Power tools and methods for controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016167186-A1
Application number	US-201414569271-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 12, 2014
Priority date	Dec 12, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A power tool includes a body, a motor, a sensor and a processor. The body includes an accessory coupler. The motor is coupled to the body and is configured to drive the accessory coupler. The sensor is coupled to the body and is configured to acquire data regarding a material property of a work piece. The processor is configured to control an operating parameter of the power tool based on the acquired data.

First claim

1 . A power tool, comprising:
a body including an accessory coupler; a motor coupled to the body and configured to drive the accessory coupler; a sensor coupled to the body and configured to acquire data regarding a material property of a work piece; and a processor configured to control an operating parameter of the power tool based on the acquired data.

2 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter is at least one of a speed of the motor, a force of the motor, a feed rate for the power tool, or a flow of cutting fluid for the power tool.

3 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to provide a recommendation to a user of the power tool based on the work piece data.

4 . The power tool of claim 3 , wherein the recommendation is at least one of a recommended accessory size or type, a speed of the motor, a feed rate for the power tool, or a flow rate of cutting fluid for the power tool.

5 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to acquire the data by a non-contact sensing technique.

6 . (canceled)

7 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to acquire the data by a contact sensing technique.

8 . (canceled)

9 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect a characteristic associated with an interaction between the power tool and the work piece.

10 . The power tool of claim 9 , wherein the characteristic includes at least one of a noise, a force, a temperature of the work piece, a size of the work piece, or an appearance of the work piece.

11 - 41 . (canceled)

42 . A control system for a power tool, comprising:
a sensor configured to acquire data regarding a material property of a work piece; and a processor configured to control an operating parameter of the power tool based on the acquired data.

43 . The control system of claim 42 , wherein the data received by the power tool includes a material characteristic of the work piece.

44 . (canceled)

45 . The control system of claim 42 , further comprising a communications interface configured to receive data regarding a material property of the work piece from a second power tool to control an operating parameter of the power tool.

46 . The control system of claim 45 , wherein the communications interface is configured to transmit the acquired data from the power tool to a third power tool to control an operating parameter of the third power tool.

47 . The control system of claim 45 , wherein the information received from the second power tool is input by a user.

48 . (canceled)

49 . The control system of claim 45 , wherein the processor is configured to use the information received from the second power tool to select a tool accessory for the power tool.

50 . (canceled)

51 . The control system of claim 45 , wherein the processor is configured to use the information received from the second power tool to control the power tool to compensate for a condition of the work piece.

52 . The control system of claim 51 , wherein the condition of the work piece includes at least one of a shape, a thickness, or a material property.

53 . The control system of claim 42 , wherein the processor is configured to control an operating parameter of the power tool based on the data.

54 . (canceled)

55 . The control system of claim 42 , wherein the processor is configured to provide a recommendation to a user of the power tool based on the data.

56 - 67 . (canceled)

68 . The control system of claim 42 , further comprising an accessory selector configured to automatically change a tool accessory based on the acquired data.

69 . (canceled)

70 . The control system of claim 42 , wherein the processor is configured to send a signal to a user to modify an operating parameter of the power tool, wherein the signal is at least one of an audible signal, a visual signal, or a tactile signal.

71 . The control system of claim 42 , wherein the processor is configured to provide a signal to request a user to perform an action to identify the work piece.

72 . The control system of claim 42 , wherein the processor is configured to provide a signal to request additional information from a user to select an operating parameter or a desired result of the power tool.

73 . The control system of claim 72 , wherein the additional information includes at least one of a desired hole size, a hole depth, a cut depth, a cut width, a cut length, or a surface finish quality of the work piece.

74 . The control system of claim 42 , wherein the processor is configured to send a warning signal to a user to indicate that the power tool should not be used based on a detected characteristic of the work piece.

75 . The control system of claim 42 , wherein the sensor is configured to read encoded data associated with the work piece to obtain data about the work piece.

76 . The control system of claim 75 , wherein the encoded data is in the form of an identification/information code associated with the work piece, and wherein the identification/information code is at least one of a barcode, a QR code, an RFID tag, a written mark, or a printed mark.

77 - 177 . (canceled)

178 . A power tool system, comprising:
a first power tool, the first power tool comprising: a processor; and a communications interface operatively connected to the processor; a second power tool in electronic communication with the first power tool; wherein the communications interface is configured to receive data regarding a material property of a work piece from the second power tool; and wherein the processor is configured to control an operating parameter of the first power tool based on the data.

179 . The system of claim 178 , wherein the data includes a material characteristic of the work piece.

180 . (canceled)

181 . The system of claim 178 , wherein the data is input by a user.

182 . (canceled)

183 . The system of claim 178 , wherein the data is used to select a tool accessory for the first power tool.

184 . The system of claim 183 , wherein the tool accessory is at least one of a bit, a cutting blade, or an abrasive.

185 - 186 . (canceled)

187 . The system of claim 178 , wherein the data is used to control an operating parameter of the first power tool.

188 - 191 . (canceled)

192 . The system of claim 178 , wherein at least one of the first or second power tools is portable.

193 . The system of claim 178 , wherein at least one of the first or second power tools is stationary.

194 . (canceled)

195 . The system of claim 178 , wherein the communications interface is configured to communicate wirelessly with the second power tool.

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Chan Alistair K
• Hyde Roderick A
• Kare Jordin T

Classifications

• G05B19/4185

  characterised by the network communication · CPC title

• B25F5/00 Primary

  Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G05B2219/33274

  Integrated communication and control, transmission delay, sampling rate effect · CPC title

• B23Q15/20 Primary

  before or after the tool acts upon the workpiece · CPC title