Universal protocol for power tools
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorMatthew J. Mergener
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for communicating between motorized power tools includes 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 has a first motor and the second power tool has a second motor. A signal is received 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. The signal includes an identifier. The second power tool is verified as authorized to send the signal to the first power tool based on the identifier. A tool component of the first power tool is controlled responsive to the signal.
Claims20
A method for communicating between a tool and an external device, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the tool, a communication from the external device, the communication including a write command for performing one selected from a group consisting of a firmware installation and a firmware update;
- responsive to the communication, placing the tool in a safe mode;
- and
- writing, while the tool is in the safe mode, to a memory of the tool in accordance with the write command.
A method for communicating between a tool and an external device, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the tool, a communication from the external device, the communication including a read command for reading performance data from a memory of the tool;
- responsive to the communication, placing the tool in a safe mode;
- reading, while the tool is in the safe mode, the performance data from the memory of the tool in accordance with the read command;
- and
- exiting the safe mode after reading the performance data from the memory.
A system for communicating messages, the system comprising:
- a tool powered by a first power platform;
- and
- an external device powered by a second power platform different from the first power platform,
- the tool including:
- a wireless communication interface configured to receive a communication from the external device using a first protocol, and
- a controller coupled to the wireless communication interface, the controller configured to:
- receive the communication, the communication including one selected from a group consisting of a write command and a read command,
- responsive to the communication, place the tool in a safe mode, and
- access, while the tool is in the safe mode, a memory of the tool based on the communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.