Wireless tracking of power tools and related devices

• US 9,949,075 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Burch, Wade F., Zeiler, Jeffrey M., Reading, Leslie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US15/266,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20170006420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 34053913
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/02 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

A method of communicating with at least one power tool device using a power distribution box. The power distribution box includes a power-line adapter, a gateway device, and alternating current (AC) power outlets. The method includes receiving alternating current from an external power source and distributing the AC power received from the external power source to the AC power outlets. The method also includes receiving from the gateway device wireless communication from a power tool, transmitting by the power-line adapter the data from the wireless communication to an external network, and receiving information regarding the power tool device.

Claims

1. A method of communicating with at least one power tool device using a power distribution box, the power distribution box including a power-line adapter, a gateway device, and alternating current (AC) power outlets, the method comprising:

receiving, at a power input of the power distribution box, alternating current (AC) power from an external power source;

distributing the AC power received from the external power source to the AC power outlets;

receiving, via the gateway device, a wireless communication from a power tool device, the wireless communication including data associated with the power tool device; and

transmitting, by the power-line adapter, the data associated with the power tool device to an external network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, via a daisy-chain power cable, power to a second power distribution box.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising communicating, by the second power distribution box, with the external network via the daisy-chain power cable.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the gateway device from the power distribution box.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting, by the power-line adapter, the data associated with the power tool device to the external network includes transmitting, by the power-line adapter, the data associated with the power tool device to a tool monitoring server.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the gateway device, a location of the power distribution box.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting, by the power-line adapter, location data indicative of the location of the power distribution box to the external network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by a cellular module of the gateway device, the data associated with the power tool device to the external network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the AC power to direct current (DC) power;

and providing the DC power to a DC power outlet of the power distribution box.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the power tool device includes operational data of the power tool device.

11. A method of communicating with at least one power tool device using a power distribution box, the power distribution box including a power-line adapter, a gateway device, and alternating current (AC) power outlets, the method comprising:

receiving, at a power input of the power distribution box, alternating current (AC) power from an external power source;

distributing the AC power received from the external power source to the AC power outlets;

receiving, via the gateway device, a wireless communication from a power tool device, including operational data associated with the power tool device; and

transmitting, by the power-line adapter, the operational data associated with the power tool device to an external network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting the operational data by the power-line adapter includes multiplexing data signals with power signals over a power cable coupled between the power input and the external power source.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing, via a daisy-chain power cable, power to a second power distribution box.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising communicating, by the second power distribution box, with the external network via the daisy-chain power cable.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing the gateway device from the power distribution box.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting, by the power-line adapter, the operational data associated with the power tool device to the external network includes transmitting, by the power-line adapter, the operational data associated with the power tool device to a tool monitoring server.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining, by the gateway device, a location of the power distribution box.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting, by the power-line adapter, location data indicative of the location of the power distribution box to the external network.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting, by a cellular module of the gateway device, the operational data associated with the power tool device to the external network.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising converting the AC power to direct current (DC) power;

and providing the DC power to a DC power outlet of the power distribution box.