Battery operated device and tag for a battery operated tool

• US 9,672,708 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Stanley Works Israel, Ltd. (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Stanley Works Israel, Ltd. (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goren, Ori, Katz, Amir, Tsukran, Roi
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US15/373,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20170098355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 180 Days
• 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;

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

a first terminal structure carried by the housing electrically contacting electrical connectors of the battery powered device;

a second terminal structure carried by the housing electrically contacting electrical connectors of the battery;

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

an actuator for prompting the transmitter to transmit wireless data signals to the separate control unit when the actuator is actuated;

wherein the connector is located between the power tool and the battery pack and the transmitter is part 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 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.

9. The power tool system of claim 8, wherein the connector is configured to slidingly connect to the power tool along a first axis;

wherein when the connector is connected to the power tool, the battery pack is configured to slidingly connect to the connector along a second axis; and

wherein the first axis is parallel to the second axis.

10. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to slidingly connect to the power tool along a first axis;

wherein when the connector is connected to the power tool, the battery pack is configured to slidingly connect to the connector along a second axis; and

wherein the first axis is parallel to the second axis.

11. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises a latch for securing the connector to the power tool.

12. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the battery pack further comprises a latch for securing the battery pack to the connector.

13. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the connector further includes a controller.

14. The power tool system of claim 13, wherein the connector further includes a memory.

15. The power tool system of claim 13, wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor.

16. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the power tool comprises at least one of a drill, a nailer, and a saw.

17. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the first terminal structure is electrically connected to the second terminal structure.

18. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the first terminal structure is electrically connected to the second terminal structure via wire.

19. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a movement sensor.

20. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit wireless data signals to the separate control unit to indicate a status of at least one of the battery pack, the connector and the power tool.