Power Tool Protocol Translation for Cross-Platform Wireless Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power tools lack a universal communication protocol that can efficiently facilitate data exchange and firmware installation across various power tool types and platforms, leading to complexity and increased development and maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a universal protocol system with a generic universal core module and interface modules tailored to specific power tool types, enabling translation between different communication protocols and allowing wireless communication between power tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a universal protocol system with translation modules is implemented across diverse power tools, then communication efficiency and data exchange capability are improved, but device complexity increases due to the addition of interface modules and translation layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a universal protocol translation module that acts as an intermediary between different power tool communication protocols. This translation module converts proprietary protocols from various power tool manufacturers into a standardized universal protocol, enabling seamless data exchange without requiring each device to implement multiple protocol stacks. The translation module handles protocol conversion transparently, maintaining communication efficiency while improving compatibility across diverse devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal protocol framework that can handle multiple communication protocols through a single standardized interface. The system design allows the same hardware infrastructure to support various protocols (Bluetooth, WiFi, proprietary protocols) by leveraging the translation module's multi-functional capability. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate communication stacks for each protocol type, thereby managing complexity while enhancing adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication capabilities are added to power tools for data exchange and remote operation, then operational versatility and troubleshooting efficiency are improved, but energy consumption increases due to additional wireless communication components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic communication mode switching that adapts the wireless communication behavior based on operational requirements. The system can switch between low-power modes (intermittent data logging, sleep modes) and high-performance modes (real-time streaming, active troubleshooting) depending on the task at hand. This dynamic approach ensures that wireless communication provides maximum versatility while consuming minimal energy during normal operation, only activating full capabilities when explicitly needed.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If comprehensive data logging and performance monitoring are implemented across all power tools, then diagnostic capability and troubleshooting efficiency are improved, but data management complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates data management functions from the core power tool operation. A dedicated data logging module handles all data collection, storage, and transmission tasks independently from the main control logic. This extraction allows comprehensive performance monitoring and diagnostic data collection without complicating the primary power tool functionality. The separated data module can be updated or configured without affecting core operations, thereby improving diagnostic capability while managing complexity through functional separation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for communicating between motorized power tools includes establishing, using a physical interface of a first power tool, a wireless radio link between the first power tool and a second power tool. The first power tool has a first motor and the second power tool has a second motor. A signal is received over the wireless radio link, via the physical interface, at the first power tool from the second power tool using a first wireless communication protocol. The signal includes an identifier. The second power tool is verified as authorized to send the signal to the first power tool based on the identifier. A tool component of the first power tool is controlled responsive to the signal.