Wireless Work-Tool Leveling System Using Accelerometer Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional leveling devices, such as bubble levels, are limited by the need for a clear view of the bubble, making them unusable at distances or angles where visibility is obstructed, and are often not integrated into work-tools due to cost constraints, which restricts their utility in various settings.
Innovation Solution
A positioning system that includes a device capable of coupling with work-tools, detecting leveling status, and wirelessly communicating this information to a display device for real-time visualization, allowing for robust positioning data generation and use across multiple tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bubble level device is used for leveling work-tools, then leveling functionality is provided, but the device becomes unusable when the view of the bubble is obstructed or at certain angles/distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical-mechanical bubble level system with an electronic sensing system using accelerometers or gyroscopes to detect tool orientation. This substitution eliminates the need for visual observation of bubbles, allowing digital readouts and wireless communication of leveling data to be viewed from any position, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing reliable leveling functionality and maintaining ease of operation in obstructed views.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary display device (smartphone, tablet, or dedicated display) that receives leveling data wirelessly from the tool. This intermediary allows the user to view leveling information from a comfortable distance and angle without needing to see a bubble directly, resolving the usability issue while maintaining accurate leveling functionality through the sensor-based measurement system.
2Measurement precision
If leveling devices are integrated into work-tools, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the cost becomes prohibitively expensive for numerous work-tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the leveling system into separate functional modules: a sensing module (accelerometer/gyroscope) that can be integrated into work-tools, and a display/processing module that can be shared across multiple tools via wireless communication. This segmentation allows the expensive sensing components to be used only where needed in tools, while the display and processing functions are externalized, reducing the per-tool cost and making widespread adoption feasible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal platform where a single display device can communicate with and display data from multiple different work-tools wirelessly. This multi-functionality allows one expensive display unit to serve multiple tools, effectively distributing the cost across several tools and making the integrated positioning capability economically viable for numerous work-tools.
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
Enables accurate and real-time leveling and positioning data visualization, enhancing usability in diverse settings by providing graphical representations of tool axes' leveling status, even in obstructed views, and facilitating data tracking and work-tool management.
Implementation Method 1
Leveling is the positioning of a plane of an object perpendicular to the gravitational axis of the earth; whereas a plane is plumb when it is parallel to the earth's gravitational axis
Data Source
AI summary
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.