User interface for tool configuration and data capture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10295990-B2
Application number	US-201615155489-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	May 18, 2015
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A programmable power tool and method and systems of programming a power tool using wireless communication. An external device having a processor and a transceiver establishes a communication link with the power tool. The external device receives, with the transceiver, a first mode profile stored on the power tool. The first mode profile is defined by a profile type and a first value associated with a parameter for executing the profile type. The external device displays a control screen including the profile type and the parameter at the first value, and receives a user input. The external device generates, in response to the user input, a second mode profile by modifying the parameter to be at a second value. The external device transmits, with the transceiver, the second mode profile to the power tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of programming a power tool, the method comprising:
establishing, with a transceiver, a first communication link between a first power tool and an external device, the external device having the transceiver and an electronic processor;
receiving, with the transceiver and from the first power tool, a first mode profile stored on the first power tool, the first mode profile being defined by a first profile type and a first value associated with a first parameter to control performance of an operation of the first power tool;
displaying, at the external device, a first control screen including the first profile type and the first parameter at the first value, the first control screen being based on a type of the first power tool;
receiving a first user input at the external device;
generating, in response to the first user input, a second mode profile by modifying the first parameter to be at a second value;
transmitting, with the transceiver, the second mode profile to the first power tool;
establishing, with the transceiver, a second communication link between a second power tool and the external device, the second power tool being a different type of power tool than the first power tool;
receiving, with the transceiver and from the second power tool, a third mode profile stored on the second power tool, the third mode profile including a second parameter to control performance of an operation of the second power tool;
displaying, at the external device, a second control screen including the second parameter at a third value, the second control screen being based on the type of the second power tool and being different than the first control screen;
receiving a second user input at the external device;
generating, in response to the second user input, a fourth mode profile by modifying the second parameter to be at a fourth value; and
transmitting, with the transceiver, the fourth mode profile to the second power tool.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, from the external device, the second mode profile to a remote server communicatively coupled to the external device.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
establishing, with the transceiver, a third communication link between a third power tool and the external device;
receiving, with the transceiver, the first mode profile stored on the third power tool;
receiving, at the external device, the second mode profile from the remote server;
comparing, with the electronic processor, the first mode profile with the second mode profile; and
generating, with the electronic processor, an indication to a user when the first mode profile and the second mode profile are different.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the first communication link between the first power tool and the external device includes:
wirelessly scanning, with the external device, for local power tools within a communication range of the transceiver;
receiving, at the external device, identification information for each of the local power tools in response to wirelessly scanning the communication range;
displaying, at the external device, a list of the local power tools detected by the external device, the list including the first power tool; and
receiving, at the external device, a selection of the first power tool from the list of local power tools.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein displaying the list of the local power tools includes
transmitting, with the external device, the identification information to a remote server;
receiving, at the external device, a name and an icon for each of the local power tools; and
displaying, at the external device, the name and the icon for each of the local power tools.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, with the electronic processor, that the first power tool is in an adaptive mode before generating the second mode profile.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein transmitting the second mode profile includes transmitting, with the transceiver, the second mode profile to the first power tool in response to generating the second mode profile when the first power tool is in the adaptive mode.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, with the transceiver, a fifth mode profile, the fifth mode profile being stored on the first power tool and being defined by a second profile type different than the first profile type, and a fifth value associated with a third parameter for executing the second profile type; and
displaying, at the external device, a third control screen including the second profile type and the third parameter at the fifth value, the third control screen being different than the first control screen.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the first mode profile stored on the first power tool includes
receiving, at the external device, a user selection of a mode profile button, the mode profile button corresponding to the first mode profile stored on the first power tool;
transmitting, with the transceiver, a request to the first power tool for the first mode profile stored on the first power tool; and
receiving, with the transceiver, the first mode profile stored on the first power tool based on the user selection.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
receiving, with the transceiver, identification information from the first power tool, the identification information indicative of a type of power tool corresponding to the first power tool;
displaying, at the external device, a list of mode profiles based on the type of power tool corresponding to the first power tool;
receiving, at the external device, a selection of one of the mode profiles from the list of mode profiles; and
transmitting, with the transceiver, the selected one of the mode profiles from the list of mode profiles to the first power tool.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, at the external device, a user selection of a reset actuator; and
transmitting, with the transceiver, a predetermined set of default mode profiles to the first power tool in response to receiving the user selection.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein establishing the first communication link includes:
broadcasting, with the transceiver, an identifier of the first power tool periodically; and
pairing, with the transceiver, the first power tool with the external device when the first power tool is within a communication range of the external device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein broadcasting the identifier includes broadcasting, with the transceiver, the identifier of the first power tool, the identifier indicating the type of the first power tool, and a unique identifier for the first power tool.

14. A method of programming a power tool, the method comprising:
establishing, with a transceiver, a first communication link between a first power tool and an external device, the first power tool including the transceiver, a memory, and an electronic processor;
transmitting, with the transceiver and to the external device, a first mode profile stored on the memory, the first mode profile being defined by a first profile type and a first value associated with a first parameter to control performance of an operation of the first power tool;
displaying, with the external device, the first profile type and the first value on a first control screen, the first control screen being based on a type of the first power tool;
receiving a first user input at the external device;
generating, with the external device and in response to the first

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Dey Iv John S
• Huber Alex
• Mergener Matthew J
• Stampfl Burtrom L
• Matson Stephen
• Obermann Timothy R

Classifications

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G05B2219/39438

  Direct programming at the console · CPC title

• G05B19/4155 Primary

  characterised by program execution, i.e. part program or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a program · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• H04L67/125 Primary

  involving control of end-device applications over a network · CPC title