ADAPTERS FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN POWER TOOLS

• US 20190011892A1
• Filed: 04/18/2018
• Published: 01/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Post, Matthew, Carey, Kellen, Mueckl, Gareth, Ebner, Jeremy R., Hoossainy, Tauhira
• Granted Patent: US 10,444,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0046 by sucking
• 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 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25274 Communication processor, link interface

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a power tool in control of a vacuum. In response to activation input, the power tool controls a motor for driving power tool operation and wirelessly transmits a control signal to a vacuum. In response to receiving the control signal, the vacuum controls a motor for driving operation of the vacuum. The power tool, the vacuum, or both include a wireless communication pairing butting for paring the power tool and the vacuum. The power tool and/or the vacuum may be cordless and powered by a battery pack.

Claims

1. A system for a power tool in control of a vacuum operation, the system comprising:

a power tool that includes

a power tool activation input,

a first power interface,

a first motor for driving operation of the power tool,

a first wireless communication hardware,

a first pairing button, and

a first electronic controller including a first electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a first memory, the power tool activation input, the first motor, and the first wireless communication hardware, wherein the first memory of the power tool includes instructions that, when executed by the first electronic processor, cause the first electronic controller to;

in response to input received via the power tool activation input, control the first motor and transmit a control signal via the first wireless communication hardware; and

a vacuum that includes

a vacuum power enable input,

a suction inlet connectable to the power tool,

a second power interface,

a second motor for driving operation of the vacuum,

a second wireless communication hardware,

a second pairing button for wirelessly pairing the vacuum and the power tool for wireless communication,

a second electronic controller including a second electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a second memory, the vacuum enable input, the second motor, the second wireless communication hardware, and the second pairing button, wherein the second memory of the vacuum includes instructions that, when executed by the second electronic processor, cause the second electronic controller to;

in response to receiving the control signal via the second wireless communication hardware of the vacuum, control the second motor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power tool further comprises a first switch connected between the first power interface and the first motor of the power tool, wherein the first switch is controlled by the first electronic processor to supply power from the first power interface to the first motor, and wherein the first power interface of the power tool includes a battery pack interface for receiving a battery pack.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vacuum further comprises a second switch connected between the second power interface of the vacuum and the second motor, wherein the second switch is controlled by the second electronic processor to supply power from the second power interface to the second motor, and wherein the second power interface of the vacuum includes a battery pack interface for receiving a battery pack.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, in response to actuation of the first pairing button, the first electronic processor of the power tool broadcasts a pairing identification signal and the second electronic processor of the vacuum detects the pairing identification signal and sends an acknowledgement to the power tool, and wherein the vacuum stores power tool identifiers in the second memory for authorizing the control signal received from the power tool.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein, prior to transmitting the control signal to the vacuum, the first electronic processor of the power tool receives input via the first pairing button and wirelessly pairs with the second electronic processor of the vacuum for wireless communication between the power tool and the vacuum.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein, in response to actuation of the second pairing button, the vacuum broadcasts a pairing identification signal and the power tool detects the pairing identification signal and sends an acknowledgement to the vacuum.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein, in response to the input received via the power tool activation input, the first electronic processor is configured to switch on power to the first motor for driving operation of the power tool, and in response to receiving the control signal, the second electronic controller is configured to switch on power to the second motor for driving operation of the vacuum.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein, in response to the input received via the power tool activation input, the first electronic processor is configured to switch off power to the first motor for driving operation of the power tool, and in response to receiving the control signal, the second electronic processor is configured to switch off power to the second motor for driving operation of the vacuum.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the power tool includes one or more of a drill, a saw, a grinder, a hammer, a wrench, a sander, a cutter, a gun, a trimmer, a mower, and a water pump.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first adapter that includes at least the first wireless communication hardware, the first electronic controller, and the first pairing button, and the first adapter is removably coupled to the power tool or integrated within the power tool;

and

a second adapter that includes at least the second wireless communication hardware, the second electronic controller, and the second pairing button, and the second adapter is removably coupled to the vacuum or integrated within the vacuum.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second vacuum including a third motor and configured to detect the control signal from the power tool and, in response to receiving the control signal, control the third motor.

12. A method for a power tool in control of a vacuum operation, the method comprising:

in response to actuation of a pairing button of a vacuum, broadcasting, by the vacuum, a pairing identification signal;

detecting, by the power tool, the pairing identification signal;

pairing, by the vacuum and the power tool, based on detecting the pairing identification signal;

in response to receiving input via a power tool activation input,

controlling, by a first electronic processor of the power tool, a first motor for driving operation of the power tool, and

transmitting, by the first electronic processor, a control signal via a first wireless communication hardware to the vacuum, wherein the first electronic processor is communicatively coupled to a first memory; and

in response to receiving the control signal via a second wireless communication hardware of the vacuum,

controlling, by a second electronic processor of the vacuum, a second motor for driving operation of the vacuum wherein the second electronic processor is communicatively coupled to a second memory.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling by the first electronic processor, a first switch to supply power from a first power interface to the first motor, wherein the first switch is connected between the first power interface and the first motor of the power tool, and wherein the first power interface of the power tool includes a battery pack interface for receiving a battery pack.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising controlling by the second electronic processor, a second switch to supply power from a second power interface to the second motor, wherein the second switch is connected between the second power interface of the vacuum and the second motor, and wherein the second power interface of the vacuum includes a battery pack interface for receiving a battery pack.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein, in response to actuation of a first pairing button of the power tool, the first electronic processor broadcasts a pairing identification signal and the second electronic processor of the vacuum detects the pairing identification signal and sends an acknowledgement to the power tool, and wherein the vacuum stores power tool identifiers in the second memory for authorizing vacuum control signals from the power tool.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the pairing by the vacuum and the power tool further includes, prior to transmitting the control signal to the vacuum, the first electronic processor of the power tool receiving input via a first pairing button of the power tool.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein, in response to detecting the pairing identification signal, the power tool sends an acknowledgement to the vacuum.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein, in response to the input received via the power tool activation input, the first electronic processor switches on power to the first motor for driving operation of the power tool, and in response to receiving the control signal, the second electronic controller switches on power to the second motor for driving operation of the vacuum.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein in response to the input received via the power tool activation input, the first electronic processor switches off power to the first motor for driving operation of the power tool, and in response to receiving the control signal, the second electronic processor switches off power to the second motor for driving operation of the vacuum.

20. A system for controlling operation of a second electronic tool in response to communication from a first electronic tool, the system comprising:

a first electronic tool that includes

a user input,

a first motor for driving operation of the first electronic tool,

a first wireless communication hardware, and

a first electronic controller including a first electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a first memory, the user input, the first motor, and the first wireless communication hardware, wherein the first electronic controller is configured to;

in response to input received via the user input, control, by the first electronic processor, the first motor for driving operation of the first electronic tool and transmit, by the first wireless communication hardware, a control signal; and

a second electronic tool that includes

a second electronic tool power enable input,

a second motor for driving operation of the second electronic tool,

a second wireless communication hardware,

a pairing button for wirelessly pairing the second electronic tool and the first electronic tool for wireless communication, and

a second electronic controller including a second electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a second memory, the second tool power enable input, the second motor, the second wireless communication hardware, and the pairing button, wherein the second electronic controller is configured to;

in response to receiving the control signal via the second wireless communication hardware of the second electronic tool, control, by the second electronic processor, the second motor for driving operation of the second electronic tool.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein,

in response to the input received via the user input, the first electronic processor is configured to switch on power to the first motor for driving operation of the first electronic tool,

in response to receiving the control signal, the second electronic processor is configured to switch on power to the second motor for driving operation of the second electronic tool,

in response to a second input received via the user input, the first electronic processor is configured to switch off power to the first motor for driving operation of the first electronic tool, and to transmit, via the first wireless communication hardware, a second control signal, and,

in response to receiving the second control signal, via the second wireless communication hardware, the second electronic processor is configured to switch off power to the second motor for driving operation of the second electronic tool.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the first electronic tool further incudes a first pairing button, and prior to transmitting the control signal to the second electronic device, receives input via the first pairing button and wirelessly pairs the first electronic tool and the second electronic tool for wireless communication.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the first electronic tool is a power tool and the second electronic tool is a vacuum.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising

a first adapter that includes at least the first wireless communication hardware, the first electronic controller, and a first pairing button, and the first adapter is removably coupled to or integrated within the first electronic tool;

and

a second adapter that includes at least the second wireless communication hardware, the second electronic controller, and the pairing button, and the second adapter is removably coupled to the second electronic tool.

25. The system of claim 20, further comprising a second electronic tool including a third motor and configured to detect the control signal from the first electronic tool and, in response to receiving the control signal, control the third motor.