Battery operated device and tag for a battery operated device

• US 9,547,965 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2016
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Stanley Works (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Stanley Works (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goren, Ori, Tsukran, Roi, Katz, Amir
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US15/232,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20160351033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 161 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/01 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2405 characterised by the tag technology used
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2454 Checking of authorisation of a person accessing tagged items in an EAS system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0291 Housing and user interface of child unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 Details

Abstract

A device tag including a housing that includes a first connector structure constructed and arranged to engage with a battery operated device and a second connector structure constructed and arranged to slidingly engage with a battery such that the device tag is provided between the battery operated device and the battery. The device tag also includes an electrical connector carried by the housing and constructed and arranged to provide an electrical connection between the battery operated device and the battery. The device tag further includes an electronic device carried by the housing and constructed and arranged to transmit electrical signals.

Claims

1. A power tool system, comprising:

a power tool;

a battery pack configured to provide power to the power tool;

a connector, the connector comprising;

a first connector structure configured to engage with the power tool and connect the connector to the power tool;

a second connector structure configured to engage with the battery pack and connect the connector to the battery pack; and

a transmitter configured to transmit wireless data signals to a separate control unit and to receive wireless data signals from the separate control unit;

wherein the connector is constructed and arranged to provide an electrical connection between the power tool and the battery pack; and

wherein the separate control unit is configured to send wireless data signals to the connector to control a function of the connector.

2. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein power from the battery pack is conducted through the connector to the power tool to provide power to the power tool.

3. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit and receive the wireless data signals according to a Bluetooth protocol.

4. The power tool system of claim 3, wherein the connector is configured to be selectively engaged and disengaged with the battery pack.

5. The power tool system of claim 4, wherein the connector further includes a controller connected to the transmitter.

6. The power tool system of claim 5, wherein the controller instructs the transmitter to send data about at least one of the power tool and the battery pack.

7. The power tool system of claim 3, wherein the power tool is configured such that it can alternatively be powered by the battery pack through the connector and directly by the battery pack without the connector connected between the battery pack and the power tool.

8. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the function comprises cutting off power from the battery pack to the power tool.

9. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the function comprises transmitting information related to a remaining charge of the battery pack.

10. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the separate control unit includes a user interface.

11. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the separate control unit includes one or more sensors.

12. A power tool system, comprising:

a power tool;

a battery pack configured to provide power to the power tool;

a connector, the connector comprising;

a first connector structure configured to engage with the power tool and connect the connector to the power tool;

a second connector structure configured to engage with the battery pack and connect the connector to the battery pack;

a transmitter configured to transmit and receive wireless data signals to and from a separate control unit; and

a controller;

wherein the connector constructed and arranged to provide an electrical connection between the power tool and the battery pack such that power from the battery pack is conducted through the connector to the power tool to provide power to the power tool; and

wherein the connector is configured to receive wireless data signals from the separate control unit and operate according to the received wireless data signals.

13. The power tool system according to claim 12, wherein the controller instructs the transmitter to send data about at least one of the power tool and the battery pack;

and

wherein the power tool is configured such that it can alternatively be powered by the battery pack through the connector and directly by the battery pack without the connector connected between the battery pack and the power tool.

14. The power tool system of claim 12, wherein the connector is configured to cut off to the power tool in response to the received wireless data signals.

15. The power tool system of claim 12, wherein connector is configured transmit information related to a remaining charge of the battery pack in response to the received wireless data signals.

16. The power tool system of claim 12, wherein the separate control unit includes a user interface.

17. The power tool system of claim 12, wherein the separate control unit includes one or more sensors.

18. The power tool system of claim 12, wherein the power tool is configured such that it can alternatively be powered by the battery pack through the connector and directly by the battery pack without the connector connected between the battery pack and the power tool.

19. The power tool system of claim 12, wherein the separate control unit includes a power supply, a controller, a memory and a user interface.

20. The power tool system of claim 12, wherein the connector includes a sensor which senses at least one of temperature, humidity, movement and shock.