Universal protocol for power tools

• US 10,671,521 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2017
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anyan, Barbara B
• Application Number:
  US15/642,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20170300406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• 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: G05B 2219/25206 Protocol: only devices with changed states communicate their states, event
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0796 Safety measures, i.e. ensuring safe condition in the event of error, e.g. for controlling element
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/023 Free address space management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/251 Local memory within processor subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/03 Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A system and method for communicating with power tools using a universal protocol. The universal protocol may be implemented using a universal core module that is installed across a variety of power tools and other devices to enable communications therewith. Communications to and from the power tools are translated to a universal protocol once received. The translated communications are handled by the universal core module of a particular tool according to a set of rules. In response, the universal core module outputs communications according to the universal protocol and the set of rules, which may be translated to another protocol for receipt by components of the tool or an external device. The communications may be used, for example, to obtain tool performance data from the tools and to provide firmware updates.

Claims

1. A method for communicating commands between motorized power tools, the method comprising:

establishing, using a physical interface of a first power tool, a wireless radio link between the first power tool and a second power tool, the first power tool having a first motor and the second power tool having a second motor;

receiving a command over the wireless radio link, via the physical interface, at the first power tool from the second power tool using a first wireless communication protocol;

translating, by a controller of the first power tool, the command from the first protocol to a universal protocol;

translating, by the controller, the command to a second protocol for execution by a tool component of the first power tool, wherein the second protocol is a protocol usable by the tool component; and

executing the command by the tool component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the command comprises an identifier and a security element, and

the method further comprises the first power tool verifying that the second power tool is authorized to issue the command by processing the identifier and security element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the command comprises an instruction to activate the tool component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the tool component is the first motor, and the command comprises an instruction to disable the first motor of the first power tool.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the tool component is the first motor, and the command comprises an instruction to activate the first motor of the first power tool.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the tool component is at least one selected from the group consisting of an light emitting diode configured to provide visual feedback, a speaker configured to provide audio feedback, and a vibrator configured to provide tactile feedback, and the command comprises an instruction to activate the tool component to provide feedback indicating a status of the tool.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the command comprises a request for data reflecting a status of the first power tool to be sent to the second power tool.

8. A system for communicating messages, the system comprising:

an external device including a first wireless communication interface configured to transmit a message, the external device being a power tool and including a motor; and

a vacuum including

a second wireless communication interface configured to receive the message from the external device, wherein the message is communicated using a first protocol shared between the external device and the vacuum,

a motor, and

a controller coupled to the second communication interface and the motor, the controller configured to;

receive the message;

translate the message to generate a command; and

control the motor based on the command.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the message comprises an identifier and a security element, and

the system further comprises instructions for verifying that the external device is authorized to issue the message by processing the identifier and security element.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the message comprises an instruction to the vacuum to drive the motor.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the message comprises an instruction to the vacuum to slow the motor of the electrical device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the message further comprises a request for data reflecting a status of the vacuum to be sent to the external device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein translating the message to identify a command comprises:

translating the message from the first protocol to a universal protocol.

14. The system of claim 13, where, in addition to the vacuum implementing the universal protocol, the system further comprises a plurality of electromechanical devices of varying types selected from the group consisting of power tools, battery packs, battery chargers, test and measurement equipment, work site radios, and outdoor power equipment, the plurality of electromechanical devices also configured to implement the universal protocol.

15. A method for communicating messages between electromechanical devices, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting, by a first wireless communication interface of a power tool, a message; and

receiving the message, by a second wireless communication interface of an electrical device selected from the group consisting of a work site radio, a camera, a vacuum, and a worklight, the message being communicated using a first protocol that is shared between the electrical device and the power tool,

receiving, by a controller of the electrical device, the message via the second wireless communication interface;

translating, by the controller, the message to generate a command; and

controlling, by the controller, an electrical component of the electrical device based on the command.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein controlling the electrical component based on the command includes at least one selected from the group consisting of disabling the electrical component and activating the electrical component.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the electrical device is the work site radio, and the electrical component includes a speaker.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the electrical device is the worklight, and the electrical component includes a light emitting diode.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein translating the message to generate the command comprises:

translating the message from the first protocol to a universal protocol, the command being in accordance with the universal protocol.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the electrical device is the vacuum, the electrical component is a motor, and the command causes the vacuum to activate or deactivate the motor.