Asset tracking and work tool identification

• US 9,938,693 B1
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Reed, Joshua D., Bergerhouse, Bradley F.
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US15/380,794
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/963 Arrangements on backhoes for alternate use of different tools backhoes per se E02F3/30; quick-acting devices to connect tools to arms E02F3/3609, for arms to tractors or the like E02F3/627
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/264 Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

A tracking system for a work tool is disclosed. The tracking system may include a tracking device coupled to the work tool and configured to transmit a work tool identification signal and a scanning device configured to scan and detect the work tool identification signal within the area around the scanning device and the tracking device. A location identification module and a communication module may be coupled to the scanning device and configured to receive the work tool identification signal, generate a work tool location signal including a location indicator and an identification of the work tool, add a date and time stamp to the work tool location signal and transmit the work tool location signal to an asset location center. The tracking system may further include a controller configured to receive and save the work tool location signal with the date and time stamp into an asset location database.

Claims

1. A tracking system for a work tool, the tracking system comprising:

a tracking device coupled to the work tool and configured to transmit a work tool identification signal;

a wireless communication device configured to scan for and detect the work tool identification signal within a work area;

a location identification module coupled to the wireless communication device and configured to receive the work tool identification signal, and generate a work tool location signal, including a location indicator and a unique work tool identifier;

a communication module coupled to the wireless communication device and configured to add a date and time stamp to the work tool location signal and transmit the work tool location signal to an asset location control center;

at least one accelerometer coupled to the tracking device, the accelerometer activating the tracking device when the work tool is picked up by a work machine such that the tracking device communicates with a machine control module located on the work machine; and

a controller located in the asset location control center configured to receive the work tool location signal with the date and time stamp, the controller programmed to save the work tool location signal with the date and time stamp into an asset location database such that the asset location database displays a last known location of the work tool.

2. The tracking system of claim 1, wherein the work tool identification signal is configured as a low power wireless signal,

wherein the wireless communication device is configured to detect the low power wireless signal, and

wherein the low power wireless signal includes Bluetooth®

low energy signal.

3. The tracking system of claim 2, wherein the wireless mobile device is configured to detect the low power wireless signal of the tracking device, and the low power wireless signal includes the unique work tool identifier and other work tool data such that the controller located in the asset location control center associates the tracking device with a specific work tool.

4. The tracking system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is selectably configured to scan for the work tool identification signal in a plurality of scanning modes including a continuous mode and a discontinuous mode, wherein the wireless communication device is selected to operate in one of the plurality of scanning modes and configured to automatically transmit a detected work tool identification signal to the controller located in the asset location control center.

5. The tracking system of claim 1, wherein the machine control module receives the work tool identification signal and a work tool specification signal such that the machine control module identifies the work tool picked up, executes a set of pre-defined control settings configured to operate the work tool, and communicates a set of operational instructions to an operator of the work machine based on the work tool identification signal.

6. The tracking system of claim 5, wherein the at least one accelerometer operably coupled to the tracking device is further configured to provide information regarding tool use of the work tool, and

wherein the machine control module receives the information regarding tool use, generates a work tool log, and transmits the work tool log to the controller located in the asset location control center.

7. A method of tracking a location of a work tool, the method comprising:

coupling a tracking device to the work tool and configuring the tracking device to transmit a work tool identification signal,

at least one accelerometer being coupled to the tracking device,

the accelerometer activating the tracking device when the work tool is picked up by a work machine such that the tracking device communicates with a machine control module located on the work machine;

scanning for the work tool identification signal using a scanning device configured to detect the work tool identification signal within a work area;

programming a work tool location signal based on a location of the scanning device when the work tool identification signal is received,

including a date and time stamp with the work tool location signal;

transmitting the work tool location signal to a controller located in an asset location control center; and

receiving the work tool location signal, saving the work tool location signal with the date and time stamp to an asset location database, and displaying a last known location of the work tool in the asset location database.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the work tool identification signal is configured as a low power wireless signal,

the low power wireless signal including Bluetooth®

low energy signal, and

wherein scanning for the low power wireless signal includes configuring the scanning device as a wireless mobile device to detect the low power wireless signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the scanning device is configured to detect the low power wireless signal of the tracking device, and the low power wireless signal includes a unique work tool identifier and other work tool data such that the controller located in the asset location control center associates the tracking device with a specific work tool.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein scanning for the work tool identification signal includes selectably configuring the scanning device to scan for the work tool identification signal in a plurality of scanning modes including a continuous mode and a discontinuous mode, wherein the scanning device is selected to operate in one of the plurality of scanning modes and configured to automatically transmit a detected work tool identification signal to the controller located in the asset location control center.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting the work tool identification signal includes sending a work tool specification signal to a machine control module located on the work machine.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the machine control module receives both the work tool identification signal and the work tool specification signal such that the machine control module identifies the work tool picked up by the work machine, executes a set of pre-defined control settings configured to operate the work tool, and communicates a set of operational instructions to an operator of the work machine based on the work tool identification signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one accelerometer operably coupled to the tracking device is further configured to track and provide information regarding tool use of the work tool, and

wherein the machine control module receives the information regarding tool use, generates a work tool log, and transmits the work tool log to the controller located in the asset location control center.

14. A work machine including a tracking system for a work tool, the work machine comprising:

a frame configured to support a power source of the work machine and the work tool operably coupled to the frame;

a tracking device coupled to the work tool and configured to transmit a work tool identification signal;

a wireless communication device connected to the work machine and configured to scan for the work tool identification signal within a work area;

a machine control module communicably coupled to the wireless communication device and configured to receive the work tool identification signal, the machine control module including;

a location identification module communicably coupled to the machine control module to generate a work tool location signal based on a detection location of the work tool identification signal;

a communication module communicably coupled to the machine control module to add a date and time stamp to the work tool location signal and transmit the work tool location signal to a controller located in an asset location control center; and

at least one accelerometer coupled to the tracking device,

the accelerometer activating the tracking device when the work tool is picked up by the work machine and the tracking device communicating with the machine control module.

15. The work machine of claim 14, wherein the work tool identification signal is configured as a low power wireless signal,

the low power wireless signal including Bluetooth®

low energy signal, and

wherein the wireless communication device attached to the work machine is configured to detect and receive the low power wireless signal.

16. The work machine of claim 15, wherein the low power wireless signal of the tracking device includes a unique work tool identifier and other work tool data such that the controller located in the asset location control center associates the tracking device with a specific work tool.

17. The work machine of claim 14, wherein the accelerometer causes the tracking device to transmit, to the machine control module, information regarding a tool type of the work tool after the work tool is picked up, and wherein the machine control module is configured to identify operational parameters for the work tool based on the information regarding the tool type.

18. The work machine of claim 17, wherein the machine control module receives the work tool identification signal and a work tool specification signal such that the machine control module identifies the work tool picked up by the work machine, executes a set of pre-defined control settings configured to operate the work tool, and communicates a set of operational instructions to an operator of the work machine based on the work tool identification signal.

19. The work machine of claim 18, wherein the at least one accelerometer operably coupled to the tracking device is further configured to track and provide information regarding tool use of the work tool, and the machine control module receives the information regarding tool use, generates a work tool log, and the machine control module transmits the work tool log to the controller located in the asset location control center.