User interface for tool configuration and data capture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11599093-B2
Application number	US-202217587423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2022
Priority date	May 18, 2015
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

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. An external device comprising:
a display;
a device transceiver; and
an electronic processor configured to:
display a list of power tool devices on a first screen of the display, wherein the external device is configured to communicate with each power tool device included in the list of power tool devices,
receive, via the display, a selection of a first power tool device included in the list of power tool devices,
display, in response to receiving the selection of the first power tool device, a tool interface for the first power tool device on the display, wherein the tool interface includes a series of screens, and wherein at least one screen of the series of screens includes an icon of the first power tool device and a selectable option,
receive, via the display, a selection of the selectable option,
display, in response to receiving the selection of the selectable option, a settings screen on the display, wherein the settings screen includes a first setting configured to be manipulated by a user to control a first parameter of the first power tool device,
receive, via the display, a first user input that manipulates the first setting,
transmit a command, via the device transceiver, to the first power tool device to control the first parameter of the first power tool device in accordance with the first setting that was manipulated by the received first user input,
receive, via the device transceiver, usage information of the first power tool device from the first power tool device; and
display the usage information of the first power tool device on the display.

2. The external device of claim 1 , wherein the first setting includes a maximum motor speed setting for a motor of the first power tool device, and wherein the first parameter includes a value of the maximum motor speed setting.

3. The external device of claim 2 , wherein the tool interface includes a second setting configured to be manipulated by the user to control a second parameter of the first power tool device;
wherein the electronic processor is configured to receive, via the display, a second user input that manipulates the second setting;
wherein the second setting includes a brightness level setting for a work light of the first power tool device, and wherein the second parameter includes a brightness level of the work light of the first power tool device; and
wherein the command includes the brightness level of the work light of the first power tool device to control the second parameter of the first power tool device in accordance with the second setting that was manipulated by the received second user input.

4. The external device of claim 3 , wherein the tool interface includes a third setting configured to be manipulated by the user to control a third parameter of the first power tool device;
wherein the electronic processor is configured to receive, via the display, a third user input that manipulates the third setting;
wherein the third setting includes a work light duration setting for the work light of the first power tool device, and wherein the third parameter includes a work light duration of the work light of the first power tool device; and
wherein the command includes the work light duration of the work light of the first power tool device to control the third parameter of the first power tool device in accordance with the third setting that was manipulated by the received third user input.

5. The external device of claim 4 , wherein the tool interface includes a plurality of selectable modes, and at least one of the first setting, the second setting, and the third setting is configured to be individually set for each of the selectable modes; and
wherein the plurality of selectable modes included on the tool interface correspond to modes of operation included on a mode pad of the power tool device, wherein the modes of operation included on the mode pad are configured to be selected by the user using a mode selection switch on the power tool device.

6. The external device of claim 5 , wherein the tool interface includes a selectable tool identification option, and wherein the electronic processor is configured to:
receive, via the display, a selection of the selectable tool identification option; and
transmit a second command, via the device transceiver and in response to receiving the selection of the selectable tool identification option, to the first power tool device, the second command configured to request that the first power tool device provide a user-perceptible indication.

7. The external device of claim 1 , wherein the first power tool device includes a power tool that includes a brushless direct current (DC) motor having a rotor and a stator.

8. The external device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to control the display to display the at least one screen of the series of screens in response to receiving the selection of the first power tool device included in the list of power tool devices.

9. A method of controlling a power tool device, the method comprising:
displaying a list of power tool devices on a first screen of a display of an external device, wherein the external device is configured to communicate, with a device transceiver of the external device, with each power tool device included in the list of power tool devices;
receiving, via the display and with an electronic processor of the external device, a selection of a first power tool device included in the list of power tool devices;
displaying, in response to receiving the selection of the first power tool device, a tool interface for the first power tool device on the display, wherein the tool interface includes a series of screens, and wherein at least one screen of the series of screens includes an icon of the first power tool device and a selectable option;
receiving, via the display and with the electronic processor, a selection of the selectable option;
displaying, in response to receiving the selection of the selectable option, a settings screen on the display, wherein the settings screen includes a first setting configured to be manipulated by a user to control a first parameter of the first power tool device;
receiving, via the display and with the electronic processor, a first user input that manipulates the first setting;
transmitting a command, via the device transceiver, to the first power tool device to control the first parameter of the first power tool device in accordance with the first setting that was manipulated by the received first user input;
receiving, via the device transceiver, usage information of the first power tool device from the first power tool device; and
displaying the usage information of the first power tool device on the display.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first setting includes a maximum motor speed setting for a motor of the first power tool device, and wherein the first parameter includes a value of the maximum motor speed setting.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tool interface includes a second setting configured to be manipulated by the user to control a second parameter of the first power tool device, and further comprising:
receiving, via the display and with the electronic processor, a second user input that manipulates the second setting, wherein the second setting includes a brightness level setting for a work light of the first power tool device, and wherein the second parameter includes a brightness level of the work light of the first power tool device;
wherein the command includes the brightness level of the work light of the first power tool device to control the second parameter

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H04L67/125 Primary

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

• B25D2216/00

  Details of portable percussive machines with superimposed rotation, the rotational movement of the output shaft of a motor being modified to generate axial impacts on the tool bit · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

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

• G06F3/0482

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

• B25D2250/221

  Sensors · CPC title