US-20260126770-A1 - ADAPTERS FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN POWER TOOLS

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a power tool in control of a vacuum. In response to activation input, the power tool controls a motor for driving power tool operation and wirelessly transmits a control signal to a vacuum. In response to receiving the control signal, the vacuum controls a motor for driving operation of the vacuum. The power tool, the vacuum, or both include a wireless communication pairing butting for paring the power tool and the vacuum. The power tool and/or the vacuum may be cordless and powered by a battery pack.

Inventors

• Matthew Post
• Kellen Carey
• Gareth Mueckl
• Jeremy R. Ebner
• Tauhira Hoossainy

Assignees

• MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20250929

Claims (20)

1. 1 - 20 . (canceled)
2. 21 . A system for tool communication, the system comprising: a first electronic tool that includes: a first motor, a first wireless communication hardware, and a first electronic controller including a first electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a first memory, the first motor, and the first wireless communication hardware, wherein the first memory of the first electronic tool includes instructions that, when executed by the first electronic processor, cause the first electronic controller to: transmit a first control signal via the first wireless communication hardware; a second electronic tool that includes: a second motor, a second wireless communication hardware, and a second electronic controller including a second electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a second memory, the second motor, and the second wireless communication hardware, wherein the second memory of the second electronic tool includes instructions that, when executed by the second electronic processor, cause the second electronic controller to: transmit a second control signal via the second wireless communication hardware; and a third electronic tool that includes: a third wireless communication hardware, and a third electronic controller including a third electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a third memory and the third wireless communication hardware, wherein the third memory of the third electronic tool includes instructions that, when executed by the third electronic processor, cause the third electronic controller to: control, in response to receiving the first control signal from the first electronic tool via the third wireless communication hardware, the third electronic tool to perform a first control action, and control, in response to receiving the second control signal from the second electronic tool via the third wireless communication hardware, the third electronic tool to perform a second control action that is different from the first control action.
3. 22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the first memory of the first electronic tool includes instructions that, when executed by the first electronic processor, cause the first electronic controller to: determine a first operational parameter of the first electronic tool.
4. 23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the third electronic tool is a work site radio, and to control the third electronic tool, the third electronic controller is configured to adjust a volume of the work site radio based on the first operational parameter.
5. 24 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the first operational parameter includes at least one selected from a group consisting of: intensity of operation of the first electronic tool, motor speed of the first motor of the first electronic tool, battery level in the first electronic tool, runtime of the first electronic tool, light level of the first electronic tool, a current draw being above a threshold, and a selected mode.
6. 25 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the first electronic tool is a rotary hammer and the third electronic tool is an electronically controllable water pump providing a dust suppressing water flow.
7. 26 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the third electronic tool further includes a light, and, in response to receiving the first control signal via the third wireless communication hardware, the second electronic tool controls an intensity of the light.
8. 27 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the first control action and the second control action are selected from a group consisting of: an activation of a dust-collecting vacuum; providing a dust suppressing water flow; controlling a motor speed; controlling a light level; controlling a volume level; and controlling wireless communication.
9. 28 . A method for controlling electronic tools, the method comprising: transmitting, from a first electronic tool including a first motor, a first wireless communication hardware, and a first electronic controller including a first electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a first memory, a first control signal via the first wireless communication hardware; transmitting, from a second electronic tool including a second motor, a second wireless communication hardware, and a second electronic controller including a second electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a second memory, a second control signal via the second wireless communication hardware; controlling, at a third electronic tool including a third wireless communication hardware and a third electronic controller including a third electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a third memory and in response to receiving the first control signal from the first electronic tool via the third wireless communication hardware, the third electronic tool to perform a first control action; and controlling, at the third electronic tool and in response to receiving the second control signal from the second electronic tool via the third wireless communication hardware, the third electronic tool to perform a second control action that is different from the first control action.
10. 29 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising: determining a first operational parameter of the first electronic tool.
11. 30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the third electronic tool is a work site radio, and controlling the third electronic tool to perform the second control action includes adjusting a volume of the work site radio based on the first operational parameter.
12. 31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the first operational parameter includes at least one selected from a group consisting of: intensity of operation of the first electronic tool, motor speed of the first motor of the first electronic tool, battery level in the first electronic tool, runtime of the first electronic tool, light level of the first electronic tool, a current draw being above a threshold, and a selected mode.
13. 32 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the first electronic tool is a rotary hammer and the third electronic tool is an electronically controllable water pump providing a dust suppressing water flow.
14. 33 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the third electronic tool further includes a light, and controlling the third electronic tool to perform a first control action includes controlling an intensity of the light.
15. 34 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the first control action and the second control action are selected from a group consisting of: activating a dust-collecting vacuum; providing a dust suppressing water flow; controlling a motor speed; controlling a light level; controlling a volume level; and controlling wireless communication.
16. 35 . A power tool system comprising: a first power tool that includes: a first motor, a first wireless communication hardware, and a first electronic controller including a first electronic processor that is electrically connected to a first memory, the first motor, and the first wireless communication hardware, wherein the first memory of the first power tool includes instructions that, when executed by the first electronic processor, cause the first electronic controller to: determine, using the first electronic controller, an operational parameter of the first power tool, transmit a control signal via the first wireless communication hardware based on the operational parameter, and transmit an operational data request signal via the first wireless communication hardware; and a second power tool that includes: a second wireless communication hardware, and a second electronic controller including a second electronic processor that is electrically connected to a second memory and the second wireless communication hardware, wherein the second memory of the second power tool includes instructions that, when executed by the second electronic processor, cause the second electronic controller to: control, in response to receiving the control signal based on the operational parameter of the first power tool via the second wireless communication hardware, the second power tool according to the operational parameter, and transmit, in response to receiving the operational data request signal and using the second wireless communication hardware, operational data of the second power tool to at least one of the first power tool and a personal mobile device, the operational data including a second operational parameter of the second power tool.
17. 36 . The power tool system of claim 35 , further comprising: the personal mobile device communicatively coupled to the second power tool, the personal mobile device configured to: receive a user input selecting a control action to be performed by the second power tool.
18. 37 . The power tool system of claim 35 , wherein to control the second power tool according to the operational parameter includes the second electronic controller being configured to perform a control action.
19. 38 . The power tool system of claim 35 , further comprising: the personal mobile device communicatively coupled to the second power tool, the personal mobile device configured to: receive a user input to adjust a control action to be performed by the second power tool.
20. 39 . The power tool system of claim 38 , wherein the personal mobile device is configured to: transmit a second control signal to the second power tool to adjust the control action to be performed by the second power tool.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/751,671, filed Jun. 24, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/837,580, filed Jun. 10, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/584,411, filed Sep. 26, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 15/955,915, filed on Apr. 18, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/528,631 , filed on Jul. 5, 2017, the entire content of each of which is herein incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments described herein relate to power tools. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to a power tool in communication with a vacuum. SUMMARY The ability to activate or deactivate a tool in response to the activation or deactivation of another tool can hold several potential benefits for a user. For example, a vacuum activating automatically in response to an activation of a saw or drill motor can improve dust removal in a working environment and reduce user fatigue and effort to manually enable the vacuum. Some embodiments enable detection of activation of a first tool, wireless communication of signals indicating the activation of the first tool, and responsive activation of a second tool. Some embodiments enable detection of deactivation of a first tool, wireless communication of signals indicating the deactivation of the first tool, and responsive deactivation of a second tool. Some embodiments include the use of one or more removably coupled communication adapters to enable the detection, wireless communication, and activation/deactivation, which enables user customization of tool-to-tool interactions across a variety of tools. In some embodiments, a system is provided for a power tool in control of a vacuum operation. The system includes a power tool having a power tool activation input, a first power interface, a first motor for driving operation of the power tool, a first wireless communication hardware, and a first pairing button. A first electronic controller includes a first electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a first memory, the power tool activation input, the first motor, and the first wireless communication hardware. The system also has a vacuum that includes a vacuum power enable input, a second power interface, a second motor for driving operation of the vacuum, a second wireless communication hardware, and a second pairing button for wirelessly pairing the vacuum and the power tool for wireless communication. The vacuum also has a second electronic controller including a second electronic processor that is communicatively coupled to a second memory, the vacuum enable input, the second motor, the second wireless communication hardware, and the pairing button. The vacuum further includes a suction inlet connectable to the power tool. The first memory of the power tool includes instructions that when executed by the first electronic processor cause the first electronic processor to, in response to input received via the power tool activation input, control the first motor for driving operation of the power tool and transmit a control signal via the first wireless communication hardware to the vacuum. The second memory of the vacuum includes instructions that when executed by the second electronic processor cause the second electronic processor to, in response to receiving the control signal via the second wireless communication hardware of the vacuum, control the second motor. In some embodiments, a method is provided for a power tool in control of a vacuum operation. The method includes, in response to actuation of a pairing button of a vacuum, broadcasting, by the vacuum, a pairing identification signal; detecting, by the power tool, the pairing identification signal; and pairing, by the vacuum and the power tool, based on detecting the pairing identification signal. In response to receiving input via a power tool activation input, a first electronic processor of the power tool controls a first motor for driving operation of the power tool, and transmits a control signal via a first wireless communication hardware to a vacuum, wherein the first electronic processor is communicatively coupled to a first memory. In response to receiving the control signal via a second wireless communication hardware of the vacuum, a second electronic processor of the vacuum controls a second motor for driving operation of the vacuum, wherein the second electronic processor is communicatively coupled to a second memory. In some embodiments, a system is provided for controlling operation of a second electronic tool in response to communication from a first electronic tool. The system includes a first electronic tool that includes a user input, a first motor for driving operation of the first electronic tool, first wireless communication hardware, and a first electronic controller. T