Power Tool Wireless Connection via Mobile Signal Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power tools lack efficient methods for wireless communication and connection with mobile devices, making it difficult to manage and configure tools within a crowded environment.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that enables a mobile device to connect with power tools through short-range advertisements, determining signal strength, and establishing connections based on proximity, allowing for inventory management, configuration, and security settings to be sent to the power tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If power tools use wireless communication to connect with mobile devices, then ease of operation and inventory management are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional communication components and protocols

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of connectionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the communication functionality into separate modules: the power tool contains a transceiver and identifier, while the mobile device contains the processing logic, inventory management system, and user interface. This segmentation allows the power tool to remain relatively simple while enabling sophisticated wireless connectivity through the mobile device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the user and the power tool. Instead of requiring complex interfaces on the power tool itself, the mobile device handles the complexity of wireless communication protocols, signal strength measurement, and connection management, simplifying the power tool design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system uses signal strength measurement to establish connections, then reliability of connection is improved by ensuring proximity, but loss of time increases due to the additional step of measuring and comparing signal strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidconnection time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs signal strength measurement as part of the connection establishment process before final connection is made. By measuring signal strength in advance and comparing it to a threshold, the system ensures that only properly proximate devices connect, improving reliability while keeping the time overhead minimal through efficient threshold comparison.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the mobile device transmits short-range advertisements continuously, then productivity of device discovery is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice discovery speedVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous transmission, the mobile device transmits short-range advertisements periodically or on-demand. The transceiver sends advertisements that contain device identifiers, allowing power tools to be discovered when needed while conserving energy during periods when no connection is being established.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3975589A1System and method for establishing a wireless connection between power tool and mobile device
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORP
  • EP3975589A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3975589A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3975589A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and method for cooling a gas using a mixed refrigerant includes a compressor system and a heat exchange system, where the compressor system may include an interstage separation device or drum with no liquid outlet, a liquid outlet in fluid communication with a pump that pumps liquid forward to a high pressure separation device or a liquid outlet through which liquid flows to the heat exchanger to be subcooled. In the last situation, the subcooled liquid is expanded and combined with an expanded cold temperature stream, which is a cooled and expanded stream from the vapor side of a cold vapor separation device, and subcooled and expanded streams from liquid sides of the high pressure separation device and the cold vapor separation device, or combined with a stream formed from the subcooled streams from the liquid sides of the high pressure separation device and the cold vapor separation device after mixing and expansion, to form a primary refrigeration stream.