Granted Patent B2

US 12,350,807 · App. 18/512,164 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Inventor: Matthew J. Mergener (Mequon, WI)

Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation

B25F5/00G06F8/65G06F9/44505G06F12/023H04L67/12H04L67/51H04L69/03H04L69/08G05B9/02G05B2219/25206G06F11/0796G06F13/409G06F2212/251

Abstract

Claims (33)

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

a first power tool including a first communication interface configured to transmit a message, the first power tool powered via a first power platform;

a first controller coupled to the first communication interface and executing a universal core module;

a second power tool including a second communication interface configured to receive the message, the second power tool powered via a second power platform different from the first power platform; and

a second controller coupled to the second communication interface and executing the universal core module, the second controller configured to

receive the message,

translate the message using the universal core module, and

operate the second power tool based on the message.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first power platform includes one of an alternating current (AC) power source and a direct current (DC) power source.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second power platform includes one of an alternating current (AC) power source and a direct current (DC) power source.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first power platform and the second power platform include two selected from a group of a 4 volt battery pack, a 12 volt battery pack, an 18 volt battery pack, a 28 battery pack, and a 36 voltage battery pack.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first communication interface is a wireless interface.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the message includes an identifier and a security element, wherein the second controller is further configured to verify the first power tool is authorized to issue the message by processing the identifier and security element.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the message includes an instruction to activate a tool component of the second power tool.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the tool component is a motor.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the message includes an instruction to disable a tool component of the second power tool.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein tool component is a motor.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second controller is configured to operate the second power tool based on the message by performing at least one selected from a group consisting of providing visual feedback via a light emitting diode, provide audio feedback via a speaker, and providing tactile feedback via a vibrator.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the message includes a request for data of the second power tool.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second controller is configured to operate the second power tool based on the message by transmitting a second message translated via the universal core module.

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

establishing a communication link between a first power tool and a second power tool, the first power tool powered via a first power platform and the second power tool powered via a second power platform different from the first power platform;

receiving, at the first power tool from the second power tool, a message over the communication link;

translating, by a controller of the first power tool executing a universal core module, the message to a format usable by the first power tool; and

operating a motor of the first power tool based on the message.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein operating the first power tool based on the message includes transmitting a second message, translated via the universal core module, to the second power tool over the communication link, the second power tool including a second controller configured to execute the universal core module to translate the second message.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein translating the message to a format usable by the first power tool includes:

translating the message from a first protocol to a universal protocol; and

translating the message in the universal protocol to a second protocol usable by the motor of the first power tool.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first power platform includes one of an alternating current (AC) power source and a direct current (DC) power source.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second power platform includes one of an alternating current (AC) power source and a direct current (DC) power source.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first power platform and the second power platform include two selected from a group of a 4 volt battery pack, a 12 volt battery pack, an 18 volt battery pack, a 28 battery pack, and a 36 voltage battery pack.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the message includes an instruction to at least one of activate and disable the motor of the first power tool.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (8)

References Cited (263)