System and method for communicating over power terminals in DC tools
First Claim
1. A method for communicating data between a cordless power tool and a host device, said method comprising:
- inserting the host device into a battery pack receptacle of the tool such that the host device is connected to at least one battery terminal of the tool;
entering a tool communications mode; and
transmitting data between the power tool and the host device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for unidirectionally or bi-directionally communicating information and data to and from an electronic module housed within a cordless power tool, over power terminals of the cordless power tool, while a battery pack of the tool is removed from the tool. A data transfer device is connected to at least one power terminal of the tool in place of the battery pack. The power terminal is also used for electrically connecting the battery pack to the tool during normal operation of the tool. A voltage supplied by the data transfer device to the tool is sequentially varied between a first level and a second level, in accordance with a predetermined communications protocol, to transmit data from electronic module of the tool to the data transfer device. A voltage signal applied to the electronic module of the tool is sequentially shifted between a first voltage and a second voltage to transmit data from the data transfer device to the tool. Thus, data can be transmitted between the tool and the data transfer device without requiring disassembly of the tool.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method for communicating data between a cordless power tool and a host device, said method comprising:
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inserting the host device into a battery pack receptacle of the tool such that the host device is connected to at least one battery terminal of the tool; entering a tool communications mode; and transmitting data between the power tool and the host device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of downloading data from a cordless power tool to a data receiving device, said method comprising:
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removing a battery pack from the power tool; connecting the data receiving device to the power tool in substantially the same manner as the battery pack is connected in the power tool, thereby connecting the data receiving device to at least one power terminal of the power tool used for connecting the tool to the battery pack during operation of the tool; sequentially alternating at least one of a voltage and a current supplied by the data receiving device to the tool between a first level and a second level to transmit data from the tool to the data receiving device; and storing the data transmitted from the tool to the data receiving device in a data reader. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of uploading data from a programming device to a cordless power tool, said method comprising:
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removing a battery pack from the power tool; connecting the programming device to the power tool in substantially the same manner as the battery pack is connected in the power tool, thereby connecting the programming device to at least one power terminal of the tool used for connecting the tool to a power supply during operation of the tool; sequentially alternating a voltage signal to a microcontroller of the tool between a first level and a second level to transmit data from the programming device to the tool; and storing the data transmitted from the programming device to the tool in a memory device of the tool. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for communicating data to and from a cordless power tool, said system comprising:
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a host device adapted to be interchangeable with a removable battery pack of the tool such that the host device is connected to at least one power terminal of the tool, wherein the battery pack is used to power the power tool during operation of the power tool; a first communications circuit included in the tool adapted to vary a voltage supplied by the host device to the tool between a first level and a second level to transmit data from the tool to the host device; and a second communications circuit included in the host device adapted to vary a voltage signal to a microcontroller of the tool between a first level and a second level to transmit data from the host device to the tool. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A cordless power tool adapted to communicate with a data transfer device, said tool comprising:
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a removable battery pack used to power the tool when the tool is in an operation mode; a battery pack receptacle adapted to interchangeably retain either the battery pack or a data transfer device; at least one power terminal within the receptacle adapted to connect to the battery pack when the tool is the operation mode and to the data transfer device when the tool is in a communications mode; and a first communications circuit housed within the power tool and connected to the power terminal, the first communications circuit adapted to communicate with the data transfer device over the power terminal. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method for communicating data between a cordless power tool and a host device, said method comprising:
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inserting the host device into a battery pack receptacle of the power tool such that the host device is connected to at least one battery terminal of the tool, wherein the battery pack receptacle is adapted to retain a removable battery pack during a tool operational mode; determining whether a power level provided by the host device to the tool is less than a predetermined threshold; entering a communications mode if the power level is less than the threshold; and transmitting data between the power tool and the host device upon entering the communications mode. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method for communicating data between a cordless power tool and a host device, where the cordless power tool has a receptacle with a power terminal connection, a removable battery pack adapted to attach to the receptacle to make electrical connection with the power terminal connection, and an internal module in communication with the power terminal connection, the method comprising:
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removing the battery pack from the receptacle of the tool; coupling at least a portion of a host device to the power terminal connection of the tool; and using the host device to facilitate transmission of information between the host device and the module in the tool. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
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Specification