Power tool with compartment for receiving another device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11869288-B2
Application number	US-202117188327-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2021
Priority date	Aug 7, 2017
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

One power tool includes a housing including a compartment for receiving another device. The power tool further includes a wireless communication device including a wireless communication controller including a transceiver. The wireless communication device is configured to be received in the compartment. The power tool further includes a motor within the housing, and the motor is configured to drive an output drive device. The power tool further includes a controller within the housing and having an electronic processor, a memory, and a data connection. The data connection is configured to couple the electronic processor to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is inserted into the compartment. The controller is configured to control operation of the motor, and communicate with an external device via the data connection and the wireless communication controller.

First claim

We claim:

1. A power tool comprising:
a housing including a compartment and a battery pack receiving portion, wherein the compartment is configured to receive a wireless communication device that includes a wireless communication controller including a transceiver, and wherein the battery pack receiving portion is configured to receive a battery pack;
a motor within the housing and having a rotor and a stator, wherein the motor is configured to be selectively coupled to power provided by the battery pack to drive an output drive device;
a backup power source separate from the wireless communication device and configured to provide power to the wireless communication controller; and
a controller within the housing and having an electronic processor, a memory, and a data connection, the data connection configured to connect the electronic processor to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is inserted into the compartment, wherein the controller is configured to:
control operation of the motor, and
communicate with an external device via the data connection and the wireless communication controller;

wherein the compartment includes a mechanical irreversible lock, and the wireless communication device is configured to engage with the mechanical irreversible lock such that the wireless communication device is non-removable by a user of the power tool without damaging the mechanical irreversible lock.

2. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical irreversible lock includes a mating tab, and wherein the wireless communication device includes a lock mating tooth configured to engage the mating tab when the lock mating tooth passes the mating tab upon the wireless communication device being inserted into the compartment.

3. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a second compartment configured to receive the backup power source.

4. The power tool of claim 3 , wherein the second compartment is configured to allow for the backup power source to be removed and replaced.

5. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a handle extending from the battery pack receiving portion; and
wherein the compartment is located in one of the battery pack receiving portion, the handle, and a position between the battery pack receiving portion and the handle.

6. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the external device via the data connection and the wireless communication controller to at least one of the group of:
transmit power tool data to the external device; and
receive power tool configuration data from the external device via the wireless communication controller.

7. A power tool communication method comprising:
receiving, by a compartment of a housing of a power tool, a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device including a wireless communication controller including a transceiver, the housing including a battery pack receiving portion configured to receive a battery pack;
engaging, by a mechanical irreversible lock of the compartment, the wireless communication device upon the compartment receiving the wireless communication device such that the wireless communication device is non-removable by a user of the power tool without damaging the mechanical irreversible lock;
controlling, with a controller located within the housing, operation of a motor of the power tool, the motor configured to be selectively coupled to power provided by the battery pack to drive an output drive device, the controller including an electronic processor, a memory, and a data connection, the data connection configured to couple the electronic processor to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is inserted into the compartment; and
communicating, by the controller, with an external device via the data connection and the wireless communication controller, the power tool including a backup power source separate from the wireless communication device and configured to provide power to the wireless communication controller.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein engaging, by the mechanical irreversible lock of the compartment, the wireless communication device includes engaging a lock mating tooth of the wireless communication device with a mating tab of the mechanical irreversible lock when the lock mating tooth passes the mating tab upon the wireless communication device being inserted into the compartment.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving the backup power source in a second compartment of the housing of the power tool.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second compartment is configured to allow for the backup power source to be removed and replaced.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the housing includes a handle extending from the battery pack receiving portion; and
wherein the compartment is located in one of the battery pack receiving portion, the handle, and a position between the battery pack receiving portion and the handle.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein communicating with the external device includes at least one of the group of:
transmitting power tool data to the external device; and
receiving power tool configuration data from the external device via the wireless communication controller.

13. A power tool device comprising:
a housing including a compartment and a battery pack receiving portion, wherein the compartment is configured to receive a wireless communication device that includes a wireless communication controller including a transceiver, and wherein the battery pack receiving portion is configured to receive a power tool battery pack;
a powered element configured to be selectively coupled to power provided by the power tool battery pack;
a backup power source separate from the wireless communication device and configured to provide power to the wireless communication controller; and
a controller within the housing and having an electronic processor, a memory, and a data connection, the data connection configured to couple the electronic processor to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is inserted into the compartment, wherein the controller is configured to:
control the powered element, and
communicate with an external device via the data connection and the wireless communication controller;

wherein the compartment includes a mechanical irreversible lock, and the wireless communication device is configured to engage with the mechanical irreversible lock such that the wireless communication device is non-removable by a user of the power tool without damaging the mechanical irreversible lock.

14. The power tool device of claim 13 , wherein the powered element is at least one selected from the group of a lighting element and a motor.

15. The power tool device of claim 13 , wherein the mechanical irreversible lock includes a mating tab, and wherein the wireless communication device includes a lock mating tooth configured to engage the mating tab when the lock mating tooth passes the mating tab upon the wireless communication device being inserted into the compartment.

16. The power tool device of claim 13 , wherein the housing includes a second compartment configured to receive the backup power source.

17. The power tool device of claim 16 , wherein the second compartment is configured to allow for the backup power source to be removed and replaced.

18. The power tool device of claim 13 , wherein the housing includes a

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Hoossainy Tauhira
• Coulis Christian P
• Matson Stephen

Classifications

• G07C9/00309 Primary

  operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks · CPC title

• E05B17/22

  Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators {(E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G07C9/00896

  specially adapted for particular uses · CPC title

• G07C9/20

  involving the use of a pass · CPC title

• G07C9/30 Primary

  not involving the use of a pass · CPC title