Adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018158317-A1
Application number	US-201715828745-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 1, 2017
Priority date	Dec 2, 2016
Publication date	Jun 7, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An accessory device system includes a garage door opener, an adapter, and one or more accessory devices whereby the garage door opener has a first accessory device port configured to selectively couple to the one or more accessory devices and the adapter has a second accessory device port configured to selectively couple to the one or more accessory devices. The garage door opener is further configured to provide power to a first accessory device of the one or more accessory devices via the first accessory device port. The adapter further includes a battery receiving portion configured to be selectively coupled to a battery pack and to receive power from the battery pack, and the adapter is further configured to provide power, received from the battery pack, to the first accessory device via the second accessory device port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An accessory device system comprising:
an accessory device; a garage door opener including a first accessory device port configured to selectively couple to the accessory device and provide power to the accessory device via the first accessory device port; and an adapter including
a second accessory device port configured to selectively couple to the accessory device, and
a battery receiving portion configured to be selectively coupled to a battery pack and to receive power from the battery pack;
wherein the adapter is configured to provide power, received from the battery pack, to the accessory device via the second accessory device port.

2 . The accessory device system of claim 1 , wherein the accessory device is at least one selected from the group consisting of a wireless speaker, a fan, or a light.

3 . The accessory device system of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is a power tool battery pack including:
battery cells, a second electronic controller having an electronic processor and a memory, and a fuel gauge.

4 . The accessory device system of claim 1 , wherein the accessory device is configured to communicate with a peripheral device via the adapter.

5 . The accessory device system of claim 4 , wherein the adapter includes a wireless transceiver and is configured to:
communicate with the peripheral device to provide identity and status information regarding the accessory device to the peripheral device, receive settings data from the peripheral device to control the first accessory device, receive the identity and status information from the first accessory device, and provide the settings data to the accessory device to control the accessory device.

6 . The accessory device system of claim 1 , wherein the accessory device is configured to communicate with a peripheral device via the garage door opener.

7 . The accessory device system of claim 1 , wherein the second accessory device port includes a communication interface configured to facilitate electrical communication between the accessory device and the adapter, and a coupling interface configured to mechanically couple the accessory device and the adapter.

8 . The accessory device system of claim 1 , wherein the accessory device is a first accessory device, and the system further comprises a second accessory device, the second accessory device configured to selectively couple to the first accessory device port and to the second accessory device port.

9 . A method of operating an accessory device system including a garage door opener, an adapter, and one or more accessory devices, the method comprising:
receiving, by a first accessory device port on the garage door opener, the accessory device; providing, by the garage door opener, power to the accessory device via the first accessory device port; disconnecting, by the first accessory device port, from the accessory device; receiving, by a second accessory device port on the adapter, the accessory device; and providing, by the adapter, power to the accessory device via the second accessory device port.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, by a battery receiving portion of the adapter, a battery pack; receiving, by the adapter via the battery receiving portion, power from the battery pack; and providing, by the adapter via the second accessory device port, power to the accessory device.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the battery pack is a power tool battery pack.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further including:
receiving, by the first accessory device port, a second accessory device after disconnecting the accessory device; and providing, by the garage door opener, power to the second accessory device via the first accessory device port.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the accessory device is at least one selected from the group consisting of a wireless speaker, a fan, or a light.

14 . A method of operating an accessory device system including an adapter and an accessory device, the method comprising:
receiving, by an accessory device port on the adapter, the accessory device; receiving, by a battery receiving portion of the adapter, a battery pack; providing, by the adapter via the accessory device port, power to the accessory device received from the battery pack via the battery receiving portion; receiving, by the adapter via the accessory device port, identity and status data from the accessory device; sending, by an electronic controller of the adapter having a wireless transceiver, the identity and status data regarding the accessory device to the peripheral device; receiving, by the electronic controller, settings data regarding the accessory device from the peripheral device; and providing, via the adapter, the settings data to the accessory device to control the accessory device.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
supporting, by the battery pack, the adapter and the accessory device, with a bottom of the battery pack engaging a supporting surface and the adapter and the accessory device positioned above the battery pack.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the battery pack is a power tool battery pack.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the accessory device is a wireless speaker, a fan, or a light, and the identity data indicates that the accessory device is a wireless speaker, a fan, or a light.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the peripheral device and the adapter communicate via a network and server.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the adapter communicates wirelessly with the network via the wireless transceiver.

20 . The method of claim 14 , further including:
disconnecting, by the accessory device port, from the accessory device; receiving, by the accessory device port, a second accessory device; providing, by the adapter, power to the second accessory device via the accessory device port; receiving, by the adapter via the accessory device port, second identity and status data from the second accessory device; sending, by an electronic controller of the adapter having a wireless transceiver, the second identity and status data regarding the second accessory device to the peripheral device; receiving, by the electronic controller, second settings data regarding the second accessory device from the peripheral device; and providing, via the adapter, the second settings data to the second accessory device to control the second accessory device.

Assignees

• Tti Macao Commercial Offshore Ltd

Inventors

• Pleasants Parke
• Mcnabb William
• Huggins Mark
• Preus Michael

Classifications

• G08C17/02 Primary

  using a radio link · CPC title

• G07C9/00896

  specially adapted for particular uses · CPC title

• H05K5/0221

  Locks; Latches · CPC title

• G08C2201/92

  Universal remote control · CPC title

• E05F15/60

  using electrical actuators · CPC title