Motor driven appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844849-B2
Application number	US-201514597806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2015
Priority date	Jan 16, 2014
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A motor driven appliance in one aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure comprises a light source, a lighting unit, a motor, an operation unit, an operation detector, a reference signal output unit, a determination unit, and a control unit. The operation detector detects that the operation unit is operated, and outputs an operation detection signal that indicates that the operation unit is operated. The reference signal output unit outputs at least one reference signal that can be used as a reference for determining whether the detection by the operation detector is normal. The determination unit determines whether the operation unit is actually operated based on the operation detection signal and the at least one reference signal. The control unit controls operation of the lighting unit based on the determination made by the determination unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A motor driven appliance comprising:
a light source;
a lighting unit configured to turn on the light source;
a motor configured to generate a driving force for work to be done by a user of the motor driven appliance;
a power source configured to supply to the motor an electric power to drive the motor;
an operation unit configured to be operated by the user to actuate the motor;
an operation detector configured to detect that the operation unit is operated, and to output an operation detection signal that indicates that the operation unit is operated;
a reference signal output unit configured to output at least one reference signal that can be used as a reference for determining whether the detection by the operation detector is normal;
a determination unit configured to determine whether the operation unit is actually operated based on the operation detection signal and the at least one reference signal; and
a control unit configured to control operation of the lighting unit based on the determination made by the determination unit,
wherein the operation unit comprises a switch configured to electrically connect and disconnect the motor and the power source, and
the reference signal output unit is further configured to output as the at least one reference signal a signal that indicates whether the motor and the power source are electrically connected via the switch.

2. The motor driven appliance according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control unit is further configured to stop the operation of the lighting unit when the determination unit determines that the operation unit is not actually operated, while to activate the lighting unit when the determination unit determines that the operation unit is actually operated.

3. The motor driven appliance according to claim 1 , further comprising a substrate without waterproof and dustproof coating,
wherein the reference signal output unit is further configured to output as the at least one reference signal a signal that indicates whether a short circuit is occurring in the substrate.

4. The motor driven appliance according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operation detector comprises at least one first terminal for outputting the operation detection signal, and at least two second terminals distinct from the at least one first terminal,
wherein the reference signal output unit is further configured to output as the at least one reference signal a signal that indicates whether a short circuit is occurring between the at least two second terminals.

5. The motor driven appliance according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operation unit comprises a first contact connected to the power source configured to supply to the motor an electric power to drive the motor, and a second contact connected to the motor, the operation unit being configured to electrically connect the first contact and the second contact to one another when the operation unit is operated, and
the reference signal output unit is further configured to output as the at least one reference signal at least one signal that indicates at least one kind of physical quantity related to an impedance between the first contact and the second contact.

6. The motor driven appliance according to claim 5 ,
wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine that the operation unit is not actually operated when it is indicated by the at least one signal that indicates the at least one kind of physical quantity that the impedance between the first contact and the second contact is greater than a predetermined specified impedance.

7. The motor driven appliance according to claim 5 ,
wherein the at least one kind of physical quantity comprises an electric potential difference between the first contact and the second contact.

8. The motor driven appliance according to claim 5 ,
wherein the at least one kind of physical quantity comprises a magnitude of a current flowing through the motor.

9. The motor driven appliance according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a switching unit configured to electrically connect and disconnect the second contact and the motor; and
a driving unit configured to drive the switching unit so as to electrically connect the second contact and the motor, the driving unit being configured to drive the switching unit to flow a current of a predetermined magnitude to the motor to confirm whether the operation unit is actually operated.

10. A motor driven appliance comprising:
a light source;
a lighting unit configured to turn on the light source;
a motor configured to generate a driving force for work to be done by a user of the motor driven appliance;
an operation unit configured to be operated by the user to actuate the motor;
an operation detector configured to detect that the operation unit is operated, and to output an operation detection signal that indicates that the operation unit is operated;
a reference signal output unit configured to output at least one reference signal that can be used as a reference for determining whether the detection by the operation detector is normal;
a determination unit configured to determine whether the operation unit is actually operated based on the operation detection signal and the at least one reference signal; and
a control unit configured to control operation of the lighting unit based on the determination made by the determination unit,
wherein the operation detector comprises at least one first terminal for outputting the operation detection signal, and at least two second terminals distinct from the at least one first terminal,
wherein the reference signal output unit is further configured to output as the at least one reference signal a signal that indicates whether a short circuit is occurring between the at least two second terminals.

11. A motor driven appliance comprising:
a light source;
a lighting unit configured to turn on the light source;
a motor configured to generate a driving force for work to be done by a user of the motor driven appliance;
an operation unit configured to be operated by the user to actuate the motor;
an operation detector configured to detect that the operation unit is operated, and to output an operation detection signal that indicates that the operation unit is operated;
a reference signal output unit configured to output at least one reference signal that can be used as a reference for determining whether the detection by the operation detector is normal;
a determination unit configured to determine whether the operation unit is actually operated based on the operation detection signal and the at least one reference signal; and
a control unit configured to control operation of the lighting unit based on the determination made by the determination unit,
wherein the operation unit comprises a first contact connected to the power source configured to supply to the motor an electric power to drive the motor, and a second contact connected to the motor, the operation unit being configured to electrically connect the first contact and the second contact to one another when the operation unit is operated, and
the reference signal output unit is further configured to output as the at least one reference signal at least one signal that indicates at least one kind of physical quantity related to an impedance between the first contact and the second contact.

Assignees

• Makita Corp

Inventors

• Hayashi Seitaro
• Ishikawa Goshi
• Mori Tatsuki
• Omura Motohiro
• Yoshizaki Tatsuya

Classifications

• B23Q17/2404 Primary

  Arrangements for improving direct observation of the working space, e.g. using mirrors or lamps (structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for, F21V33/00) · 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

• H01H9/06

  Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner · CPC title

• B25B23/12

  using magnetic means · CPC title

• B25B21/00

  Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; (details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; {for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006}); Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose (machines B23P19/06) · CPC title