A method of operating a power tool, a power tool control system, a power tool and an extension device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a power tool, a control system for a power tool, a power tool and an extension device 300. The power tool is operated using a power source, a control system and a device interface. The device interface is designed for directly coupling a power source or an extension device 300, which supplies the power tool with electrical energy, to the device interface and for establishing at least one electrical connection. During the execution of the method, operating parameters of the power source are acquired by means of the at least one electrical connection via the device interface and evaluated in order to determine whether the power source or the extension device 300 is directly coupled to the device interface. The power tool can be controlled by the control system after the end of the process in accordance with the result of the evaluation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for operating a power tool, a control system for a power tool, a power tool, and an extension device. Background Technology

[0002] According to the prior art, methods for operating power tools, control systems for power tools, power tools and extension devices are known, for example, as seen in published documents DE 10 2021 206 899 A1, WO 2022 / 109232 A1 and EP 4112 232 A1. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a method for operating a power tool, wherein the method employs a power supply, a control system, and a power tool interface to power the power tool. The power tool interface is designed to directly couple a power supply or extension device that supplies power to the power tool to the power tool, establishing at least one electrical connection. The extension device is equipped with a device-side extension interface and a power-side extension interface, which are designed to directly connect the power tool to the device-side extension interface via the power tool interface, and simultaneously connect the power supply directly to the power-side extension interface, thereby powering the power tool and extending at least one electrical connection. The method includes the following steps: - Through the device interface, the control system acquires the operating parameters of the power supply using at least one electrical connection; The control system evaluates operating parameters to determine whether the power supply or expansion device is directly coupled to the device interface. At the same time, the control system searches for changes in operating parameters, which are characteristics of the expansion device and are superimposed on the operating parameters by the expansion device.

[0004] In this process, the power supply can be coupled to the power tool in various ways to supply electrical energy to the power tool. For example, the power supply can be directly coupled to the power tool's device interface. In many cases, the power supply, or at least a portion thereof, can be inserted into the device interface. This coupling method can also be referred to as direct coupling between the power supply and the power tool. In contrast, the power supply can also be indirectly coupled to the power tool via an extension device. For this purpose, the power supply, or at least a portion thereof, can be inserted or pushed into a power supply-side extension interface, and the extension device can be inserted into the power tool's device interface via the device-side interface. Thus, the power supply can be directly coupled to the extension device via the power supply-side extension interface, and the extension device can be directly coupled to the power tool via both the device interface and the device-side extension interface. The direct coupling between the power supply and the extension device can be implemented in the same manner as the direct coupling between the power supply and the power tool.

[0005] The power supply is directly coupled to the power tool via a device interface, or indirectly coupled to an extension device coupled to the power tool via a power supply-side extension interface, to supply power to the power tool. For this purpose, one or more corresponding electrical connections need to be established. A key feature of electrical connections is their ability to transmit current, which contrasts sharply with wireless radio frequency connections. One or more electrical connections can be extended by adding extension devices. In most cases, one or more electrical connections are extended according to the spatial expansion of the extension device, or according to the physical length of the extension device. In most cases, a mechanical connection or coupling is also formed between the power supply, the extension device, and / or the power tool. Mechanical connections can be rigidly designed, for example, through snap-fit ​​or snap-fit ​​connections. However, the connection can also be flexible, for example, designed as a flexible connector, plug connector, and / or cable.

[0006] Using the described method, the control system can acquire the operating parameters of the power supply via a device interface through at least one of the aforementioned electrical connections, and analyze whether the power supply is directly coupled to the power tool or indirectly coupled through an extension device. The control system will detect changes in the operating parameters, which are characteristic indicators of the extension device. The control system can identify direct coupling of the power supply to the power tool by the absence of extension device-specific changes in the operating parameters. The control system can identify indirect coupling of the power supply to the power tool through an extension device by the aforementioned changes in the operating parameters. Therefore, the control system evaluates the operating parameters to determine whether the power supply or the extension device is directly connected to the device interface, thereby controlling the system to detect changes in the operating parameters, which are characteristic of the extension device and superimposed on the operating parameters by the extension device.

[0007] For example, the control system can identify the change by comparing the operating parameter values ​​collected with and without the extension device. The comparison value can be stored in the control system's memory. At this point, by simply measuring or collecting the operating parameter values, the control system can determine whether the power supply is directly connected to the power tool or indirectly connected through the extension device. Teaching or calibrating the control system can also be considered here.

[0008] Superposition can be achieved by simply extending the operating time of the extension device and increasing its internal resistance. The extension device may also include components that can purposefully superimpose specific variations. For example, one feasible approach is to use a delay element, which allows for purposeful alteration of the operating time to determine the scale of the operation. Therefore, the presence of an extension device can be detected without processing the operating parameters or the signals corresponding to those parameters; only the time curve changes.

[0009] The power tool can be controlled by the control system after the process is completed, based on the evaluation results. Due to the indirect coupling via the extension device, it may be necessary to acquire the operator's control signals from the input device of the extension device, rather than the power tool's input device. Furthermore, the control system should account for any voltage drop that may occur due to the indirect power coupling via the extension device.

[0010] Operating parameters are acquired by the control system through at least one electrical connection to the device interface. In most cases, one or more existing electrical connections or signal lines can be used. Therefore, in many cases, no additional connections or lines are required to implement the method. However, the method can also be implemented using additional connections or lines.

[0011] The power source can be an AC or DC power source. The power source is particularly a battery pack. During battery pack training, the power source can be a primary battery pack, a secondary battery pack, or a battery assembly. The power source is particularly a rechargeable battery pack.

[0012] Operating parameters can be acquired by the control system in real time, enabling the control system to collect information about power supply or operating parameter values, or information and values ​​currently provided by the power supply constituting the operating parameters, and to determine whether the power supply or expansion device is directly connected to the device interface. This information and values ​​can be acquired or measured by the control system and used for further calculations and control of the power tool's operation. The process can run in real time, for example, within a 1ms time interval. However, shorter time ranges (e.g., 0.1ms) or longer time ranges (e.g., 100ms) may also be used.

[0013] The method can be performed during the operation of the power tool, particularly when the power tool is started. The method can be repeated once or multiple times to more reliably detect the presence of the extension device. The method can be repeated periodically, for example, at time intervals of 0.1 ms, 1 ms, 5 ms, 20 ms, 100 ms, 500 ms, or 1 s. The process can be restarted or repeated, especially when the control system detects a relevant change in operating parameters. A relevant change can be, for example, whether the change is greater than or equal to 0.1%, 0.2%, or 1% of the operating parameter compared to a previous setpoint or nominal or absolute value. This is especially important when a change indicates a disconnection of power or the extension device, for example, because the control system can no longer acquire the relevant signals used to form the operating parameters. The method can continue to be repeated until the control system can detect the corresponding signal again.

[0014] Since operating parameters are acquired through at least one electrical connection of the device interface, and the power supply can also be indirectly connected to the power tool via an extension device, the operating parameters can be altered by the extension device. This alteration can be manifested as a characteristic of the extension device, or as reflecting the coupling characteristics between the power supply and the power tool via the extension device. Information about the extension device can be overlaid on the operating parameters because they are acquired through the device interface and the extension interfaces and corresponding electrical connections between the device and battery pack.

[0015] The power tool can have a normal operating mode and an extended operating mode. Therefore, when the control system analyzes and determines that the power supply is directly coupled to the device interface, it can switch the power tool to the normal operating mode. If the control system assesses and determines that the extended device is directly coupled to the device interface, the control system can switch the power tool to the extended operating mode. In this way, the operation of the power tool can be adjusted based on whether it is powered directly by the power supply coupled to the power tool or indirectly by the extended device. This allows the power tool to operate more reliably. In extended operating mode, functions that cannot be affected by the extended device can also be disabled or set to a predetermined mode. Similarly, in extended operating mode, functions that are only available when using the extended device may be provided. In the normal operating mode of the power tool, the query of corresponding control commands can be omitted.

[0016] The device interface can be designed to connect the signal lines of the power supply or extension device to the control system of the power tool. Operating parameters can be detected by the control system via the signal lines. Therefore, this method can utilize existing signal lines to match the operation of the power tool with the presence of the extension device. Thus, there is no need to set up additional signal lines to transmit information about whether the power supply and the power tool are directly or indirectly coupled.

[0017] For example, a control system can use at least one electrical connection to acquire the time curve of the power supply's measurement parameters, and use the time curve of the measurement parameters to determine the operating parameters, thereby achieving the acquisition of operating parameters. In this way, lines that could originally only transmit information about slowly changing measurement parameters can be made more efficient.

[0018] Operating parameters can be time ranges, which can be calculated or determined by the control system using time curves. Therefore, operating parameters can be signal transmission time, or the time required to determine temperature via a corresponding signal, or, when the power supply is designed as a battery pack, the time required to determine the battery pack's state of charge and / or operating status. Operating parameters can also be determined by shape, particularly width, tilt, or asymmetry, and the environment surrounding the maximum or minimum values ​​(often also referred to as peaks) in the aforementioned function or time curve.

[0019] The measured parameters can be the voltage, current, resistance, and / or temperature of the battery pack, or parameters corresponding to the voltage, current, resistance, and / or temperature of the battery pack. The measured parameters can be the temperature of the power supply, or a temperature signal corresponding to the power supply temperature. The temperature or temperature signal can be determined using a temperature-dependent resistor (e.g., a negative temperature coefficient thermistor, also known as an NTC). If the power supply is a battery pack, the measured parameters can include information about the internal resistance of one or more cells in the battery pack, or can be determined using appropriate measurements and signals. A significant advantage of this method in these cases is that the voltage range of the measurements or the aforementioned signals (especially the temperature signal) can remain constant.

[0020] Test signals from the control system can be applied to at least one electrical connection via a device interface to acquire operating parameters. Therefore, the control system can be disconnected from the expansion device, for example, by recognizing the expansion device through a pulse response to existing wiring used to transmit measurement-related information.

[0021] The power tool can be designed to operate using power from a variety of different power sources and / or power types. In this case, the device interface is designed to directly couple any of the various power sources and / or power types supplying power to the power tool to the device interface and establish at least one electrical connection. Operating parameters may contain information uniquely corresponding to each power source and / or power type, enabling the control system to further analyze these parameters to determine which power source from the multiple different power sources and / or power types is directly coupled to the device interface and / or power-side expansion interface. Therefore, the operation of the power tool can adapt to various connected power sources, especially the power parameters and / or power type.

[0022] Similar to changing operating parameters via an extension device, information associated with the power supply and / or power supply type can be superimposed onto the operating parameters. For example, this superposition can be achieved using components of the corresponding power supply and / or power supply model, such as delay elements, which can be used to selectively adjust the operating time to determine the operating scale. Such delay elements can be capacitors, coils, or inductors. Cascading can be employed in this case. For example, a small-capacity capacitor can be used in the extension device, while a larger-capacity capacitor can be used in the power supply, or vice versa. Therefore, this method can identify not only the extension device but also various power supplies or power supply models, as well as other devices that may be coupled to the power tool.

[0023] The present invention also relates to a control system for a power tool, the control system being designed to power the power tool using a power source and to execute the steps of any of the aforementioned methods via a device interface. The device interface is designed to directly couple a power source or an extension device for supplying electrical energy from the power source to the power tool to the device interface, establishing at least one electrical connection. Furthermore, the extension device is equipped with a device-side extension interface and a power-side extension interface, the latter being designed to directly connect the power tool to the device-side extension interface via the device interface, and simultaneously directly connect the power source to the power-side extension interface, thereby supplying electrical energy from the power source to the power tool and extending at least one electrical connection. The extension device is designed to superimpose variations in the operating parameters of the power source, the variations being a characteristic of the extension device.

[0024] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a power tool having the control system described above. The control system of the power tool is designed to perform the method steps of any of the aforementioned methods using a power supply that powers the power tool and a device interface. The device interface is designed to directly couple the power supply or an extension device for supplying electrical energy from the power supply to the power tool to the device interface, establishing at least one electrical connection. Furthermore, the extension device is equipped with a device-side extension interface and a power supply-side extension interface, which are designed to directly connect the power tool to the device-side extension interface via the device interface, while simultaneously directly connecting the power supply to the power supply-side extension interface, thereby supplying electrical energy from the power supply to the power tool and extending at least one electrical connection. The extension device is designed to superimpose variations in the operating parameters of the power supply, and these variations are a characteristic of the extension device.

[0025] Another starting point of the present invention is an extension device for power tools as described above, the extension device being designed to superimpose changing features of the extension device onto the operating parameters of the power supply.

[0026] The extension device may include additional electrical components designed to superimpose the varying characteristics of the extension device onto the operating parameters of the power supply. Such components are capable of reliably identifying intermediate extension devices.

[0027] For example, the additional electrical components may be or include capacitors and / or inductors. Capacitors and / or inductors provide a cost-effective solution for implementing time-delay elements. The additional electrical components may also be delay elements used to modify the aforementioned pulse response in a manner specific to the extended device.

[0028] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a system comprising the power tools and extension devices as described above.

[0029] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions that cause the control system described above to perform the method steps of any of the above methods.

[0030] The present invention also relates to a computer-readable medium on which the aforementioned computer program is stored. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Other features and aspects of the invention will be illustrated in the following drawings, which show in detail several embodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments are merely illustrative. It should be understood that there are many other ways to implement the invention. Illustrations: Figure 1 For power tools, Figure 2 For battery packs, Figure 3 For expansion devices, Figure 4 For battery packs, Figure 5 A flowchart of the method according to the present invention, and Figure 6 For charts. Detailed Implementation

[0032] Figure 1 A handheld power tool 100 is shown, which is equipped with a motor 110. The motor 110 is electrically connected via wires 112 and 114. Wires 112 and 114 are respectively electrically connected to the control system or the electronic device 120. Therefore, the motor 110 is electrically connected to the electronic device 120 via wires 112 and 114.

[0033] The electronic device 120 is electrically connected to the contact plate 130 via wires 122, 126, and 128. The contact plate 130 constitutes the device interface of the power tool 100. The contact plate 130 of the device interface has contacts 132, 134, 136, and 138. Contact 132 is connected to wire 122, contact 134 is connected to wire 124, contact 136 is connected to wire 126, and contact 138 is connected to wire 128. Furthermore, wire 124 is also connected to the switch 140. By closing the switch 140, wire 124 and wire 126 can be electrically connected. In this case, the electronic device 120 is electrically connected to contact 134 via wires 124 and 126 and the closed switch 140. Additionally, the electronic device 120 is electrically connected to wire 129. Wire 129 is electrically connected to wire 124. Furthermore, the connection between the electronic device 120 and the wire 128 also includes a pull-up resistor. The resistance value of the pull-up resistor is 3.3kΩ. In other embodiments, the resistance value of the pull-up resistor may also be in the range of 1kΩ to 100kΩ, and particularly in the range of 2kΩ to 20kΩ.

[0034] Furthermore, the power tool also includes a control element 150. The control element 150 is electrically connected to wires 152 and 154. Wire 152 is electrically connected to a switch 140. Wire 154 is electrically connected to a potentiometer 160. Operating the control element 150 closes the switch 140, and the electronic device or motor is controlled by means of the potentiometer 160 connected to the control element 150. Thus, the operator of the handheld power tool 100 with electronic device 120 can specify the operating speed of the motor 110.

[0035] In this embodiment, the rotational speed is specified by a potentiometer. However, the rotational speed can also be specified in other ways, such as by using one or more Hall sensors.

[0036] Figure 2A battery pack 200 is shown that can power the power tool 100. The battery pack 200 has contacts 232, 234, and 238. The battery pack 200 can be electrically connected to the power tool 100 via contacts 232, 234, and 238. Contact 232 forms a mating element corresponding to contact 132, contact 234 forms a mating element corresponding to contact 134, and contact 238 forms a mating element corresponding to contact 138. If the battery pack 200 is electrically connected to the power tool 100 via contacts 132, 134, 232, and 234, the electronic device 120 will receive power from the battery pack 200 via wires 122 and 129. The motor 110 can receive power via wires 122, 124, and 126 and wires 112 and 114 by closing the switch 140.

[0037] In addition, the battery pack is equipped with a negative temperature coefficient thermistor 210 (NTC210 for short). The NTC210 is electrically connected to contacts 232 and 238 via wires 222 and 228. Therefore, NTC or temperature signals can be acquired through contacts 232 and 238, which can provide information about the temperature of the battery pack 200.

[0038] The battery pack 200 is equipped with multiple rechargeable lithium-ion cells. In other embodiments, the battery pack may also be composed of nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride cells. It may also be composed of primary cells instead of secondary cells.

[0039] Figure 3 An extension device 300 is shown. The extension device 300 has contacts 332, 334, 336, and 338, which constitute a device-side extension interface for the extension device 300. The extension device 300 can be electrically connected to a power tool 100 via contacts 332, 334, 336, and 338 of the device-side extension interface on the power tool. Specifically, contact 332 constitutes a mating element corresponding to contact 132, contact 334 constitutes a mating element corresponding to contact 134, contact 336 constitutes a mating element corresponding to contact 136, and contact 338 constitutes a mating element corresponding to contact 338.

[0040] Furthermore, the expansion device 300 is also equipped with contacts 392, 394, and 398, which constitute the power-side expansion interface of the expansion device 300. Through contacts 392, 394, and 398 of the power-side expansion interface, the expansion device 300 can achieve electrical connection with the battery pack 200. Specifically, contact 232 constitutes a mating element corresponding to contact 392, contact 234 constitutes a mating element corresponding to contact 394, and contact 238 constitutes a mating element corresponding to contact 398.

[0041] Furthermore, the extension device 300 is also equipped with wires 322, 324, 326, and 328. Wire 322 connects contact 332 to contact 392. Contacts 338 and 398 are connected via wire 398. Wire 324 also connects electrical contacts 334 and 394. Furthermore, contact 336 is electrically connected to switch 340 via wire 326. Additionally, switch 340 is connected to wire 324, so by closing switch 340, contact 336 can also be electrically connected to contact 394.

[0042] When the battery pack 200 is connected to the extension device 300, and the extension device 300 is electrically connected to the power tool 100 via contacts 132, 134, 232, 234, 332, 334, 392, and 394, the electronic device 120 receives power from the battery pack via wires 322, 324, 122, and 129. The motor 110 receives power via wires 322, 326, 122, and 126, and wires 112 and 114, by closing the switch 340. In this configuration, the battery pack 200 is electrically connected to the extension device 300 via contacts 138, 238, 338, and 398, and the extension device 300 is electrically connected to the power tool 100 via the same contacts, enabling the electronic control system 120 to intercept the temperature signal or NTC signal of the NTC 210 via contacts 132, 138, 232, 238, 392, and 398.

[0043] The battery pack 200 can be directly coupled to the power tool 100. The battery pack 200 can also be directly connected to the extension device 300, and the extension device 300 coupled to the battery pack 200 can in turn be directly connected to the power tool 100. By connecting the battery pack 200 to the extension device 300 and the extension device 300 to the power tool 100, not only is an electrical connection established, but a mechanical connection is also formed. Therefore, with the help of the extension device 300, the working range accessible to the operator from a certain position using the power tool 100 can be expanded or extended.

[0044] Furthermore, the extension device is equipped with a control element 350. The control element is electrically connected to a wire 352. The wire 352 is also electrically connected to a switch 340. By operating the control element 350, the operator of the extension device 300 can close the switch 340. Unlike control element 150, control element 350 has no additional wiring. Therefore, if the extension device 300 is coupled to the power tool 100 and connected to a battery pack (e.g., battery pack 200), the operating speed of the motor 110 cannot be specified by the control element 350 of the operating electronics 120. Therefore, when the electronics 120 detects that the battery pack (e.g., battery pack 200) is indirectly connected to the power tool 100 through the extension device 300, the electronics 120 will drive the motor 110 at its maximum speed. In this embodiment, a good balance is struck between the complexity of the extension device 300 and the application scenarios in which it is designed. In other embodiments, the control element 350 may be connected to additional wires to, for example, make an electrical connection with the potentiometer 160, and the speed of the motor 110 may also be set by the control element 350.

[0045] In addition, the expansion device 300 is also equipped with a capacitor 370. The capacitor is electrically connected to wires 372 and 374. Furthermore, wire 372 is electrically connected to wire 322, and wire 378 is electrically connected to wire 328.

[0046] Figure 4A battery pack 400 is shown. The battery pack 400 includes many of the same components as the battery pack 200. The power tool 100 can also operate using the battery pack 400. The battery pack 400 has contacts 432, 434, and 438. The battery pack 400 can be electrically connected to the power tool 100 through contacts 432, 434, and 438. Contact 432 forms a mating element corresponding to contact 132, contact 434 forms a mating element corresponding to contact 134, and contact 438 forms a mating element corresponding to contact 138. If the battery pack 400 is electrically connected to the power tool 100 through contacts 132, 134, 432, and 434, the electronic device 120 will receive power from the battery pack 400 through wires 122 and 129. The motor 110 can obtain electrical power by closing the switch 140 via the wires 122, 124 and 126 and the wires 112 and 114.

[0047] In addition, the battery pack 400 is also equipped with an NTC 410. The NTC 410 is electrically connected to contacts 432 and 438 via wires 422 and 428. Therefore, NTC or temperature signals can be acquired through contacts 432 and 438, which can provide information about the temperature of the battery pack 400.

[0048] The battery pack 400 is also equipped with multiple rechargeable lithium-ion cells. However, in other embodiments, the battery pack may also be composed of nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride cells. It may also be composed of primary cells instead of secondary cells.

[0049] In addition, the battery pack 400 is also equipped with a capacitor 470. The capacitor 470 is electrically connected to wires 422 and 428. Therefore, the capacitor 470 is connected in parallel with the NTC 410 at contacts 432 and 438.

[0050] Figure 5 A flowchart of a method 500 according to the present invention is shown. The method 500 is executed by the electronic device 120 of the power tool 100 for detecting whether the power tool 100 is directly coupled to the battery pack 200, the battery pack 400, or the extension device 300. The method 500 begins at step 510, in which power is supplied to the electronic device 120 via the battery pack. Power supply can be achieved by inserting the battery pack 200 or the battery pack 400 into the power tool 100. However, it can also be achieved by inserting the battery pack 200 or the battery pack 400 into the extension device 300, and then inserting the extension device 300 into the power tool 100.

[0051] In step 520, the electronic device 120 grounds wire 128 for 5 ms through a 220 ohm resistor, thereby recording the voltage-time curve between wires 128 and 122. Wires 122 and 128 are connected to NTC 210 or NTC 410 through contacts 132 and 138. During this period, the temperature value that can be reliably measured by the wires 122 and 128 and the NTC 210 or NTC 410 will become invalid. A certain amount of time is required before the temperature value can be reliably measured again by the wires 122 and 128 and the NTC 210 or NTC 410. Since the typical delay factor of the temperature signal that can be acquired or intercepted by the wires 22 and 128 and the NTC 210 or NTC 410 is higher than the pulse response generated by grounding the wire 128, temperature measurement can be cancelled during the execution of step 520. In other embodiments, resistors with different resistance values ​​such as 100, 200, or 300 ohms can be used instead of the 220 ohm resistor. In other embodiments, other time ranges for grounding the line 128 can also be selected, such as 2ms, 4ms, 6ms or 8ms.

[0052] Subsequently, in step 530, the electronic device evaluates the acquired voltage curve to determine when to set the NTC voltage. Without the extension device 300, the NTC voltage is set earlier; approximately 10ms for battery pack 200 and approximately 60ms for battery pack 400 due to the additional capacity of capacitor 470. With the extension device 300 connected intermediately, the NTC voltage is also delayed due to the additional capacity of capacitor 370; approximately 20ms for battery pack 200 and approximately 70ms for battery pack 400. Therefore, the electronic device can identify whether battery pack 200, battery pack 400, or extension device 300 is directly coupled to the power tool. The actual NTC signal is indeed affected by capacitors 370 and 470, but only within the tolerance range or for a relatively short time. In this case, when using capacitors 370 or 470, the deviation will temporarily be below approximately 2K. This deviation is not persistent but only occurs briefly, meaning it recovers to a negligible range relatively quickly.

[0053] In the next step 540, the electronic device 120 adjusts the operation of the power tool 100 based on the evaluation result of step 530. For the power tool 100, operation using the potentiometer function described above is the normal operating mode, meaning the operator can specify the speed of the motor 110 via the control element 150. However, when the extension device 300 is connected to the power tool 100, the motor 110 of the power tool 100 is specified to operate at a predetermined speed, particularly at its maximum speed. This mode is the extended operating mode of the power tool. Method 500 reliably detects whether the power tool 100 is operating via the extension device 300, and the electronic device 120 adjusts the operating mode of the power tool 100 accordingly.

[0054] Figure 6 Voltage curves 600 and 610 are shown. During the implementation of method 500, after the battery pack 200 is coupled to the power tool 100, the electronic device 120 acquires voltage curve 600 during step 520. Through voltage curve 600, the control system recognizes that the battery pack 200 is directly coupled to the power tool 100. Subsequently, the control system adjusts the operation of the power tool 100 so that the motor 110 operates at a speed specified by the operator via potentiometer 160. After the battery pack 200 is connected to the power tool 100 via the extension device 300, and the control system re-executes method 500, voltage curve 610 is recorded by the control system during step 520 during a subsequent execution of method 500. At this time, the control system recognizes that the battery pack 200 is coupled to the power tool 100 via the extension device 300. Subsequently, the control system adjusts the operation of the power tool 100 so that the motor 110 operates at its rated speed.

Claims

1. A method (500) for operating a power tool (100); The power tool (100) is supplied with electrical energy using a power source (200; 400). Control system (120) and Device interface, The device interface is designed to directly connect a power source (200; 400) or extension device (300) for supplying power to the power tool (100) to the device interface and establish at least one electrical connection; in, The expansion device (300) has a device-side expansion interface and a power-side expansion interface; The expansion device (300), the device-side expansion interface and the power-side expansion interface are designed to directly connect the power tool (100) to the device-side expansion interface through the device interface, and to directly connect the power supply (200; 400) to the power-side expansion interface, thereby supplying power to the power tool (100) and expanding the at least one electrical connection; Includes the following steps: Through the device interface, the control system (120) uses the at least one electrical connection to detect the operating parameters (520) of the power supply (200; 400); The control system (120) evaluates the operating parameters (530) to determine whether the power supply (200; 400) or the expansion device (300) is directly connected to the device interface; The control system (120) detects changes in the operating parameters. The aforementioned changes are features of the expansion device (300); and The operating parameters are superimposed on the expansion device (300).

2. The method (500) according to the preceding claim. Its features are, The power tool (100) has a standard operating mode and an extended operating mode; When the evaluation (530) of the control system (120) indicates that the power supply (200; 400) is directly coupled to the device interface, the power tool (100) is switched to the standard operating mode (540) by the control system (120); and When the evaluation (530) of the control system (120) shows that the extension device (300) is directly connected to the device interface, the power tool (100) is switched to the extension operation mode (540) by the control system (120).

3. The method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The device interface is designed to connect the signal line of the power supply (200; 400) or the expansion device (300) to the control system (120) of the power tool (100); and The operating parameters are detected by the control system (120) through the signal line (520).

4. The method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, Through the device interface and utilizing the at least one electrical connection, the control system (120) records the time curves (600, 610) (520) of the measured parameters of the power supply (200; 400). The operating parameters are calculated by the control system (120) using the time curves (600, 610) of the measured parameters, and recorded therefrom (520).

5. The method (500) according to the preceding claim. Its features are, The operating parameters are time ranges, and the time ranges are determined by the control system (120) using the time curves (600, 610).

6. The method (500) according to any one of the preceding two claims. Its features are, The measured parameters are the voltage, current, resistance, and / or temperature of the power supply (200; 400), or correspond to the voltage, current, resistance, and / or temperature of the power supply (200; 400).

7. The method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, Through the device interface, at least one electrical connection is subjected to test signals from the control system (120) to determine the operating parameters (520).

8. The method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The power tool (100) is designed to operate using electrical energy from any of a plurality of different power sources (200; 400) and / or power types (200; 400); The device interface is designed to directly couple any power source (200; 400) from multiple different power sources (200; 400) and / or power types (200; 400) to the device interface, thereby supplying electrical power to the power tool (100) and establishing at least one electrical connection; The control system (120) further evaluates the operating parameters (530) to determine which power supply (200; 400) is directly coupled to the device interface and / or the power supply-side expansion interface from the number and / or type of different power supplies (200; 400).

9. A control system (120) for a power tool (100), the control system (120) being designed to perform the method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims using a power supply (200; 400) supplying electrical power to the power tool (100) and a device interface.

10. A power tool (100) equipped with a control system (120) according to the preceding claim.

11. An extension device (300) for a power tool (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the extension device (300) is designed to superimpose characteristic variations of the extension device (300) on the operating parameters of the power supply (200; 400).

12. The extension device (300) according to the preceding claim. Its features are, An electrical component designed to superimpose characteristic variations of the extension device (300) onto the operating parameters of the power supply (200; 400).

13. The extension device (300) according to the preceding claim. Its features are, The electrical components are capacitors and / or coils, or include said capacitors and / or coils.

14. A system comprising a power tool (100) according to claim 10 and an extension device (300) according to any one of claims 11 to 13.

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