Externally controlled indicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12467617-B2
Application number	US-202318169638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2023
Priority date	Feb 16, 2022
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A device for performing a function. The device including a housing, an indicator configured to provide an indication, a first electronic processer within the housing and configured to control operation of the indicator, and a wireless communication device including a second electronic processer. The wireless communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device, communicate with the first electronic processer to transfer data between the first electronic processer and the external device, receive a signal from the external device, and provide the signal to the first electronic processer. The first electronic processer is configured to prohibit, in response to receiving the signal from the wireless communication device, the indicator from providing the indication.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device comprising:
a housing; an indicator configured to provide an indication; a first electronic processer within the housing and configured to control operation of the indicator; and a wireless communication device including a second electronic processer, the wireless communication device configured to:
wirelessly communicate with an external device,
communicate with the first electronic processer to transfer data between the first electronic processer and the external device, wherein the first electronic processer is configured to control operation of the indicator to provide the indication when the data is being transferred between the wireless communication device and the external device,
receive a signal from the external device, and
provide the signal to the first electronic processer,
wherein the first electronic processer is configured to prohibit, in response to receiving the signal from the wireless communication device, the indicator from providing the indication when the wireless communication device is wirelessly communicating with the external device.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device includes one of a group consisting of a power tool, a work light, a power tool battery pack, and a battery pack charger.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device includes an energy storage device.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device includes an antenna mounted to a printed circuit board (“PCB”).

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the wireless communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the external device via the antenna over a cellular network.

6 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the second electronic processer is mounted on the PCB.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device is further configured to:
receive a second signal from the external device; and provide the second signal to the first electronic processer; wherein the first electronic processer is configured to control the indicator to illuminate based on the second signal.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein, based on the second signal, the first electronic processer is configured to control at least one of a color of the indicator, a blinking rate of the indicator, and an undulation rate of the indicator.

9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein, based on the second signal, the first electronic processer is configured to control the indicator to illuminate at a preset time of day.

10 . A system comprising:
a first device including an electronic processer and an indicator that is controlled by the electronic processer; an external device; and a wireless communication device that is removably coupled to the first device and includes a transceiver, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to:
receive an operational parameter from the electronic processer,
transmit, via the transceiver, the operational parameter to the external device,
wherein the electronic processer is configured to control the indicator to provide an indication when the wireless communication device transmits the operational parameter to the external device, and
receive a signal from the external device based on the operational parameter,
wherein the electronic processer is configured to, based on the signal from the external device, prohibit the indicator from providing the indication when the wireless communication device is wirelessly communicating with the external device.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the operational parameter is a type of power source providing power to the first device.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first electronic processer is configured to control the indicator to halt indicating based on the signal when the operation parameter is a first type of power source.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the first electronic processer is configured to control the indicator to provide a first indication after the operational parameter is sent to the wireless communication device and before the wireless communication device transmits the operational parameter to the external device; the first electronic processer is configured to control the indicator to provide a second indication while the operational parameter is being transmitted to the external device; and the first electronic processer is configured to control the indicator to provide a third indication after the wireless communication device transmits the operational parameter to the external device and before the wireless communication device receives the signal from the external device.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the electronic processer is configured to determine the first device has been idle for a predetermined time and is configured to control the indicator to be OFF.

15 . A method of controlling an indicator of a device, the method comprising:
wirelessly communicating, by a wireless communication device of the device, with an external device; communicating with an electronic processer to transfer data between the electronic processer and the external device, wherein the electronic processer is configured to control the indicator to provide an indication when the wireless communication device is wirelessly communicating with the external device; receiving a signal from the external device; and providing the signal to the electronic processer to prohibit the indicator from providing the indication when the wireless communication device is wirelessly communicating with the external device.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the device includes one of a group consisting of a power tool, a work light, a power tool battery pack, and a battery pack charger.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein wirelessly communicating with the external device includes wirelessly communicating over a cellular network.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving a second signal from the external device; and providing the second signal to the electronic processer to control the indicator to illuminate based on the second signal.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
controlling at least one of a color of the indicator, a blinking rate of the indicator, and an undulation rate of the indicator.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
controlling the indicator to illuminate at a preset time of day.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Walsh Jay
• Smith Steven M
• Abbott Jonathan E

Classifications

• H01H13/023 Primary

  Light-emitting indicators (for multi-layer switches H01H13/83) · CPC title

• G08C17/02

  using a radio link · CPC title

• G08C23/04

  using light waves, e.g. infrared · CPC title

• F21S9/02

  the power supply being a battery or accumulator · CPC title

• F21V23/0435 Primary

  activated by remote control means · CPC title