Electronic torque tool with integrated real-time clock
Real-time clock circuitry integrated in an electronic torque tool facilitates time-stamping of torque data acquired by the electronic torque tool. The time stamped torque data may be displayed on a display integrated in the electronic torque tool or may be communicated to an external device. The real-time clock circuitry may be adjusted based on information received from an external device or may be manually input to a keypad of the electronic torque tool. A calibration timer integrated in the electronic torque tool monitors time between calibrations of the tool and notifies a user upon expiration of a calibration interval. A secondary power source is coupled to the real-time clock circuitry to maintain power to the real-time clock circuitry during battery replacement.
1. A torque tool adapted to apply torque to a work piece, comprising:
a processor;
a memory operably coupled to the processor;
a torque sensor operably coupled to the processor;
a real-time clock operably coupled to the processor;
a calibration reset switch operably coupled to the processor;
a calibration timeout indicator operably coupled to the processor, and
instructions stored in the memory, and executable by the processor to:
receive time data from the real-time clock;
initiate a time counter based on a reset signal from the calibration reset switch;
increment the time counter based on the time data; and
activate the calibration timeout indicator when the time counter reaches a predetermined time count.
2. The torque tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
first and second power circuitries coupled to the real-time clock, wherein the second power circuitry provides power to the real-time clock when the first power circuitry cannot provide power to the real-time clock.
3. The torque tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a keypad operably coupled to the processor; and
a display operably coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to further:
display a time set menu on the display; and
set a time in the clock circuitry based on a user input to the keypad.
4. The torque tool of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to further:
generate time-stamped torque measurement data that includes a time from the real-time clock when a torque measurement from the torque sensor is received by the processor.
5. The torque tool of claim 4 , further comprising:
a display operably coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to further display the time-stamped torque measurement data on the display.
6. The torque tool of claim 4 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to further store the time-stamped torque measurement data in the memory.
7. The torque tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
an interface coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to further set a time in the real-time clock circuitry based on input from an external device via the interface circuitry.
8. The torque tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
an interface operably coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to further communicate the time-stamped torque measurement data to an external device via the interface.
9. The torque tool of claim 8 , wherein the interface includes a transceiver configured for wireless communication with the external device.
10. A method of measuring an amount of torque applied to a work piece by a tool, comprising:
measuring the amount of torque applied to the work piece by the tool to generate a torque measurement;
generating a time stamp with a real-time clock circuitry operably coupled to the tool representing a time the torque measurement was measured, thereby creating time-stamped torque measurement data that includes the time stamp and torque measurement;
storing the time-stamped torque measurement data in a memory operably coupled to the tool;
initiating a time counter after calibration of the tool is performed;
incrementing the time counter by the real-time clock circuitry; and
activating a calibration timeout indicator when the time counter reaches a calibration time limit.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
displaying the time-stamped torque measurement data on a display operably coupled to the tool.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
displaying a time set menu on a display operably coupled to the tool; and
setting a time in the real-time clock circuitry based on an input to a keypad operably coupled to the tool.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving, by the tool, a clock setting from an external device; and
setting the real-time clock circuitry based on the clock setting.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
coupling an external device to an interface of the tool; and
communicating the time-stamped torque measurement data to the external device via the interface.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
displaying the calibration time limit on a calibration menu on a display operably coupled to the tool; and
setting the calibration time limit based on an input to a keypad operably coupled to the tool.
16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving, by the tool, a calibration time limit setting from an external device; and
adjusting the calibration time limit based on the calibration time limit setting.
17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
storing a time the calibration was performed in the memory; and
displaying the time the calibration was performed on a display operably coupled to the tool.
18. A torque measuring system, comprising:
a processor;
a memory operably coupled to the processor;
a torque sensor circuitry operably coupled to the processor;
a real-time clock circuitry operably coupled to the processor;
first and second power circuitries operably coupled to the real-time clock circuitry, wherein the second power circuitry provides power to the real-time clock circuitry when the first power circuitry cannot provide power to the real-time clock circuitry;
a keypad operably coupled to the processor;
a display operably coupled to the processor;
a calibration reset switch operably coupled to the processor;
a calibration timeout indicator operably coupled to the processor; and
instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to:
receive time data from the real-time clock circuitry;
generate time-stamped torque measurement data that includes a time from the real-time clock circuitry when a torque measurement from the torque sensor circuitry is received by the processor;
store the time-stamped torque measurement data in the memory;
display a time set menu on the display;
set the real-time clock circuitry based on a user input to the keypad;
initiate a time counter based on a reset signal from the calibration reset switch;
increment the time counter based on the time data; and
activate the calibration timeout indicator when the time counter reaches a predetermined time count; and
an external device operably coupled to the torque tool and including a user interface configured for facilitating the downloading the time-stamped torque measurement data.