Credentialed wireless fob to control power tool devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11902778-B2
Application number	US-202017050863-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2020
Priority date	Aug 13, 2019
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

An electronic processor of a wireless fob is configured to establish a first communication link between the wireless fob and an external device, and receive, over the first communication link, first identification information and credential information of a power tool device from the external device. The electronic processor is further configured to receive, via the wireless transceiver, an identification signal including second identification information from the power tool device. The electronic processor is further configured to identify the power tool device by determining that the first identification information matches with the second identification information. The electronic processor is further configured to transmit the credential information to the power tool device to establish a second communication link between the wireless fob and the power tool device and transmit, over the second communication link, a command to the power tool device to control an operation of the power tool device.

First claim

We claim:

1. A wireless fob comprising:
a wireless transceiver;
a memory; and
an electronic processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and to the memory, the electronic processor configured to:
establish, via the wireless transceiver, a first communication link between the wireless fob and an external device,
receive, over the first communication link, first identification information and credential information of a power tool device from the external device,
store the first identification information and the credential information in the memory,
receive, via the wireless transceiver, an identification signal from the power tool device, the identification signal including second identification information,
identify the power tool device by determining that the first identification information matches with the second identification information,
transmit, via the wireless transceiver, the credential information to the power tool device,
establish a second communication link between the wireless fob and the power tool device based on the credential information,
transmit, over the second communication link, a command to the power tool device to control an operation of the power tool device,
receive, over the first communication link and from the external device, a credential expiration period that indicates a first amount of time, after receiving the credential information, during which the wireless fob has permission to use the credential information to establish the second communication link,
cease use of the credential information upon expiration of the first amount of time, and
receive, over the first communication link and from the external device, an unlock duration time that indicates a second amount of time during which the power tool device is configured to be enabled after receiving the command from the wireless fob, wherein the command includes an enable command that allows operation of a motor of the power tool device in response to a trigger of the power tool device being actuated.

2. The wireless fob of claim 1 , wherein the external device includes a handheld portable device.

3. The wireless fob of claim 1 , wherein after the credential expiration period has expired, the electronic processor is configured to:
re-establish, via the wireless transceiver, the first communication link between the wireless fob and the external device;
receive, over the first communication link and from the external device, re-authentication of the permission to use the credential information to establish the second communication link;
transmit, via the wireless transceiver, the credential information to the power tool device; and
re-establish the second communication link between the wireless fob and the power tool device based on the credential information.

4. The wireless fob of claim 1 , wherein the command includes the second amount of time during which the operation of the power tool device is to be enabled, wherein the power tool device is configured to disable the operation in response to:
the second amount of time expiring, and
another command not being received by the power tool device from the wireless fob prior to the second amount of time expiring.

5. The wireless fob of claim 1 , wherein the command is transmitted to an insertable wireless communication device of the power tool device.

6. The wireless fob of claim 1 , wherein the power tool device includes a light device, and wherein the command includes an on/off command that controls a light of the light device to be on/off.

7. The wireless fob of claim 1 , further comprising an output device configured to provide an output to a user, wherein the electronic processor is configured to:
in response to receiving the identification signal from the power tool device, provide a notification, via the output device, indicating that the wireless fob has received the identification signal from the power tool device.

8. The wireless fob of claim 7 , wherein the output device includes at least one of a group consisting of a light-emitting diode (LED), a display screen, a speaker, and a haptic device configured to provide a haptic notification.

9. The wireless fob of claim 1 , further comprising an input device configured to receive a user input, wherein the electronic processor is configured to receive the user input via the input device;
wherein, in response to receiving the user input via the input device, the electronic processor is configured to (i) transmit the credential information to the power tool device and establish the second communication link between the wireless fob and the power tool device, and (ii) transmit the command to the power tool device over the second communication link.

10. The wireless fob of claim 1 , wherein, in response to identifying the power tool device by determining that the first identification information matches with the second identification information, the electronic processor is configured to at least one of:
transmit, via the wireless transceiver, the credential information to the power tool device and establish the second communication link between the wireless fob and the power tool device, and
transmit, over the second communication link, the command to the power tool device to control the operation of the power tool device.

11. The wireless fob of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to:
receive, over the first communication link, third identification information and second credential information of a second power tool device from the external device;
store the third identification information and the second credential information in the memory;
receive, via the wireless transceiver, a second identification signal from the second power tool device, the second identification signal including fourth identification information;
identify the second power tool device by determining that the third identification matches the fourth identification information;
transmit, via the wireless transceiver, the second credential information to the second power tool device;
establish a third communication link between the wireless fob and the second power tool device based on the second credential information; and
transmit, over the third communication link, a second command to the second power tool device to control an operation of the second power tool device.

12. A method of operating a wireless fob to control a power tool device, the method comprising:
establishing, via a wireless transceiver of the wireless fob, a first communication link between the wireless fob and an external device;
receiving, with an electronic processor of the wireless fob and over the first communication link, first identification information and credential information of the power tool device from the external device;
storing, with the electronic processor, the first identification information and the credential information in a memory of the wireless fob;
receiving, with the electronic processor via the wireless transceiver, an identification signal from the power tool device, the identification signal including second identification information;
identifying, with the electronic processor, the power tool device by determining that the first identification information matches with the second identification information;
transmitting, with the electronic processor via the wireless transceiver, the credential information to the power tool device;
establishing a second communication link between the wireless fob and the power tool device based on the credential information;
transmitting, with the electronic processor and over the second communication link

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Davis Anthony
• Dickert Corey J
• Obermann Timothy R

Classifications

• H04W12/06 Primary

  Authentication · CPC title

• H04W12/69

  Identity-dependent · CPC title

• G07C9/00309 Primary

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

• G06F21/35 Primary

  communicating wirelessly · CPC title

• G07C9/00857

  where the code of the data carrier can be programmed · CPC title