Abstract: A calibration monitoring system is provided to automatically monitor the calibration status of tools and other inventory items, such as upon the items being issued from or returned to the automated calibration monitoring system. The system identifies an inventory item, for example a calibrated torque wrench or other calibrated tool identified based on a unique identifying tag attached thereto. The system retrieves a calibration parameter value for the item from a calibration database, and completes a calibration measurement of the item based on the calibration parameter value. In the example, a torque measurement of the calibrated torque wrench can thus be automatically completed. In turn, the system determines a current calibration status of the item based on the calibration measurement, and selectively enables or disables issuance of the inventory item from the system according to the item's status as being in calibration or out of calibration.

Abstract: An inventory control system comprises a tool storage device including a drawer, a tray, or a shelf having a plurality of storage locations for storing a plurality of objects which define a silhouette in the tool storage device. The inventory control system comprises a sensing device configured to sense color, a display device configured to display information about the inventory control system, and a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions causing the processor to determine a plurality of colors of the plurality of objects stored in the tool storage device, which also causes the processor to generate an image in the form of an arrangement of colored blocks, wherein the display of color blocks represent associated color data of the plurality of objects and a size of each color block is proportional to the percentage of RGB color data in the silhouette.

Abstract: The present application describes an automated inventory control system that comprises a storage device, a sensing system, a data storage, and one or more processors. The storage device includes a plurality of storage locations for storing objects. The sensing system is configured to associate the storage device with a first location and with a second location. The data storage is configured to store configurable data of the storage device. The one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the first location to the storage device in response to receiving information associating the storage device with the first location from the sensing system. In response to receiving information associating the storage device with the second location from the sensing system, the one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the second location to the storage device.

Abstract: An inventory control system for managing and transporting a subset of tools from a plurality of storage containers. Each of the plurality of storage containers can comprise a plurality of storage locations. Each storage location can store objects, wherein the objects can rest in a tray. Each storage location can comprise at least one image sensing device configured to capture image data of the plurality of storage locations. Each storage location can comprise a data processor configured to receive information representing captured images of the storage locations and data representing the usage or status of the objects associated with the images. The system can further comprise a portable container comprising a plurality of supplemental locations for storing the objects containers. The portable container can be configured to communicate with the plurality of storage locations and configured to reconcile objects shared between the portable container and the plurality of storage containers.

Abstract: A calibration monitoring system is provided to automatically monitor the calibration status of tools and other inventory items, such as upon the items being issued from or returned to the automated calibration monitoring system. The system identifies an inventory item, for example a calibrated torque wrench or other calibrated tool identified based on a unique identifying tag attached thereto. The system retrieves a calibration parameter value for the item from a calibration database, and completes a calibration measurement of the item based on the calibration parameter value. In the example, a torque measurement of the calibrated torque wrench can thus be automatically completed. In turn, the system determines a current calibration status of the item based on the calibration measurement, and selectively enables or disables issuance of the inventory item from the system according to the item's status as being in calibration or out of calibration.

Abstract: A calibration monitoring system is provided to automatically monitor the calibration status of tools and other inventory items, such as upon the items being issued from or returned to the automated calibration monitoring system. The system identifies an inventory item, for example a calibrated torque wrench or other calibrated tool identified based on a unique identifying tag attached thereto. The system retrieves a calibration parameter value for the item from a calibration database, and completes a calibration measurement of the item based on the calibration parameter value. In the example, a torque measurement of the calibrated torque wrench can thus be automatically completed. In turn, the system determines a current calibration status of the item based on the calibration measurement, and selectively enables or disables issuance of the inventory item from the system according to the item's status as being in calibration or out of calibration.

Abstract: The present application describes an automated inventory control system that comprises a storage device, a sensing system, a data storage, and one or more processors. The storage device includes a plurality of storage locations for storing objects. The sensing system is configured to associate the storage device with a first location and with a second location. The data storage is configured to store configurable data of the storage device. The one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the first location to the storage device in response to receiving information associating the storage device with the first location from the sensing system. In response to receiving information associating the storage device with the second location from the sensing system, the one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the second location to the storage device.

Abstract: An inventory control system comprises an object storage device, a display device, and one or more processors. The object storage device includes a plurality of compartments, in which each compartment has a plurality of storage locations for storing objects. The display device is configured to display information about the object storage device. The one or more processors are configured to establish a description database of objects configured for storage in the inventory control system. The one or more processors retrieve object keywords corresponding to objects stored in the plurality of storage locations of one of the plurality of compartments. The one or more processors also generate a text block based on the retrieved object keywords. On the display device, the one or more processors display a representation of the plurality of compartments of the object storage device with the text block applied to the one of the plurality of compartments.

Abstract: A calibration monitoring system is provided to automatically monitor the calibration status of tools and other inventory items, such as upon the items being issued from or returned to the automated calibration monitoring system. The system identifies an inventory item, for example a calibrated torque wrench or other calibrated tool identified based on a unique identifying tag attached thereto. The system retrieves a calibration parameter value for the item from a calibration database, and completes a calibration measurement of the item based on the calibration parameter value. In the example, a torque measurement of the calibrated torque wrench can thus be automatically completed. In turn, the system determines a current calibration status of the item based on the calibration measurement, and selectively enables or disables issuance of the inventory item from the system according to the item's status as being in calibration or out of calibration.

Abstract: An asset management system automatically generates and updates tool data stored in and used by the system for determining the presence or absence of tools or other inventory objects in the systems. The tool data can be automatically generated when a tool is newly added to the automated asset management system, and can be updated if and when characteristics of the tool and/or automated asset management system change. The automatic generation and updating includes automatically recognizing unique identifiers of tags located on inventory objects, automatically identifying an inventory object to associate with each unique identifier, and automatically populating a database to store each unique identifier in association with stored data for the corresponding inventory object.

Abstract: An automated asset management system includes a plurality of storage locations for storing objects, and first and second sensing subsystems each configured to sense presence or absence of the objects in the plurality of storage locations. The first and second sensing subsystems are used to sense the presence or absence of a same particular object using different respective sensing modalities. In operation, a first scan of the storage locations is performed using the first sensing subsystem, and the presence or absence of the particular object is determined using the first sensing modality. In turn, a second scan of the storage locations is performed using the second sensing subsystem, and the presence or absence of the particular object is confirmed using both the result of the determination made using the first sensing modality and a determination of the presence or absence of the particular object using the second sensing modality.

Abstract: The present application describes an automated inventory control system that comprises a storage device, a sensing system, a data storage, and one or more processors. The storage device includes a plurality of storage locations for storing objects. The sensing system is configured to associate the storage device with a first location and with a second location. The data storage is configured to store configurable data of the storage device. The one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the first location to the storage device in response to receiving information associating the storage device with the first location from the sensing system. In response to receiving information associating the storage device with the second location from the sensing system, the one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the second location to the storage device.

Abstract: The present application describes an automated inventory control system that comprises one or more storage devices containing a plurality of storage locations for storing objects and first and second predefined locations. The first and second predefined locations for receiving one or more objects includes a sensing system that is configured to sense when an object is deposited at the first and second predefined locations, respectively. The one or more processors are configured to automatically assign a first status to the object and cause transmission of an alert indicating the first status of the deposited object when an object is deposited at the first predefined location. The one or more processors are configured to track a plurality of transactions associated with the deposited object after a user checks the deposited object out of the first predefined location.

Abstract: An asset management system automatically generates and updates tool data stored in and used by the system for determining the presence or absence of tools or other inventory objects in the systems. The tool data can be automatically generated when a tool is newly added to the automated asset management system, and can be updated if and when characteristics of the tool and/or automated asset management system change. The automatic generation and updating includes automatically recognizing unique identifiers of tags located on inventory objects, automatically identifying an inventory object to associate with each unique identifier, and automatically populating a database to store each unique identifier in association with stored data for the corresponding inventory object.

Abstract: An automated tool control system provides both inventory control of items stored in the system and monitoring of the charging status of rechargeable inventory items such as tools and batteries stored in the system. For these purposes, the tool control system includes storage locations for storing tools and other inventory items, and the storage locations include at least one storage location located in a charger operative to charge a rechargeable tool, battery, or battery pack disposed therein. In operation, the tool control system may monitor the charging status of any tool, battery, or battery pack disposed in the storage location of the charger through monitoring of battery status indicators of the tool, battery, battery pack, or charger; through monitoring of current or voltage drawn by the tool, battery, battery pack, or charger; or through wired or wireless communication with a communication enabled tool, battery, battery pack, or charger.

Abstract: An automated asset management system includes a plurality of storage locations for storing objects, and first and second sensing subsystems each configured to sense presence or absence of the objects in the plurality of storage locations. The first and second sensing subsystems are used to sense the presence or absence of a same particular object using different respective sensing modalities. In operation, a first scan of the storage locations is performed using the first sensing subsystem, and the presence or absence of the particular object is determined using the first sensing modality. In turn, a second scan of the storage locations is performed using the second sensing subsystem, and the presence or absence of the particular object is confirmed using both the result of the determination made using the first sensing modality and a determination of the presence or absence of the particular object using the second sensing modality.

Abstract: An automated asset management system includes a plurality of storage locations for storing objects, and first and second sensing subsystems each configured to sense presence or absence of the objects in the plurality of storage locations. The first and second sensing subsystems are used to sense the presence or absence of a same particular object using different respective sensing modalities. In operation, a first scan of the storage locations is performed using the first sensing subsystem, and the presence or absence of the particular object is determined using the first sensing modality. In turn, a second scan of the storage locations is performed using the second sensing subsystem, and the presence or absence of the particular object is confirmed using both the result of the determination made using the first sensing modality and a determination of the presence or absence of the particular object using the second sensing modality.

Abstract: An inventory control device, such as an electronic toolbox, monitors the identity of battery packs that are mounted in the device and used to provide electrical power to the device. The device retrieves a unique identifier for each battery pack, and monitors the operation of each battery pack. The monitored data can be logged into memory for future use, communicated to a user of the inventory control device, and/or used to predict the future performance or replacement date for a battery pack. The monitored data can also be communicated across a communication network to an inventory control server that monitors the operation and performance of battery packs throughout an electronic tools control system including multiple toolboxes. The server can further track the operation and locations of battery packs through all of the toolboxes.

Abstract: An inventory control device, such as an electronic toolbox, monitors the identity of battery packs that are mounted in the device and used to provide electrical power to the device. The device retrieves a unique identifier for each battery pack, and monitors the operation of each battery pack. The monitored data can be logged into memory for future use, communicated to a user of the inventory control device, and/or used to predict the future performance or replacement date for a battery pack. The monitored data can also be communicated across a communication network to an inventory control server that monitors the operation and performance of battery packs throughout an electronic tools control system including multiple toolboxes. The server can further track the operation and locations of battery packs through all of the toolboxes.