# US 11,440,175 B2 · Multi-modal sensing for power tool user interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,175 B2 - Document ID: US11440175B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/474,967 - Filed: 2018-01-03 - Published: 2019-11-14 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-04 - Assignees: Interlink Electronics, Inc. - Applicants: Interlink Electronics, Inc. - Inventors: Chee Wai Lu; Wai Jye Chan; Kok Keong Law; Cheng Seong Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440175B2 ## CPC - B25F 5/00: Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for - B25F 5/02: Construction of casings, bodies or handles {(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)} - G01L 5/22: for measuring the force applied to control members, e.g. control members of vehicles, triggers - G06V 40/28: {Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language (static hand signs G06V40/113)} - G08B 21/18: Status alarms (G08B21/02 takes precedence) - B25B 21/00: Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; (details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; {for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006}); Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose (machines B23P19/06) - B25F: COMBINATION OR MULTI-PURPOSE TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DETAILS OR COMPONENTS OF PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS NOT PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS PERFORMED AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR {(machines or arrangements of machines for performing specified combinations of different metal-working operations not covered by a single other subclass B23P23/00 and subgroups)} - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING ## Abstract A method may include receiving data from one or more sensing elements associated with a power tool. The method may also include measuring the detected data. The method may further include computing one or more data parameters based on the measuring. The method may include determining whether to permit operation of the power tool based on the data parameters. The method may further include permitting operation of the power tool when the data parameters satisfy an operation condition. The method may also include altering operation of the power tool when the data parameters does not satisfy the operation condition by performing at least one of: generating an alarm, or preventing operation of the power tool. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: obtaining data from one or more hardware sensing elements associated with a power tool, the one or more hardware sensing elements comprising at least one pressure sensor; computing one or more data parameters based on the data, one of the data parameters including a first force profile that indicates a user grip on the power tool; permitting operation of the power tool in response to the data parameters, including the one of the data parameters, satisfying an operation condition; determining a second force profile applied to an activation switch of the power tool; when operation of the power tool is permitted, activating operation of the power tool in response to the second force profile satisfying an activation force associated with a selected user profile of a plurality of user profiles associated with the power tool, wherein at least two of the plurality of user profiles include different activation forces; detecting a change in the data received from the one or more hardware sensing elements; computing one or more updated data parameters based on the change in the data received from the one or more hardware sensing elements; and altering operation of the power tool in response to the updated data parameters not satisfying the operation condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data received from the one or more hardware sensing elements associated with the power tool includes environmental data describing an environmental surrounding the power tool, wherein the environmental data is used to compute the one or more data parameters. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the updated data parameter describes the user grip on the power tool or a spatial orientation of the power tool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein operation of the power tool is activated in response to the first force profile indicating proper gripping of the power tool. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the first force profile indicates proper gripping of the power tool based on sensing gripping with respect to each finger of a hand of the user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a haptic feedback signal based on the first force profile indicating proper gripping of the power tool. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data received from the one or more hardware sensing elements associated with the power tool includes a current spatial orientation of the power tool. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an alert to a remote device over a network in response to the updated data parameters not satisfying the operation condition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change in the data received from the one or more hardware sensing elements includes detecting a change in the first force profile, the change in the first force profile indicative of an improper grip on the power tool. ### Claim 10 A non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded therein programming code executable by a processor to perform operations comprising: obtaining data from one or more hardware sensing elements associated with a power tool, the one or more hardware sensing elements comprising at least one pressure sensor; computing one or more data parameters based on the data, one of the data parameters including a first force profile that indicates a user grip on the power tool; permitting operation of the power tool in response to the data parameters including the one of the data parameters, satisfying an operation condition; determining a second force profile applied to an activation switch of the power tool; when operation of the power tool is permitted, activating operation of the power tool in response to the second force profile satisfying an activation force associated with a selected user profile of a plurality of user profiles associated with the power tool, wherein at least two of the plurality of user profiles include different activation forces; detecting a change in the data received from the one or more hardware sensing elements; computing one or more updated data parameters based on the change in the data, including the change in the data indicative of motion of the power tool, received from the one or more hardware sensing elements; and altering operation of the power tool in response to the updated data parameters not satisfying the operation condition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the data received from the one or more hardware sensing elements associated with the power tool includes environmental data describing an environmental surrounding the power tool, wherein the environmental data is used to compute the one or more data parameters. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the updated data parameter describes the user grip on the power tool or a spatial orientation of the power tool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein operation of the power tool is activated in response to the first force profile indicating proper gripping of the power tool. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising generating a haptic feedback signal based on the first force profile indicating proper gripping of the power tool. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the data received from the one or more hardware sensing elements associated with the power tool includes a current spatial orientation of the power tool. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising send an alert to at least one remote device in real-time over a network in view of the change in the data. ### Claim 17 A system, comprising: a memory storing instructions; and a processing device operatively coupled to the memory, the processing device being configured to execute the instructions to cause the system to perform operations comprising: obtain data from one or more sensing elements associated with a power tool, the one or more sensing elements comprising at least one pressure sensor; compute one or more data parameters based on the data, one of the data parameters including a first force profile that indicates a user grip on the power tool; permit operation of the power tool in response to the data parameters including the one of the data parameters, satisfying an operation condition; determine a second force profile applied to an activation switch of the power tool; when operation of the power tool is permitted, activate operation of the power tool in response to the second force profile satisfying an activation force associated with a selected user profile of a plurality of user profiles associated with the power tool, wherein at least two of the plurality of user profiles include different activation forces; detect a change in the data received from the one or more sensing elements; compute one or more updated data parameters based on the change in the data received from the one or more sensing elements; and alter operation of the power tool in response to the updated data parameters not satisfying the operation condition. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the data received from the one or more sensing elements associated with the power tool includes environmental data describing an environmental surrounding the power tool, wherein the environmental data is used to compute the one or more data parameters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the updated data parameter describes the user grip on the power tool or a spatial orientation of the power tool. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein operation of the power tool is activated in response to the first force profile indicating proper gripping of the power tool. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, further comprising wherein the operations further comprise generate a haptic feedback signal based on the first force profile indicating proper gripping of the power tool. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the data received from the one or more sensing elements associated with the power tool includes a current spatial orientation of the power tool. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, further comprising send an alert to at least one remote device in real-time over a network in view of the change in the data.