Wearable Sensor for Power Tool Status Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wearable devices for detecting the operational status of hand-held power tools are not reliable or easy to use, particularly in environments like car body repair or vehicle detailing where coordination with vacuum cleaners is necessary.

Innovation Solution

A wearable device in the form of a glove, bracelet, or ring with a support structure and integrated sensor devices that detect the operational status of power tools, including vibration, temperature, and rotational speed, and generate sensor signals for output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a wearable device is worn on the hand while holding a power tool, then the device can detect operational status, but the device may interfere with the user's grip or hand movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidhand operation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wearable device is segmented into multiple independent sensor units distributed across the hand structure, allowing each sensor to detect specific operational parameters independently while minimizing interference with the overall grip and hand movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor elements are integrated within the structure of the hand-held device itself, nesting the detection functionality inside the existing form factor, which eliminates additional bulk that would interfere with gripping while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Measurement precision

If multiple sensor devices are integrated into the wearable device to detect various operational statuses, then the detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational status detection precisionVSAvoidwearable device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single integrated sensor unit is designed to perform multiple detection functions simultaneously, measuring vibration, temperature, and operational status through one unified device rather than requiring separate sensors for each parameter, thereby reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple sensor functions are merged into a single integrated sensor element that can detect various operational parameters through combined measurement mechanisms, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining comprehensive detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the wearable device is designed to be compact and lightweight, then the ease of wearing is improved, but the battery capacity and sensor accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewearing comfortVSAvoidsensor detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The wearable device utilizes flexible thin-film sensor technology that maintains high detection accuracy while being extremely lightweight and conformable to the hand structure, ensuring wearing comfort is not compromised by weight or bulk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor elements are designed with optimized physical parameters and high sensitivity characteristics that enable accurate detection despite the compact form factor, maintaining measurement precision while minimizing device size and weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The wearable device provides accurate and reliable detection of power tool operational status, enabling coordinated operation with external devices like vacuum cleaners, and allowing for proactive maintenance and improved user safety.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one sensor device is configured to detect vibrations of the wearable device caused by the power tool during intended use

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP4537987A1Wearable device, power tool system comprising a hand-held power tool and such a wearable device, and electronic appliance system comprising an electronic appliance and such a wearable device

Publication Date: 2025.04.16 VALENTINI GUIDO (I) (IT)

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AI summary

The invention refers to a wearable device (200), comprising a wearable device (200) in the form of a glove (202) or a bracelet (204) or a ring (206), adapted to be worn by a user of a hand-held power tool (100) on or close to a hand (10) of the user while holding the power tool (100) with that hand (10). It is suggested that the wearable device (200) comprises a support structure (212; 214; 218) adapted to be releasably attached to the user's hand (10) and at least one sensor device (208) held by the support structure (212; 214; 218) and configured to detect an operational status of the power tool (100) held by the user during intended use of the power tool (100) and further configured to generate and output at least one sensor signal (210) indicative of the detected operational status of the power tool (100).