Systems and methods for remote power tool device control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11890738-B2
Application number	US-202217812107-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2022
Priority date	Jul 31, 2018
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods for remote power tool control are provided. In one example, a battery pack is coupled to a power tool device. The battery pack includes a pack transceiver and a pack electronic processor. The pack electronic processor is coupled to the pack transceiver and is configured to determine that the power tool device is remotely controllable. The pack electronic processor is further configured to receive, wirelessly via a pack transceiver of the battery pack, a remote control command from a mobile device, and to provide the remote control command to the power tool device. The system further includes a tool electronic processor of the power tool device in communication with the pack electronic processor. The tool electronic processor is configured to control the power tool device to perform an action specified by the remote control command in response to receiving the remote control command.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for remote controlling a power tool device, the system comprising:
a tool electronic processor included in the power tool device; and
a battery pack coupled to the power tool device, the battery pack including:
a pack transceiver,
a pack electronic processor coupled to the pack transceiver and in communication with the tool electronic processor, the pack electronic processor configured to:
determine that the power tool device is remotely controllable,
receive, wirelessly via the pack transceiver, a remote control command from a mobile device, and
provide the remote control command to the power tool device,

wherein the tool electronic processor is configured to control the power tool device to perform an action specified by the remote control command in response to receiving the remote control command from the pack electronic processor, and
wherein the tool electronic processor is configured to control the power tool device in a low power mode prior to receiving the remote control command from the pack electronic processor, and configured to switch to control the power tool device in a high power mode to perform the action in response to receiving the remote control command.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein, in the low power mode, the power tool device does not draw enough power from the battery pack to perform the action.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second power tool device including a second tool electronic processor; and
a second battery pack configured to be coupled to the second power tool device, the second battery pack including:
a second pack transceiver, and
a second pack electronic processor coupled to the second pack transceiver, the second pack electronic processor configured to:
determine that the connected second power tool device is remotely controllable,
receive, wirelessly via the second pack transceiver, a second remote control command from the mobile device, and
provide the second remote control command to the second power tool device.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second pack electronic processor is further configured to:
provide a second remote control command to the second power tool device in response to the pack electronic processor providing the remote control command to the power tool device.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second tool electronic processor is configured to control the second power tool device to perform a second action specified by the second remote control command in response to receiving the second remote control command from the second pack electronic processor.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the second tool electronic processor is configured to control the second power tool device in the low power mode prior to receiving the second remote control command from the second pack electronic processor, and control the second power tool device in the high power mode to perform the second action in response to receiving the remote control command.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the action specified by the remote control command is the same action as the second action specified by the second remote control command.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the remote control command and the second remote control command are commands to turn the power tool device and the second power tool device ON, respectively.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the power tool device further includes a mode switch switchable between a first position for selecting a remote control mode and a second position for selecting a normal control mode; and
the tool electronic processor is configured to place the power tool device in the remote control mode in response to the mode switch being in the first position.

10. A method for remote controlling a power tool device by a mobile device, the method comprising:
determining, by a pack electronic processor of a battery pack, that the power tool device is remotely controllable;
receiving, wirelessly via a pack transceiver of the battery pack, a remote control command from the mobile device;
providing, via a communication link between the pack electronic processor and a tool electronic processor of the power tool device, the remote control command to the power tool device;
controlling, by the tool electronic processor, the power tool device to perform an action specified by the remote control command in response to receiving the remote control command from the pack electronic processor;
controlling, by the tool electronic processor, the power tool device in a low power mode prior to receiving the remote control command from the pack electronic processor; and
switching, by the tool electronic processor, the power tool device to be controlled in a high power mode to perform the action in response to receiving the remote control command.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein, in the low power mode, the power tool device does not draw enough power from the battery pack to perform the action.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
determining, by a second pack electronic processor of a second battery pack, that a second power tool device is connected and is remotely controllable,
receiving, wirelessly via a second pack transceiver, a second remote control command from the mobile device, and
providing, via a second communication link between the second pack electronic processor and a second tool electronic processor of the second power tool device, the second remote control command to the second power tool device.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
controlling, by the second tool electronic processor, the second power tool device to perform a second action specified by the second remote control command in response to receiving the second remote control command from the second pack electronic processor.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
controlling, by the second tool electronic processor, the second power tool device in the low power mode prior to receiving the second remote control command from the second pack electronic processor; and
controlling, by the second tool electronic processor, the second power tool device in the high power mode to perform the second action in response to receiving the remote control command.

Assignees

• Techtronic Cordless Gp

Inventors

• Huggins Mark
• Rowe Tyler J
• Bryan Frederick W
• Stokes Mark K

Classifications

• H02J7/855

  with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/40

  characterised by the exchange of charge or discharge related data · CPC title

• B25F5/00 Primary

  Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G08C17/02

  using a radio link · CPC title

• H01M10/425

  Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00) · CPC title