Smart hand tools with sensing and wireless capabilities, and systems and methods for using same
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorsThomas G. SHEEHE, Troy I. VANDERHOOF
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A smart hand tool includes a tool body having a distal working end and an opposite handle end configured to be gripped by a user, at least one sensor coupled to the tool body, and a wireless transmitter in communication with the at least one sensor and configured to transmit information from the at least one sensor to a remote device. The at least one sensor is configured to measure one or more physical parameters when the hand tool is in use, such as movement of the tool body working end, rotation of the tool body working end, torque at the tool body working end, pressure at the tool body working end, and temperature at the tool body working end.
Claims19
A hand tool, comprising:
- a tool body comprising a distal working end and an opposite handle end;
- at least one sensor coupled to the tool body and configured to measure at least one physical parameter at the working end when the hand tool is in use;
- and
- a wireless transmitter in communication with the at least one sensor and configured to transmit information from the at least one sensor to a remote device.
A system, comprising:
- a hand tool, comprising:
- a tool body comprising a distal working end and an opposite handle end;
- at least one sensor coupled to the tool body and configured to measure one or more physical parameters when the hand tool is used to perform a task having a sequence of operations;
- and
- a wireless transmitter in communication with the at least one sensor;
- and a computer, comprising:
- data storage configured to receive and store information from the at least one sensor via the wireless transmitter during performing of the task;
- and
- a processor configured to generate a digital map of the performing of the task using the stored information, wherein the digital map comprises instructions that can be utilized by a robot to perform the sequence of operations of the task.
13-20. (canceled)
A method of automating a manual task having a sequence of operations, the method comprising:
- using a hand tool to perform the manual task, wherein the hand tool comprises a tool body having a distal working end, and at least one sensor coupled to the tool body
- measuring, via the at least one sensor, one or more of the following during the task:
- movement of the tool body working end, rotation of the tool body working end, torque at the tool body working end, pressure at the tool body working end, and temperature at the tool body working end;
- wirelessly transmitting information from the at least one sensor during the task to data storage via a wireless transmitter in communication with the at least one sensor;
- storing the information in the data storage;
- and
- generating, via a processor, a digital map of the performing of the task using the stored information, wherein the digital map comprises instructions that can be utilized by a robot to perform the sequence of operations of the task.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.