IP Library Granted Patent US 8,869,412
Granted Patent B2
US 8,869,412 · App. 13/623,781 · Granted Oct 28, 2014

Work-tool positioning system and method

Inventors: Richard S. Schubert (Vashon Island, WA); Robert P. Donker (Vashon Island, WA)
Assignee: OTL Dynamics LLC
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,869,412
App. No.
13/623,781
Granted
Oct 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

One embodiment includes a positioning device configured to couple with a first work-tool device coupling portion, receive an indication of coupling with a first work-tool, detect a first leveling status of the positioning device, wirelessly communicate the detected first leveling status of the positioning device, couple with a second work-tool device coupling portion, receive an indication of coupling with a second work-tool, detect a second leveling status of the positioning device and wirelessly communicate the detected second leveling status of the device. An embodiment may further include a display device configured to wirelessly receive a first leveling status from the positioning device, display a first work-tool working-axis leveling status based on the first leveling status, wirelessly receive a second leveling status from the positioning device, and display a second work-tool working-axis leveling status based on the second leveling status.

Claims (73)

1. A positioning system, the system comprising:

a first work-tool comprising:

a first work-tool working-axis; and

a first work-tool device coupling portion having a first holding orientation axis relative to the first work-tool working-axis,

a second work-tool comprising:

a second work-tool working-axis; and

a second work-tool device coupling portion having a second holding orientation axis relative to the first work-tool working-axis,

a positioning device configured to:

couple with the first work-tool device coupling portion;

receive an indication of coupling with the first work-tool;

detect a first leveling status of the device;

wirelessly communicate the detected first leveling status of the device;

couple with the second work-tool device coupling portion;

receive an indication of coupling with the second work-tool;

detect a second leveling status of the device; and

wirelessly communicate the detected second leveling status of the device, and

a display device configured to:

wirelessly receive a first leveling status from the positioning device;

display a first work-tool working-axis leveling status based on the first leveling status;

wirelessly receive a second leveling status from the positioning device; and

display a second work-tool working-axis leveling status based on the second leveling status.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first work-tool device coupling portion is a portion of a battery pack configured to removably couple with and power the first work-tool.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first work-tool is configured to automatically provide the positioning device a first work-tool indicator when coupled with the positioning device, the first work-tool indicator being associated with a spacial relationship between the first work-tool working-axis and the first holding orientation axis.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the positioning device comprises a device housing, wherein the first work-tool comprises a housing, and wherein a portion of the device housing corresponds to a portion of the first work-tool housing, the portion of the first work-tool housing comprising the first work-tool device coupling portion.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the display device comprises a display device housing, and wherein the portion of the portion of the device housing corresponding to a portion of the first work-tool housing also corresponds to a portion of the display device housing.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the display device and positioning device are configured to operably couple via the corresponding portions of the display housing and device housing.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the display device comprises:

a base;

a plurality of sidewalls extending from the base,

a display cavity defined by the base and the sidewalls display cavity;

a display disposed within a portion of the base and within the display cavity.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the positioning device is configured to sense temperature.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the positioning device is configured to detect a leveling status, a location status, and a rotation status.

10. A method of work-tool positioning, the method comprising:

coupling a positioning device with a first work-tool at a first work-tool device coupling portion having a first work-tool device coupling portion axis;

receiving at the positioning device an indication of coupling with the first work-tool;

detecting by the positioning device a first leveling status of the positioning device about a first positioning device axis;

communicating the detected first leveling status of the device to a display device;

displaying at the display device an indication of the a leveling status of a first work-tool axis of the first work tool based on the detected first leveling status;

decoupling the positioning device from the first-work tool;

coupling the positioning device with a second work-tool at a second work-tool device coupling portion having a second work-tool device coupling portion axis;

receiving at the positioning device an indication of coupling with the second work-tool;

detecting by the positioning device a second leveling status of the positioning device about the first device axis;

communicating the detected second leveling status of the positioning device to a display device; and

displaying at the display device an indication of the a leveling status of a second work-tool axis of the second work tool based on the detected first leveling status.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein coupling the positioning device with a first work-tool at a first work-tool device coupling portion comprises:

coupling the positioning device with rechargeable battery pack comprising the first work-tool device coupling portion; and

coupling the battery pack with the first work-tool at a battery pack coupling portion.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the positioning device receiving first work-tool identification data while coupled with the first work tool, the first work-tool identification data corresponding to a relationship between the first work-tool device coupling portion axis and the first work-tool axis.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising communicating the first and second leveling status from the positioning device to the display device via a first local wireless network.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising communicating the first and second leveling status from the display device to a remote device via second wireless network that is different from the first local wireless network.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising the display device obtaining work-tool identification data corresponding to a relationship between the first work-tool device coupling portion axis and the first work-tool axis.

16. A positioning system, the system comprising:

a first work-tool comprising:

a first work-tool working-axis; and

a first work-tool device coupling portion having a first holding orientation axis relative to the first work-tool working-axis,

a second work-tool comprising:

a second work-tool working-axis; and

a second work-tool device coupling portion having a second holding orientation axis relative to the first work-tool working-axis,

a positioning device configured to:

couple with the first work-tool device coupling portion;

receive an indication of coupling with the first work-tool;

detect a first positioning status of the device;

wirelessly communicate the detected first positioning status of the device;

couple with the second work-tool device coupling portion;

receive an indication of coupling with the second work-tool;

detect a second positioning status of the device; and

wirelessly communicate the detected second positioning status of the device, and

a display device configured to:

wirelessly receive a first positioning status from the positioning device;

display a first work-tool working-axis positioning status based on the first positioning status;

wirelessly receive a second positioning status from the positioning device; and

display a second work-tool working-axis positioning status based on the second positioning status.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2014
From: SCHUBERT, RICHARD S; DONKER, RICHARD P
To: OTL DYNAMICS LLC
Reel/Frame 033829/0234 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2014
From: SCHUBERT, RICHARD S; DONKER, ROBERT P
To: OTL DYNAMICS LLC
Reel/Frame 032740/0467 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140075768A1 · Mar 20, 2014