Augmented Reality Tool Guidance for Work Piece Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The implementation of work plans for power tool usage is tedious, time-consuming, and prone to errors, as users manually transfer and execute plans without real-time guidance, leading to inaccuracies in precision and location during operations like cutting, drilling, or securing objects.

Innovation Solution

An augmented reality device equipped with a camera, projector, and electronic processor identifies power tools and work pieces using image analytics and wireless communication, projecting indications directly onto the work piece to guide users on the intended operation location, reducing the need for manual marking and enhancing precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If users manually transfer and execute work plans without real-time guidance, then the process requires minimal equipment, but accuracy in precision and location during operations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy in precision and locationVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an augmented reality device as an intermediary between the work plan and the user. This device includes a camera to capture images of the work piece, a processor to determine the intended operation and location, and a projector to display visual guidance overlaid on the work piece. This intermediary system bridges the gap between manual execution and precision requirements without requiring complete redesign of the workflow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical marking and measurement processes with an optical-digital system. Instead of physically measuring and marking locations with traditional tools, the system uses image capture, digital processing, and optical projection to provide precise location guidance directly in the user's field of view, substituting mechanical operations with optical and computational processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If users manually transfer work plans, then equipment complexity remains low, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime consumptionVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-determining the intended operation and location through image recognition and processing before the user executes the task. The augmented reality device captures the work piece image, processes it to identify the work piece type and intended operation, and pre-calculates the precise location where the operation should be performed, displaying this information before the user acts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces time-consuming manual transfer and interpretation of work plans with automated optical-digital processing. The system uses image capture, digital image analytics, and optical projection to instantly provide guidance, eliminating the manual steps of measuring, calculating, and marking that traditionally consumed time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If users manually transfer work plans, then equipment complexity is minimal, but error rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror rateVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by capturing images of the actual work piece, processing this visual information to determine the intended operation and location, and then displaying the determined location back to the user through projection. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the user can verify the correctness of the operation location before execution, reducing errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces error-prone manual transfer and interpretation processes with automated optical-digital systems that objectively analyze work piece images, identify operations and locations based on programmed logic, and provide precise visual guidance, eliminating human errors in measurement and marking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4312075A1Augmented reality device to indicate a plan for tool usage
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP
  • EP4312075A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4312075A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4312075A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An augmented reality device may include a camera configured to capture image data. The augmented reality device may also include a projector, and an electronic processor coupled to the camera and to the projector. The electronic processor may be configured to identify a power tool to be used by a user of the augmented reality device. The electronic processor may be further configured to identify, based on the image data captured by the camera, a work piece on which an operation of the power tool is intended to be performed. The electronic processor may be further configured to control the projector to project an indication that indicates a location on the work piece at which the operation of the power tool is intended to be performed.