Soldering station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11219963-B2
Application number	US-202017294476-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2020
Priority date	Oct 17, 2019
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

A soldering station includes a first tool port configured to interface with a first soldering tool, a second tool port configured to interface with a second soldering tool, a display configured to display information relating to one or both of the first and second soldering tools, and processing circuitry configured to interface with the display to provide the information relating to one or both of the first and second soldering tools. The first tool port has a first indicator associated therewith and the second tool port has a second indicator associated therewith. The first indicator generates a first color that is also generated at a third indicator associated with the first soldering tool. The second indictor generates a second color that is also generated at a fourth indicator associated with the second soldering tool, the first and second colors being different from each other.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A soldering station comprising:
a first tool port configured to interface with a first soldering tool;
a second tool port configured to interface with a second soldering tool;
a display configured to display information relating to one or both of the first and second soldering tools; and
processing circuitry configured to interface with the display to provide the information relating to one or both of the first and second soldering tools,
wherein the first tool port has a first indicator associated therewith and the second tool port has a second indicator associated therewith,
wherein the first indicator generates a first color that is also generated at a third indicator associated with the first soldering tool,
wherein the second indictor generates a second color that is also generated at a fourth indicator associated with the second soldering tool, the first and second colors being different from each other.

2. The soldering station of claim 1 , wherein the first and second colors are selectable by an operator interfacing with the processing circuitry.

3. The soldering station of claim 1 , wherein the first indicator comprises a first ring indicator extending around a periphery of the first tool port, and
wherein the second indicator comprises a second ring indicator extending around a periphery of the second tool port.

4. The soldering station of claim 3 , wherein the display comprises a first display portion configured to display information associated with the first soldering tool, and a second display portion configured to display information associated with the second soldering tool.

5. The soldering station of claim 4 , wherein the first display portion includes a first color boundary having the first color, and the second display portion includes a second color boundary having the second color.

6. The soldering station of claim 4 , wherein the first display portion or the second display portion includes a temperature indicator, and one or more selectable operators to enable adjustment of a temperature setting for a corresponding one of the first or second soldering tools.

7. The soldering station of claim 4 , wherein the first display portion or the second display portion is configured to display a visual depiction of a respective one of the first soldering tool or the second soldering tool.

8. The soldering station of claim 7 , wherein the visual depiction is determined automatically by the processing circuitry responsive to connection of the first soldering tool or second soldering tool to the first tool port or the second tool port, respectively.

9. The soldering station of claim 7 , wherein the visual depiction is selected by an operator interfacing with the processing circuitry from a list of tool types or visual depictions.

10. The soldering station of claim 3 , wherein the first and second ring indicators each comprise an annular lens and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), the annular lens directing light from the LEDs around the periphery of a corresponding one of the first tool port and the second tool port.

11. The soldering station of claim 3 , wherein the first and second tool ports are disposed at a main unit, and wherein the soldering station further comprises an accessory unit comprising a first accessory port and a second accessory port.

12. The soldering station of claim 8 , wherein the first and second accessory ports are configured to receive air hoses associated with a vacuum tool or a blower tool.

13. The soldering station of claim 8 , wherein the first accessory port comprises a third ring indicator extending around a periphery of the first accessory port,
wherein the second accessory port comprises a fourth ring indicator extending around a periphery of the second accessory port, and
wherein a color generated at the third ring indicator or the fourth ring indicator matches a corresponding color of a soldering tool with which an accessory associated.

14. A device correlation system for a soldering station, the soldering station includes a first tool port configured to interface with a first soldering tool, and a second tool port configured to interface with a second soldering tool, the device correlation system comprising:
a first indicator disposed at the first tool port;
a second indicator disposed at the second tool port;
a third indicator disposed at the first soldering tool; and
a fourth indicator disposed at the second soldering tool,
wherein the first and third indicators are configured to each generate a first color, and the second and fourth indicators are configured to each generate a second color, the first and second colors being different from each other.

15. The device correlation system of claim 14 , wherein the first and second colors are selectable by an operator interfacing with the soldering station.

16. The device correlation system of claim 14 , wherein the first indicator comprises a first ring indicator extending around a periphery of the first tool port, and
wherein the second indicator comprises a second ring indicator extending around a periphery of the second tool port.

17. The device correlation system of claim 16 , wherein the soldering station further comprises a display having a first display portion configured to display information associated with the first soldering tool, and a second display portion configured to display information associated with the second soldering tool.

18. The device correlation system of claim 17 , wherein the first display portion includes a first color boundary having the first color, and the second display portion includes a second color boundary having the second color.

19. A method of correlating devices to respective ports on a soldering station, the soldering station including a first tool port configured to interface with a first soldering tool, and a second tool port configured to interface with a second soldering tool, the method comprising:
receiving an indication of connection of the first soldering tool to the first tool port;
receiving an indication of connection of the second soldering tool to the second tool port;
causing generation of a first color of light at a first indicator disposed at the first tool port and a second indicator disposed at the first soldering tool; and
causing generation of a second color of light at a third indicator disposed at the second tool port and a fourth indicator disposed at the second soldering tool,
wherein the first and second colors of light are different from each other.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising receiving input from an operator of the soldering station to select the first color of light and the second color of light.

Assignees

• Apex Brands Inc

Inventors

• Van Fossen Eric

Classifications

• B23K3/08

  Auxiliary devices therefor · CPC title

• B23K3/033 Primary

  comprising means for controlling or selecting the temperature or power · CPC title

• B23K3/02 Primary

  Soldering irons; Bits · CPC title