor; and

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

receive time data from the real-time clock circuitry;

generate time-stamped torque measurement data that includes a time from the real-time clock circuitry when a torque measurement from the torque sensor circuitry is received by the processor;

store the time-stamped torque measurement data in the memory;

display a time set menu on the display;

set the real-time clock circuitry based on a user input to the keypad;

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 timeout indicator when the time counter reaches a predetermined time count; and

an external device operably coupled to the torque tool and including a user interface configured for facilitating the downloading the time-stamped torque measurement data.