# US 12,350,807 B2 · Universal protocol for power tools > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,350,807 B2 - Document ID: US12350807B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/512,164 - Filed: 2023-11-17 - Published: 2024-03-14 - Granted: 2025-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-17 - Assignees: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation - Applicants: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation - Inventors: Matthew J. Mergener - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12350807B2 ## CPC - B25F 5/00: Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for - G06F 8/65: Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) - G06F 9/44505: {Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files} - G06F 12/023: {Free address space management} - 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 - H04L 67/51: Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services - H04L 69/03: {Protocol definition or specification (protocol conformance testing H04L1/244)} - H04L 69/08: Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion - G05B 9/02: electric - G05B 2219/25206: Protocol: only devices with changed states communicate their states, event - G06F 11/0796: {Safety measures, i.e. ensuring safe condition in the event of error, e.g. for controlling element} - G06F 13/387: {for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system} - G06F 13/409: {Mechanical coupling (back panels H05K7/1438)} - G06F 2212/251: Local memory within processor subsystem - B25F: COMBINATION OR MULTI-PURPOSE TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DETAILS OR COMPONENTS OF PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS NOT PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS PERFORMED AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR {(machines or arrangements of machines for performing specified combinations of different metal-working operations not covered by a single other subclass B23P23/00 and subgroups)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for communicating messages between power tools, the system comprising: a first power tool including a first communication interface configured to transmit a message, the first power tool powered via a first power platform; a first controller coupled to the first communication interface and executing a universal core module; a second power tool including a second communication interface configured to receive the message, the second power tool powered via a second power platform different from the first power platform; and a second controller coupled to the second communication interface and executing the universal core module, the second controller configured to receive the message, translate the message using the universal core module, and operate the second power tool based on the message. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first power platform includes one of an alternating current (AC) power source and a direct current (DC) power source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second power platform includes one of an alternating current (AC) power source and a direct current (DC) power source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first power platform and the second power platform include two selected from a group of a 4 volt battery pack, a 12 volt battery pack, an 18 volt battery pack, a 28 battery pack, and a 36 voltage battery pack. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication interface is a wireless interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the message includes an identifier and a security element, wherein the second controller is further configured to verify the first power tool is authorized to issue the message by processing the identifier and security element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the message includes an instruction to activate a tool component of the second power tool. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the tool component is a motor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the message includes an instruction to disable a tool component of the second power tool. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein tool component is a motor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second controller is configured to operate the second power tool based on the message by performing at least one selected from a group consisting of providing visual feedback via a light emitting diode, provide audio feedback via a speaker, and providing tactile feedback via a vibrator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the message includes a request for data of the second power tool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second controller is configured to operate the second power tool based on the message by transmitting a second message translated via the universal core module. ### Claim 14 A method for communicating messages between power tools, the method comprising: establishing a communication link between a first power tool and a second power tool, the first power tool powered via a first power platform and the second power tool powered via a second power platform different from the first power platform; receiving, at the first power tool from the second power tool, a message over the communication link; translating, by a controller of the first power tool executing a universal core module, the message to a format usable by the first power tool; and operating a motor of the first power tool based on the message. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein operating the first power tool based on the message includes transmitting a second message, translated via the universal core module, to the second power tool over the communication link, the second power tool including a second controller configured to execute the universal core module to translate the second message. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein translating the message to a format usable by the first power tool includes: translating the message from a first protocol to a universal protocol; and translating the message in the universal protocol to a second protocol usable by the motor of the first power tool. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first power platform includes one of an alternating current (AC) power source and a direct current (DC) power source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second power platform includes one of an alternating current (AC) power source and a direct current (DC) power source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first power platform and the second power platform include two selected from a group of a 4 volt battery pack, a 12 volt battery pack, an 18 volt battery pack, a 28 battery pack, and a 36 voltage battery pack. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the message includes an instruction to at least one of activate and disable the motor of the first power tool.