IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,409,647
Granted Patent B2
US 11,409,647 · App. 16/856,425 · Granted Aug 9, 2022

Universal protocol for power tools

Inventor: Matthew J. Mergener (Mequon, WI)
Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
G06F12/023B25F5/00G06F8/65G06F9/44505H04L67/12H04L67/16H04L69/03H04L69/08G05B9/02G05B2219/25206G06F11/0796G06F13/409G06F2212/251
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,409,647
App. No.
16/856,425
Granted
Aug 9, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for communicating between motorized power tools includes establishing, using a physical interface of a first power tool, a wireless radio link between the first power tool and a second power tool. The first power tool has a first motor and the second power tool has a second motor. A signal is received over the wireless radio link, via the physical interface, at the first power tool from the second power tool using a first wireless communication protocol. The signal includes an identifier. The second power tool is verified as authorized to send the signal to the first power tool based on the identifier. A tool component of the first power tool is controlled responsive to the signal.

Claims (63)

1. A method for communicating between power tools, the method comprising:

establishing, using a physical interface of a first power tool, a wireless radio link between the first power tool and a second power tool, the first power tool having a first motor and the second power tool having a second motor;

receiving a signal over the wireless radio link, via the physical interface, at the first power tool from the second power tool using a first wireless communication protocol, the signal including an identifier;

verifying the second power tool is authorized to send the signal to the first power tool based on the identifier; and

controlling a tool component of the first power tool responsive to the signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the tool component is the first motor; and

controlling the tool component includes activating the first motor.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the tool component is the first motor; and

controlling the tool component includes disabling the first motor.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first power tool includes a memory, a portion of the memory being mapped to the tool component; and

the signal includes a write command including an address in the portion of the memory mapped to the tool component.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising:

placing the first power tool in a safe mode in response to the write command, wherein a motor of the first power tool is disabled when in the safe mode;

writing to the memory of the tool in accordance with the write command; and

exiting the safe mode upon completion of the write command.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first power tool is a vacuum.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the signal includes a security element; and

verifying the second power tool is authorized to send the signal includes verifying the second power tool is authorized to send the signal based on the identifier and the security element.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the tool component is at least one selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode configured to provide visual feedback, a speaker configured to provide audio feedback, and a vibrator configured to provide tactile feedback, and the signal includes an instruction to activate the tool component to provide feedback indicating a status of the tool.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the tool component of the first power tool responsive to the signal comprises:

generating a first command according to a first protocol based on the signal;

translating the first command from the first protocol to a universal protocol to generate a second command; and

controlling the tool component of the first power tool based on the second command.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising:

translating, by a controller, the second command from the universal protocol to a second to generate a third command execution by the tool component of the first power tool; and

executing the third command by the tool component.

11. A system for communicating messages between power tools, the system comprising:

a first power tool including a first motor and a first physical interface configured to transmit a signal over a wireless radio link, the signal including an identifier; and

a second power tool including a tool component, a second physical interface configured to receive the signal over the wireless radio link, and a controller configured to:

verify the first power tool is authorized to send the signal to the second power tool based on the identifier, and

control the tool component responsive to the signal.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein:

the tool component is a second motor; and

the controller is configured to activate the second motor responsive to the signal.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein:

the tool component is the second motor; and

the controller is configured to disable the second motor responsive to the signal.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein:

the second power tool includes a memory, a portion of the memory being mapped to the tool component; and

the signal includes a write command including an address in the portion of the memory mapped to the tool component.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to:

place the second power tool in a safe mode in response to the write command, wherein the second motor is disabled when in the safe mode;

write to the memory of the second tool in accordance with the write command; and

exit the safe mode upon completion of the write command.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second power tool is a vacuum.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein:

the signal includes a security element; and

the controller is configured to verify the first power tool is authorized to send the signal by verifying the first power tool is authorized to send the signal based on the identifier and the security element.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein:

the tool component is at least one selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode configured to provide visual feedback, a speaker configured to provide audio feedback, and a vibrator configured to provide tactile feedback, and the signal includes an instruction to activate the tool component to provide feedback indicating a status of the tool.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:

generate a first command according to a first protocol based on the signal;

translate the first command from the first protocol to a universal protocol to generate a second command; and

control the tool component of the second power tool based on the second command.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to:

translate the second command from the universal protocol to a second to generate a third command execution by the tool component of the first power tool; and

control the tool component based on the third command.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2020
From: MERGENER, MATTHEW J.
To: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052638/0669 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 15642474 · Jul 6, 2017
Continuation 15249961 · Aug 29, 2016
Continuation 14722513 · May 24, 2015
Continuation 13944751 · Jul 17, 2013
Provisional Application 61672530 · Jul 17, 2012
Related Publication 20200250081A1 · Aug 6, 2020