Battery-less data transmission module accessory for portable and handheld metrology devices

• US 10,068,465 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2016
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Inventors: Nahum, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Zhitong
• Application Number:
  US15/394,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20170110007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/005 Electro-chemical actuators; Actuators having a material for absorbing or desorbing gas, e.g. a metal hydride; Actuators using the difference in osmotic pressure between fluids; Actuators with elements stretchable when contacted with liquid rich in ions, with UV light, with a salt solution
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/205 provided with a counter for digital indication of the measured dimension
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2200/00 Transmission systems for measured values, control or similar signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/01 Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A data transmission module is provided as a battery-less accessory for attachment to portable metrology devices (e.g., handheld digital calipers, micrometers, indicators, etc.). Rather than utilizing battery resources from the metrology devices, the data transmission module utilizes energy harvested wirelessly from a remote data node (e.g., a computer system, display, etc.) to power transmission of measurement data signals to the remote data node. The data transmission module may receive sufficient power when relatively close to the remote data node, such as when a user is near the remote data node when operating the metrology device to obtain dimensional measurements of a workpiece. A wireless data generator of the data transmission module may be configured to wirelessly communicate measurement data signals using: the harvested energy; or a modulated reflection of, or coupling to, a received energy supply field from the remote data node; or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A data transmission module for inputting measurement data from a battery-powered portable measuring device and wirelessly communicating corresponding measurement data signals to a remote data node which is configured to generate at least one energy supply field and wirelessly receive the measurement data signals from the data transmission module, the data transmission module comprising:

a body portion including a data connector which is configured to physically couple to the battery-powered portable measuring device, wherein the battery-powered portable measuring device includes an external data connector for providing a wired connection to an external device, and the body portion of the data transmission module is physically coupled to the battery-powered portable measuring device at least in part by physically coupling the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device;

a field receiver configured to receive the energy supply field from the remote data node;

a wireless data generator that wirelessly communicates the measurement data signals to the remote data node;

a data transmission and energy manager circuit configured to couple through the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector on the battery-powered portable measuring device, and to perform operations comprising;

harvesting energy received by the field receiver, storing at least a portion of the harvested energy in the data transmission module, and managing the harvested energy;

establishing a communication connection with the remote data node;

inputting the measurement data from the battery-powered portable measuring device through the data connector of the body portion as physically coupled to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device; and

wirelessly communicating measurement data signals corresponding to the input measurement data to the remote data node using the wireless data generator,

wherein;

the battery-powered portable measuring device is powered by a battery that is not part of the data transmission module and is not connected as a power supply to the data transmission module, and is configured to operate and display the measurement data on a self-contained display, regardless of whether it is coupled to the data transmission module; and

the wireless data generator is configured to wirelessly communicate the measurement data signals to the remote data node using only a) the harvested energy or b) a modulated reflection of, or coupling to, the received energy supply field from the remote data node, or c) a combination of a) and b).

2. The data transmission module of claim 1, wherein the data transmission module does not include a chemical battery.

3. The data transmission module of claim 1, wherein at least a majority of energy used by the data transmission module to transmit the measurement data signals to the remote data node is provided by b) a modulated reflection of, or coupling to, electromagnetic energy received from the remote data node by the field receiver.

4. The data transmission module of claim 1, wherein the energy supply field generated by the remote data node is an oscillating magnetic field and the field receiver comprises at least one electrical loop and a resonant circuit configured to inductively couple to the oscillating magnetic field.

5. The data transmission module of claim 4, wherein at least a majority of energy used by the data transmission module to transmit the measurement data signals to the remote data node is provided by a) the stored energy in the data transmission module.

6. The data transmission module of claim 1, wherein electromagnetic energy of the energy supply field generated by the remote data node is electromagnetic radiation and the field receiver comprises an antenna.

7. The data transmission module of claim 1, wherein the battery-powered portable measuring device is one of a caliper or micrometer, and the measurement data is related to a physical dimension of a measured object.

8. The data transmission module of claim 1, wherein the remote data node comprises a power supply, a display, one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory storing data corresponding to measurement data signals that are wirelessly received from the data transmission module.

9. The data transmission module of claim 1, wherein if the energy received by the field receiver is determined to be below a threshold level, operations for wirelessly communicating measurement data signals to the remote data node are at least one of suspended or cancelled.

10. The data transmission module of claim 1, wherein transmission cycle termination operations are performed subsequently to successfully wirelessly communicating measurement data signals to the remote data node and terminate at least some operations of the data transmission module until an actuator of the data transmission module is operated manually by a user or a request for data is received from the remote data node.

11. The data transmission module of claim 1, wherein the body portion is configured to physically couple to a back portion of the battery-powered portable measuring device, the back portion being on an opposite side of the battery-powered portable measuring device relative to the self-contained display that is on a front portion of the battery-powered portable measuring device.

12. The data transmission module of claim 1, wherein a back portion of the battery-powered portable measuring device comprises a back surface on an opposite side of the battery-powered portable measuring device relative to the self-contained display that is on a front portion of the battery-powered portable measuring device and the field receiver is arranged in a plane that is approximately parallel to the back surface and there is a separation between the field receiver and the battery-powered portable measuring device when the body portion of the data transmission module is physically coupled to the battery-powered portable measuring device.

13. The data transmission module of claim 12, wherein a total thickness of the data transmission module is at most 12 mm, and the field receiver is arranged at a separation distance of at least 4 millimeters from the battery-powered portable measuring device as measured from the back surface of the battery-powered portable measuring device when the body portion of the data transmission module is physically coupled to the battery-powered portable measuring device.

14. The data transmission module of claim 1, wherein the remote data node comprises at least two portions which are physically separate, and a first one of the portions includes a field generator and is configured to generate at least one energy supply field, and a second one of the portions is configured to wirelessly receive the measurement data signals from the data transmission module.

15. A method for utilizing a data transmission module to wirelessly transmit measurement data signals from a battery-powered portable measuring device to a remote data node, wherein:

the remote data node is configured to generate an energy supply field and to wirelessly receive the measurement data signals from the data transmission module;

the data transmission module comprises;

a body portion including a data connector which is configured to physically couple to the battery-powered portable measuring device, wherein the battery-powered portable measuring device includes an external data connector for providing a wired connection to an external device, and the body portion of the data transmission module is physically coupled to the battery-powered portable measuring device at least in part by physically coupling the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device;

a field receiver configured to receive the energy supply field from the remote data node;

a wireless data generator that wirelessly communicates the measurement data signals to the remote data node; and

a data transmission and energy manager circuit configured to couple through the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector on the battery-powered portable measuring device; and

the method comprises;

harvesting energy from the energy supply field of the remote data node as received by the field receiver of the data transmission module and storing at least a portion of the harvested energy in the data transmission module;

establishing a communication connection between the data transmission module and the remote data node;

inputting the measurement data from the battery-powered portable measuring device through the data connector of the body portion as physically coupled to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device; and

wirelessly transmitting measurement data signals corresponding to the input measurement data to the remote data node using the wireless data generator of the data transmission module, wherein the wireless data generator is configured to wirelessly transmit the measurement data signals to the remote data node using a) the harvested energy or b) a modulated reflection of, or coupling to, the received energy supply field from the remote data node, or c) a combination of a) and b).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the battery-powered portable measuring device is powered by a battery that is not part of the data transmission module and is not connected as a power supply to the data transmission module, and is configured to operate and display measurement data corresponding to the measurement data signals on a self-contained display, regardless of whether the battery-powered portable measuring device is coupled to the data transmission module.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the data transmission module does not include a chemical battery.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein a back portion of the battery-powered portable measuring device comprises a back surface on an opposite side of the battery-powered portable measuring device relative to a self-contained display that is on a front portion of the battery-powered portable measuring device and the field receiver is arranged in a plane that is approximately parallel to the back surface and there is a separation between the field receiver and the battery-powered portable measuring device when the body portion of the data transmission module is physically coupled to the battery-powered portable measuring device.

19. A system for wirelessly transmitting measurement data signals to a remote data node, the system comprising:

a remote data node configured to generate an energy supply field and to wirelessly receive measurement data signals;

a battery-powered portable measuring device comprising a self-contained display and an external data connector for providing a wired connection to an external device, wherein the battery-powered portable measuring device is powered by a battery and is configured to measure a workpiece and display corresponding measurement data on the self-contained display, regardless of whether the battery-powered portable measuring device is coupled to a data transmission module; and

a data transmission module comprising;

a body portion including a data connector configured to physically couple to the battery-powered portable measuring device, wherein the body portion of the data transmission module is physically coupled to the battery-powered portable measuring device at least in part by physically coupling the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device;

a field receiver configured to receive the energy supply field from the remote data node;

a wireless data generator that wirelessly communicates the measurement data signals to the remote data node; and

a data transmission and energy manager circuit configured to couple through the data connector of the body portion to the external data connector on the battery-powered portable measuring device and to perform operations comprising;

harvesting energy received by the field receiver from the remote data node and storing at least a portion of the harvested energy in the data transmission module;

establishing a communication connection with the remote data node;

inputting the measurement data from the battery-powered portable measuring device through the data connector of the body portion as physically coupled to the external data connector of the battery-powered portable measuring device; and

wirelessly communicating measurement data signals corresponding to the input measurement data to the remote data node using the wireless data generator, wherein the wireless data generator is configured to wirelessly communicate the measurement data signals to the remote data node using at least primarily a) the harvested energy or b) a modulated reflection of, or coupling to, the received energy supply field from the remote data node, or c) a combination of a) and b).

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a back portion of the battery-powered portable measuring device comprises a back surface on an opposite side of the battery-powered portable measuring device relative to the self-contained display that is on a front portion of the battery-powered portable measuring device and the field receiver is arranged in a plane that is approximately parallel to the back surface and there is a separation between the field receiver and the battery-powered portable measuring device when the body portion of the data transmission module is physically coupled to the battery-powered portable measuring device.