Multi-location tool sensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11049177-B2
Application number	US-201716337510-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2017
Priority date	Sep 29, 2016
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

Systems and apparatus for tracking tools are disclosed. In one embodiment, among others, an apparatus has a tool cabinet with at least one bin. A computing device is associated with the tool cabinet. A sensor network layer is positioned in the at least one bin. The sensor network is coupled with the computing device. The sensor network layer is configured to detect a presence and an absence of a tool item at a predetermined location. The sensor network is configured to transmit a signal to the computing device indicative of the presence or the absence of the tool item at the predetermined location. A covering positioned over the sensor network layer. The covering is configured to facilitate a placement of the tool item at the predetermined location.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a tool cabinet comprising at least one bin;
a sensor network layer positioned in the at least one bin, wherein the sensor network layer comprises a plurality of sensors for detecting a respective tool item at a tool location; and
a computing device associated with the tool cabinet and coupled to the sensor network layer, the computing device being configured to:
receive a user selection of a first portion of the plurality of sensors from a user interface, the first portion of the plurality of sensors being selected to correspond to a first shape of a first tool item;
configure the first portion of the plurality of sensors to operate as a sensor group for the first shape of the first tool item based at least in part on the user selection of the first portion of the plurality of sensors, the sensor group being configured to detect a presence or an absence of the first tool item at the tool location based at least in part on the first shape of the first tool item, wherein a first inventory of the first tool item is associated with the first shape of the first tool item using the first portion of the plurality of sensors;
determine the presence of the first tool item at the tool location based at least in part on a quantity of individual sensors from the sensor group providing a sensor signal, and the quantity of the individual sensors meeting a detection threshold; and
adjust the sensor group for a second shape for a second tool item based at least in part on a second user selection of a second portion of the plurality of sensors from the user interface, wherein a second inventory of the second tool item is dynamically changed to be associated with the second shape of the second tool item using the second portion of the plurality of sensors.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to associate each of the plurality of sensors with one of a plurality of respective locations in the at least one bin.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged in a grid configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the computing device is configured to:
assign the sensor group to a grid location in the at least one bin.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a covering layer positioned over the sensor network layer, wherein the covering layer is configured to facilitate a placement of the first tool item at the tool location, and the covering layer comprises a flexible material, and wherein the sensor network layer is integrated within the covering layer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one of a metal sensor, a weight sensor, a proximity sensor, an optical sensor, or a mechanical switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a communications transceiver that is in data communication with the computing device, the communications transceiver being configured to establish a data communication channel with a remote computing device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the communications transceiver is configured for the data communication via at least one of a Bluetooth protocol, a proprietary protocol, a Wireless local area network protocol, or a wired local area network protocol.

9. A tool tracking system, comprising:
a bin;
a computing device associated with the bin;
a sensor layer positioned in the bin, the sensor layer being coupled with the computing device, wherein the sensor layer comprises a plurality of sensors for detecting a respective tool item at a tool location;
a liner layer positioned over the sensor layer, the liner layer configured to facilitate a placement of the respective tool item at the tool location; and
the computing device being configured to:
receive a user selection of a first portion of the plurality of sensors from a user interface, the first portion of the plurality of sensors being selected to correspond to a first shape of a first tool item;
configure the first portion of the plurality of sensors to operate as a sensor group for the first shape of the first tool item based at least in part on the user selection of the first portion of the plurality of sensors, the sensor group being configured to detect a presence or an absence of the first tool item based at least in part on the first shape of the first tool item being formed by the first portion of the plurality of sensors, wherein a first inventory of the first tool item is associated with the first shape of the first tool item using the first portion of the plurality of sensors;
detect the presence of the first tool item at the tool location based at least in part on a quantity of individual sensors from the sensor group providing a sensor signal, and the quantity of the individual sensors meeting a detection threshold; and
adjust the sensor group for a second shape for a second tool item based at least in part on a second user selection of a second portion of the plurality of sensors from the user interface, wherein a second inventory of the second tool item is dynamically changed to be associated with the second shape of the second tool item using the second portion of the plurality of sensors.

10. The tool tracking system of claim 9 , wherein the computing device receives power from a wireless power transmitter.

11. The tool tracking system of claim 9 , wherein the liner layer comprises a plurality of raised protrusions that are positioned in an arrangement to indicate the placement of the respective tool item at the tool location.

12. The tool tracking system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of sensors are in a grid arrangement, each of the plurality of sensors being associated with one of a plurality of respective locations in the bin.

13. The tool tracking system of claim 9 , wherein the first tool item comprises at least one of a drill bit, a wrench socket, a ratchet, or a wrench.

14. The tool tracking system of claim 9 , wherein the bin is positioned in a tool cabinet or on a shelf.

15. A system, comprising:
a tool drawer;
a covering layer positioned in the tool drawer, the covering layer configured to facilitate a placement of a tool item at a tool location; and
a sensor network layer integrated within the covering layer, wherein the sensor network layer comprises a plurality of sensors for detecting the tool item at the tool location; and
a computing device coupled to the sensor network layer, wherein the computing device being configured to:
configure a first portion of the plurality of sensors to operate as a sensor group for a first shape of a first tool item based at least in part on a first user selection of the first portion of the plurality of sensors from a user interface, wherein a first inventory of the first tool item is associated with the first shape of the first tool item using the first portion of the plurality of sensors;
determine a first placement of the first tool item on the tool location based at least in part on a quantity of individual sensors from the sensor group providing a sensor signal, and the quantity of the individual sensors meeting a detection threshold; and
adjust the sensor group for a second shape for a second tool item based at least in part on a second user selection of a second portion of the plurality of sensors from the user interface, wherein a second inventory of the second tool item is dynamically changed to be associated with the second shape using the second portion of the plurality of sensors.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first user selection of t

Assignees

• Stanley Ind & Automotive Llc
• Stanley Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• White Christopher
• Ratteree James Michael
• Liao Wan-Chun

Classifications

• G07C3/08

  Registering or indicating the production of the machine either with or without registering working or idle time · CPC title

• G07C3/00 Primary

  Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles · CPC title

• G06Q10/0833

  Tracking · CPC title

• G07C3/02

  Registering or indicating working or idle time only · CPC title

• B25H3/028

  by sliding extraction from within a common frame · CPC title