Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation

Anthony M Davis

Timothy Ryan Obermann

Steven M Smith

John B Lienau

Ian A Duncan

Chad E Jones

Benjamin Gordon

Alexander Huber

David R Perreault

Stephen Matson

Richard Paul Brault

Ben Gordon

Erik W Jefferson

Mark A Gellings

Christopher J Burkhardt

Amith J Baskaran

Matthew J Halenka

Nicholas S Oliver

Corey J Dickert

Aaron C Grode

Cory J McCutchin

Kegan Markwardt

Bo Chen

Kylie A Petlak

Johnny Lienau

A method is provided for locking and unlocking an electronic power tool. The method includes receiving, at a locking device, information associated with the electronic power tool, and generating, at the locking device, a lock code based on the received information. The method further includes transmitting, by the locking device, the lock code to the electronic power tool. The lock code is configured to lock the electronic power tool upon being received at the electronic power tool.

Anti-theft systems and devices for battery-powered power tools

Power tool devices described herein include a motor, an actuator configured to be actuated by a user, a plurality of power switching elements configured to drive the motor, a gate driver coupled to the plurality of power switching elements and configured to control the plurality of power switching elements, a first printed circuit board (PCB), an antenna, and a combined chip. The combined chip is located on the first PCB and is coupled to the actuator, the antenna, and the gate driver. The combined chip includes a memory and an electronic processor configured to determine that the actuator has been actuated, and provide, in response to determining that the actuator has been actuated, a signal to the gate driver, control the signal based on the motor position information, wirelessly transmit power tool device information to an external device, and wirelessly receive configuration information from the external device via the antenna.

Power tool with combined chip for wireless communications and power tool control

Systems and methods for establishing a wireless connection using a connection identifier. The systems include a dust extractor and a power tool. The dust extractor includes an extractor electronic processor. The power tool includes a tool electronic processor. The extractor electronic processor is configured to: broadcast a connection advertisement; establish the wireless connection with a power tool when the connection advertisement is received; receive a request for the connection identifier; and provide a response including the connection identifier; provide a first indication of a successful wireless connection. The tool electronic processor is configured to: search for the connection advertisement broadcast from the dust extractor; establish the wireless connection with the dust extractor when the connection advertisement is received; provide the request for the connection identifier to the dust extractor; receive the response from the dust extractor; and provide a second indication of the successful wireless connection.

Communication between a wireless dust extractor and a power tool

A method for modifying a repeat interval of a locator beacon is described. The method includes transmitting repeatedly, by a beacon transmitter, a first advertising beacon signal through a first number of transmission repetitions spaced at a first repeat interval. The method further includes transmitting repeatedly, by the beacon transmitter, a second advertising beacon signal through a second number of transmission repetitions at a second repeat interval, wherein the second advertising beacon signal includes an identifier that provides identification of the beacon transmitter and user information. The method further includes receiving a modification instruction from a user device. The modification instruction is configured to modify the first repeat interval into a third repeat interval. The method also includes transmitting repeatedly, by a beacon transmitter, the first beacon signal through the first number of transmission repetitions spaced at the third repeat interval.

Tool tracking device with multiple and application settable beacon transmission rates

An electronic power tool device includes an electronic processor, a communication interface in communication with the electronic processor, and a wake-up sensor configured to generate a wake signal for activating the communication interface and the electronic processor responsive to a stimulus. The communication interface is configured to receive a first electronic message that includes an activation state and transmit the first received electronic message to the electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to control the activation state of the electronic power tool device to allow or prevent operation of the electronic power tool device based on the first received electronic message.

Out-of-band point of sale activation for electronic power tool devices

A beacon transmitter including a wireless transceiver and an electronic controller coupled to the wireless transceiver. The electronic controller is configured to repeatedly transmit, via the wireless transceiver, a first beacon signal through a first number of transmission repetitions spaced at a first repeat interval, and receive an acknowledgement signal via the wireless transceiver. The electronic controller is also configured to stop transmission of the first beacon signal for a first predetermined amount of time based on receipt of the acknowledgement signal, determine that the first predetermined amount of time has expired, and resume repeatedly transmitting, via the wireless transceiver, the first beacon signal in response to determining that the predetermined amount of time has expired.

Tool tracking system

A tool is provided with a connector that can be configured to removably receive a corresponding connector of an extender having an antenna to electrically connect the extender to the tool. With the connector of the tool electrically connected to the connector of the extender, the controller can be configured to utilize the antenna.

Systems and methods for tool signal extension

A power tool may include a compartment in its housing and a first printed circuit board (PCB) located in the housing and electrically coupled to a first connector. An insertable wireless communication device may include a second electronic processor and an antenna that are each mounted to a second PCB. The insertable wireless communication device may be configured to be received in the compartment and may include a second connector configured to electrically and physically couple to the first connector. The insertable wireless communication device may be configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device. When the insertable wireless communication device is inserted into the compartment, a first conductive layer of the first PCB may be configured to be electrically coupled to the antenna via the first connector and the second connector such that the first conductive layer of the first PCB serves as a ground plane of the antenna.

Insertable wireless communication device for a power tool

A power tool is provided that can include a body, a battery pack interface coupled to the body, an electronic controller coupled to the body, and a sled configured to engage with the battery pack interface. The sled can include a battery, and a boost converter electrically connected to the battery. An output of the boost converter can be configured to be electrically connected to the battery pack interface to provide a boosted voltage to the power tool.

Systems and methods for activating a power tool following a verified purchase of a power tool

An example power tool includes a battery pack receiving portion including a battery pack compartment including a battery pack support structure configured to receive and support a battery pack including battery terminals. The power tool further includes a terminal block located in the battery pack receiving portion and including tool terminals. At least two terminals of the tool terminals are configured to electrically and physically couple to the battery terminals. The power tool further includes an insertable device compartment located in the battery pack receiving portion and configured to receive an insertable wireless communication device including a first electronic processor, a transceiver, and device terminals. At least one device terminal is configured to electrically and physically couple to at least one shared terminal of the at least two terminals of the tool terminals. The insertable wireless communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device.

Power tool with shared terminal block

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.

Growing community of inventors

Brookfield, WI, United States of America

Anthony M Davis