Wireless tracking of power tools and related devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9467862-B2
Application number	US-201213662093-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2012
Priority date	Oct 26, 2011
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

Abstract

A method and system for wirelessly tracking power tools and related devices to aid with inventory management and to help minimize, prevent, and recover misplaced or stolen tools throughout the job site. The tools and/or batteries include wireless transmitting capabilities (e.g., an ISM unit) to transmit data to a fob, puck repeater, and/or gateway over an ISM network. The gateway is operable to translate and output the ISM communications over a cellular network to a remote monitoring unit, such as a personal computer or smart phone. Additionally, the gateway is further operable to translate and output cellular communications from the remote monitoring unit to ISM communications over the ISM network. A wireless tethering system and method is also disclosed whereby an ISM battery places a power tool in a lock-out or limp mode after the ISM battery remains outside of ISM communications for a prolonged period of time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gateway device comprising:
a power interface configured to selectively engage a power source interface of at least one selected from the group of a power tool battery, a power tool battery charger, and a worksite audio device;
a wireless network module configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless network having at least one power tool device;
a cellular module configured to wirelessly communicate with a cellular network;
a translation module coupled to the wireless network module and the cellular module and configured to provide
translated communications received from the wireless network via the wireless network module to the cellular module for output to the cellular network, and
translated communications received from the cellular network via the cellular module to the wireless network module for output to the wireless network; and

a housing including the power interface, the wireless network module, the cellular module, and the translation module.

2. The gateway device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one power tool device is one of a power tool and a power tool battery having a wireless module for communicating via the wireless network.

3. The gateway device of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical coupling mechanism for releasably securing the gateway device to the at least one of a power tool battery, power tool battery charger, and worksite audio device.

4. The gateway device of claim 3 , wherein the mechanical coupling mechanism is at least one of
a latching mechanism having a depressible releasing mechanism configured to release the power interface form the power source interface; and
a groove and rail system enabling the gateway device to slidingly engage the at least one of a power tool battery, power tool battery charger, and worksite audio device.

5. The gateway device of claim 1 , further comprising
a controller included in the housing and implementing the wireless network module, the cellular module, and the translation module; and
a data port of the controller, the data port configured to receive a data cable coupled to an external device, wherein the controller communicates with the external device via the data port.

6. The gateway device of claim 1 , wherein the power interface includes at least a positive power terminal, a negative power terminal, and a data terminal, the data terminal enabling communication between the gateway device and the at least one of a power tool battery, power tool battery charger, and worksite audio device.

7. The gateway device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a non-cellular network having communications at frequencies between one of: 902 to 928 MHz and 863 to 870 MHz.

8. The gateway device of claim 1 , wherein wireless communications output by the cellular module have a higher transmit power than communications output by the wireless network module.

9. The gateway device of claim 1 , further comprising
a global positioning unit (GPS) antenna that receives global positioning signals;
a GPS unit that is coupled to the GPS antenna, that receives the global positioning signals from the GPS antenna, and that determines a position of the gateway device based on the received global positioning signals.

10. The gateway device of claim 1 , wherein, when the power interface is engaged to the power source interface, the gateway device is supported by the power source interface of at least one selected from the group of the power tool battery, the power tool battery charger, and the worksite audio device.

11. The gateway device of claim 1 , wherein the power interface includes a mechanical coupling mechanism on an exterior surface of the gateway, wherein the mechanical coupling mechanism is configured to engage the power source interface of the at least one selected from the group of the power tool battery, the power tool battery charger, and the worksite audio radio.

12. The gateway device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network module is configured to wirelessly receive, from the at least one power tool device, at least one of a group consisting of status data, usage data, and position data for the at least one power tool device.

13. A method of operating a gateway device including a power interface, a wireless network module, a cellular module, and a translation module coupled to the wireless network module and the cellular module, the method comprising:
selectively engaging the power interface with a power source interface of at least one selected from the group of a power tool battery, a power tool battery charger, and a worksite audio device;
wirelessly communicating, via the wireless network module, with a wireless network having at least one power tool device;
wirelessly communicating, via the cellular module, with a cellular network;
translating, by the translation module, wireless communications received from the wireless network via the wireless network module and providing the translated wireless communications to the cellular module for output to the cellular network; and
translating, by the translation module, cellular communications received from the cellular network via the cellular module and providing the translated cellular communications to the wireless network module for output to the wireless network.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one power tool device is one of a power tool and a power tool battery having a wireless module for communicating via the wireless network.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising releasably securing the gateway device, via a mechanical coupling mechanism, to the at least one of a power tool battery, power tool battery charger, and worksite audio device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mechanical coupling mechanism includes at least one of
a latching mechanism having a depressible releasing mechanism configured to release the power interface form the power source interface; and
a groove and rail system enabling the gateway device to slidingly engage the at least one of a power tool battery, power tool battery charger, and worksite audio device.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising
implementing the wireless network module, the cellular module, and the translation module in a controller included in the gateway device;
receiving a data cable coupled to an external device on a data port of the controller; and
communicating with an external device via the data port of the controller.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the power interface includes at least a positive power terminal, a negative power terminal, and a data terminal; and further comprising enabling communication, via the data terminal, between the gateway device and the at least one of a power tool battery, power tool battery charger, and worksite audio device.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the wireless network is a non-cellular network having communications at frequencies between one of: 902 to 928 MHz and 863 to 870 MHz.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein wireless communications output by the cellular module have a higher transmit power than communications output by the wireless network module.

21. The method of claim 13 , further comprising
receiving, via a global positioning unit (GPS) antenna, global positioning signals;
receiving, at a GPS unit that is coupled to the GPS antenna, the global positioning signals from the GPS antenna; and
determining, via the GPS unit, a position of the gateway device based on the

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Zeiler Jeffrey M
• Reading Leslie J

Classifications

• G01S2205/01

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• H04W4/021

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• H04W12/12 Primary

  Detection or prevention of fraud · CPC title

• H04W4/028

  Electricity · mapped topic