Adapter for power tool devices

• US 10,131,042 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Mergener, Matthew J., Stampfl, Burtrom Lee, Monteleone, Michael, Conrad, Cole A., Matson, Stephen, Hollis, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Kawing
• Application Number:
  US15/030,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20160311094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 318139
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 45/008 Gear boxes, clutches, bearings, feeding mechanisms or like equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 47/00 Constructional features of components specially designed for boring or drilling machines; Accessories therefor working-spindles, bearing sleeves therefor B23Q1/70; for machine tools in general B23Q
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/008 with automatic change-over from high speed-low torque mode to low speed-high torque mode
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/02 with means for imparting impact to screwdriver blade or nut socket
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1475 for impact wrenches or screwdrivers
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 16/006 Mode changers; Mechanisms connected thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2216/0015 Tools having a percussion-only mode
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2216/0023 Tools having a percussion-and-rotation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2216/0038 Tools having a rotation-only mode
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2250/005 Adjustable tool components; Adjustable parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2250/041 Cable management or routing of electrical cables and wires
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2250/221 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit

Abstract

An adapter for a power tool includes a housing, a tool-side connector, and a battery-side connector in electrical communication with each other. The tool-side connector is configured to couple to a power tool, and the battery-side connector is configured to couple to a battery pack. The adapter also includes a communication interface configured to couple with an external device, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a state of the power tool, operate in a data transmission mode when the power tool is in the idle state, operate in a pass-through mode when the power tool is in the active state, and switch between the data transmission mode and the pass-through mode based on the state of the power tool.

Claims

1. An adapter for a power tool, the adapter comprising

a housing;

a tool-side connector supported by the housing and configured to couple to a power tool, the tool-side connector including a plurality of contacts configured to couple to a device interface of the power tool, the plurality of contacts including a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact;

a battery-side connector supported by the housing and configured to couple to a battery pack, the battery-side connector in electrical communication with the tool-side connector;

a communication interface supported by the housing and configured to couple with an external device, the communication interface in electrical communication with the tool-side connector and the battery-side connector; and

a controller supported by the housing and coupled to the tool-side connector, the battery-side connector, and the communication interface, the controller configured to

determine a state of the power tool, wherein the state of the power tool is one of an active state in which an actuator of the power tool is in operation or an idle state during which the actuator is idle, and

operate in a data transmission mode, in which the adapter exchanges data between the external device and one of the power tool or the battery pack when the power tool is in the idle state,

operate in a pass-through mode, in which the adapter transfers power from the battery pack to the power tool when the power tool is in the active state,

switch between the data transmission mode and the pass-through mode based on the state of the power tool, and

determine that the power tool is in the active state when a power request signal is active at the third contact.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the battery-side connector includes terminals configured to couple to a power interface of the battery pack.

3. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the first contact is a positive power contact and the second contact is a negative power contact.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the tool-side connector replicates a power interface on the battery pack and the battery-side connector replicates a device interface on the power tool.

5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the tool-side connector is positioned on a first side of the housing and the battery-side connector is positioned on a second side of the housing opposite the first side of the housing.

6. The adapter of claim 5, wherein the communication interface includes a serial communication port.

7. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the housing has sidewall connecting the first side and the second side, and wherein the serial communication port is positioned on one of the sidewalls.

8. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the adapter is configured to receive power from the external device through the serial communication port, and wherein the adapter is configured to provide the power from the external device to the power tool.

9. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the communication interface includes a radio transceiver.

10. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the communication interface includes a serial communication port and a radio transceiver.

11. The adapter of claim 10, wherein the adapter communicates with the external device by selectively using the communication port and the radio transceiver;

and wherein the adapter further comprises a communication indicator supported by the housing, wherein the indicator indicates when the adapter is communicating with the external device using either of the communication port and the radio transceiver.

12. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to export tool usage data from a memory of the power tool to the external device and import configuration data from the external device to the power tool during the data transmission mode.

13. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to export usage data from a memory of the battery pack to the external device and import configuration data from the external device to the battery pack during the data transmission mode.

14. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter also includes a power switch to turn the adapter on and off, and wherein the adapter is configured to operate in the pass-through mode when the power switch indicates the adapter is off.

15. A method of operating a power tool including an adapter, the adapter including a tool-side connector configured to couple to the power tool, a battery-side connector configured to couple to a battery pack and a communication interface configured to couple with an external device, wherein the power tool is in one of an active state or an idle state, the method comprising:

determining, by the adapter, that the power tool is in the idle state;

exchanging data between the external device and one of the power tool or the battery pack when the power tool is in the idle state;

determining, by the adapter, that the power tool is requested to be in the active state; and

in response to determining that the power tool is requested to be in the active state, switching from exchanging data to transferring, by the tool-side connector and the battery-side connector, electrical power from the battery pack to the power tool to enter the power tool into the active state,

wherein during the active state a motor of the power tool is in operation and during the idle state, the motor is idle,

wherein the tool-side connector includes a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact, and wherein determining whether the power tool is in the active state includes detecting a power request signal at the third contact, and further comprising transferring electrical power to the power tool from one of the battery pack or the external device through the first contact and the second contact.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein transferring electrical power to the power tool includes determining whether the battery pack is coupled to the battery-side connector, and transferring electrical power, by the communication interface and the tool-side connector, from the external device when the battery pack is decoupled from the battery-side connector.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein exchanging data between the power tool and the external device includes exporting, by the tool-side connector, data from a memory of the power tool to the external device and importing, by the tool-side connector, configuration data from the external device to the power tool.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein exchanging data between the battery pack and the external device includes exporting, by the battery-side connector, data from a memory of the battery pack to the external device and importing, by the battery-side connector, configuration data from the external device to the battery pack.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising

disconnecting the adapter from the power tool;

connecting the tool-side connector to a battery charger; and

exchanging data between the battery charger and the external device via the adapter.

20. An adapter for a power tool, the adapter comprising:

a housing including a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a sidewall connecting the first side and the second side, wherein the sidewall is a front sidewall

a tool-side connector supported by the housing and positioned on the first side of the housing, the tool-side connector configured to couple to the power tool;

a latching mechanism supported by the housing, and positioned on the first side of the housing, the latching mechanism configured to secure the adapter to the power tool;

a battery-side connector supported by the housing and positioned on the second side of the housing, the battery-side connector configured to couple to a battery pack;

an indicator supported by the housing and positioned on the front sidewall of the housing, the indicator configured to provide an indication regarding communication between the adapter and an external device; and

a switch supported by the housing and positioned on the front sidewall of the housing.

21. The adapter of claim 20, wherein the switch is a power switch configured to turn the adapter on and off.

22. The adapter of claim 21, wherein the front sidewall of the housing includes an angled surface that is positioned adjacent and at an oblique angle with respect to the first side of the housing.

23. The adapter of claim 22, wherein the front sidewall of the housing also includes a perpendicular surface that is positioned adjacent the second side of the housing.

24. The adapter of claim 23, further comprising a radio transceiver supported by the housing.

25. The adapter of claim 20, further comprising a port supported by the housing and positioned on the front sidewall of the housing, the port configured to couple with an external device, and a cover positioned over the port, wherein the cover is hingedly coupled to the housing.

26. The adapter of claim 25, wherein the cover is pivotable between an open position in which the port is exposed and a closed position in which the port is covered, and when the port is in the closed position, the cover is flush with the front sidewall of the housing.

27. The adapter of claim 20, wherein the tool-side connector includes a plurality of contacts recessed within the housing and the battery-side connector includes a plurality of terminals extending outside the housing.

28. The adapter of claim 20, wherein the tool-side connector is further configured to be coupled to a battery charger to enable communication between the external device and the battery charger.

29. An adapter for a power tool, the adapter comprising

a housing;

a tool-side connector supported by the housing and configured to couple to a power tool;

a battery-side connector supported by the housing and configured to couple to a battery pack, the battery-side connector in electrical communication with the tool-side connector;

a communication interface supported by the housing and configured to couple with an external device, the communication interface in electrical communication with the tool-side connector and the battery-side connector; and

a controller supported by the housing and coupled to the tool-side connector, the battery-side connector, and the communication interface, the controller configured to

determine a state of the power tool, wherein the state of the power tool is one of an active state in which an actuator of the power tool is in operation or an idle state during which the actuator is idle, and

operate in a data transmission mode, in which the adapter exchanges data between the external device and one of the power tool or the battery pack when the power tool is in the idle state,

operate in a pass-through mode, in which the adapter transfers power from the battery pack to the power tool when the power tool is in the active state, and

switch between the data transmission mode and the pass-through mode based on the state of the power tool,

wherein the adapter also includes a power switch to turn the adapter on and off, and wherein the adapter is configured to operate in the pass-through mode when the power switch indicates the adapter is off.