Methods for operating electric implements, controllers for electric appliances, electric appliances, and extension devices

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for operating electrical tools, controls for electrical tools, electrical tools, and extension devices 300. A voltage source, a control unit, and a device interface are used to operate the electrical tool. The device interface is designed to directly connect the voltage source or an extension device 300 for supplying the electrical tool with electrical energy to the device interface, thereby establishing at least one electrical connection. Within the framework of the method, an operating parameter of the voltage source is detected via the device interface using the at least one electrical connection and evaluated to determine whether the voltage source or the extension device 300 is directly connected to the device interface.After the procedure is completed, the electrical work device can be controlled by the control system depending on the result of the evaluation.

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to methods for operating electrical work equipment, controls for electrical work equipment, electrical work equipment and extension devices. State of the art

[0002] Methods for operating electrical work equipment, controls for electrical work equipment, electrical work equipment and extension devices are known from the prior art, e.g. from the published patent applications DE 10 2021 206 899 A1, WO 2022 / 109232 A1 and EP 4 112 232 A1. Solution:

[0003] The invention relates to a method for operating an electrical device using a voltage source for supplying the electrical device with electrical energy, a control unit, and a device interface. The device interface is designed to directly connect the voltage source or an extension device for supplying the electrical device with electrical energy to the device interface, thereby establishing at least one electrical connection.The extension device has a device-side extension interface and a voltage source-side extension interface, wherein the device-side extension interface and the voltage source-side extension interface are configured to connect the electrical working device directly to the device-side extension interface and the voltage source directly to the voltage source-side extension interface for supplying the electrical working device with electrical energy, thereby extending the at least one electrical connection. The method comprises the following steps: The controller detects an operating parameter of the voltage source using at least one electrical connection via the device interface; the controller evaluates the operating parameter to determine whether the voltage source or the extension device is directly connected to the device interface, searching for a change in the operating parameter that is characteristic of the extension device and is imposed on the operating parameter by the extension device.

[0004] Within the framework of this process, the power source can be coupled to the electrical device in various ways to supply it with electrical energy. For example, the power source can be directly coupled to the device interface of the electrical device. In many cases, the power source, or at least a part of it, can be plugged or inserted into the device interface. This type of coupling can also be referred to as direct coupling of the power source to the electrical device. In contrast, the power source can also be coupled indirectly to the electrical device via an extension cable. For this purpose, the power source, or at least a part of it, can be plugged or inserted into the extension cable interface on the power source side.The extension device is inserted into the device interface of the electrical tool. The power source can thus be directly connected to the extension device via the extension interface on the power source, and the extension device can be directly connected to the electrical tool via the device interface and the extension interface on the device. In particular, the direct connection of the power source to the extension device can be made in the same way as the direct connection of the power source to the electrical tool.

[0005] The coupling of the power source to the electrical device, either directly via the device interface or indirectly via the extension interface on the power source and the extension device connected to the electrical device, serves, among other things, to supply the electrical device with electrical energy. For this purpose, one or more corresponding electrical connections are established. An electrical connection is characterized, in particular, by the fact that an electric current can flow through it, in contrast to a wireless radio connection. By interposing the extension device, the one or more electrical connections can be extended accordingly. In many cases, the extension of the one or more electrical connections is achieved by the spatial extent of the extension device itself.by a length corresponding to the spatial physical extent of the extension device. In many cases, the power source, the extension device, and / or the electrical working tool are also mechanically connected or coupled to each other. The mechanical connection can be rigid, for example, via snap-fit ​​or latching connections. However, it can also be flexible, for example, via appropriately flexible joints, connectors, and / or cables.

[0006] Using this method, the controller can detect an operating parameter of the voltage source via the device interface using at least one of the aforementioned electrical connections and analyze it to determine whether the voltage source is directly connected to the electrical device or indirectly via the extension device. To do this, the controller examines the operating parameter for any changes characteristic of the extension device. If the voltage source is directly connected to the electrical device, the controller can recognize this by the fact that the operating parameter shows no change characteristic of the extension device. If the voltage source is indirectly connected to the electrical device, i.e., via the extension device, the controller can recognize this by the fact that the operating parameter exhibits the aforementioned change.For this purpose, the operating parameter is evaluated by the controller to determine whether the voltage source or the extension device is directly connected to the device interface, whereby the controller searches for a change in the operating parameter that is characteristic of the extension device and is imposed on the operating parameter by the extension device.

[0007] The change can be detected by the controller, for example, by comparing a recorded operating parameter value with and without the extension cable. Comparison values ​​can be stored in the controller's memory. Only one measurement or recording of an operating parameter value would then be required for the controller to determine whether the power source is directly connected to the electrical device or indirectly via the extension cable. Alternatively, the controller could be calibrated or trained accordingly.

[0008] The imprinting can be achieved simply by extending the propagation time and through internal resistances of the extension device. The extension device can also include a component that specifically imposes a particular change. One possibility, for example, would be to use a delay element that allows the propagation time for determining the operating parameter to be deliberately altered. This makes it possible to detect the insertion of an extension device without manipulating the value of the operating parameter or a signal corresponding to it. Only the time course is changed.

[0009] After the process is complete, the electrical device can be controlled by the controller depending on the evaluation result. Due to the indirect coupling via the extension device, it may be necessary, for example, to acquire control signals from an operator of the electrical device not from input devices on the device itself, but from input devices on the extension device. Furthermore, the voltage drop that can result from the indirect coupling of the voltage source via the extension device can be taken into account by the controller.

[0010] The operating parameters are detected by the controller using at least one electrical connection via the device interface. In many cases, one or more existing electrical connections or signal lines can be used for this purpose. Therefore, in many cases, no additional connections or lines are necessary to carry out the procedure. However, the procedure can also be carried out using additional connections or lines.

[0011] The voltage source can be an AC or DC voltage source. In particular, the voltage source can be a battery pack. In the context of a battery pack, the voltage source can be a pack composed of primary cells, a pack composed of secondary cells, or a rechargeable battery pack. The voltage source can be a rechargeable battery pack.

[0012] The operating parameters can be detected by the controller in real time, allowing the controller to acquire information about the voltage source, operating parameter values, or the information and values ​​used to calculate them, all currently provided by the voltage source. This data can then be used to determine whether the voltage source or the extension device is directly connected to the device interface. The controller can then acquire or measure this information and use it for further calculations and to control the electrical device. These processes can occur in real time, for example, within a time interval of 1 ms. However, shorter intervals of, for example, 0.1 ms or longer intervals of, for example, 100 ms are also conceivable.

[0013] The procedure can be performed during operation of the electrical equipment, particularly during startup. The procedure can be repeated once or several times to more reliably detect the presence or absence of the extension device. The procedure can be repeated at periodic intervals, for example, at intervals of 0.1 ms, 1 ms, 5 ms, 20 ms, 100 ms, 500 ms, or 1 s. It can also be performed or repeated, in particular, if the control system detects a relevant change in the operating parameter. A relevant change exists, for example, if the change is greater than or equal to 0.1%, 0.2%, or 1% of a previously determined value of the operating parameter or a nominal or absolute value of the operating parameter. This is especially relevant if a change indicates a disconnection of the voltage source or the extension device, for example.because the corresponding signal for determining the operating parameter can no longer be detected by the controller. The process can then be repeated until the corresponding signal can again be detected by the controller.

[0014] Since the operating parameter is detected via the device interface using at least one electrical connection, and the voltage source can also be indirectly connected to the electrical device via the extension device, the operating parameter can be modified by the extension device. This modification can be characteristic of the extension device itself, or of the indirect coupling of the voltage source to the electrical device via the extension device. Information about the extension device can be imprinted on the operating parameter, as it is detected via the device interface, the device-side and battery pack-side extension interface, and corresponding electrical connections.

[0015] The electrical device can have a normal operating mode and an extended operating mode. The control system can therefore switch the electrical device to normal operating mode if its evaluation indicates that the power source is directly connected to the device interface. If the control system's evaluation indicates that the extension device is directly connected to the device interface, the control system can switch the electrical device to extended operating mode. In this way, the operation of the electrical device can be adapted to whether the electrical power supply is provided by a power source directly connected to the device or indirectly via the extension device. This allows the electrical device to be operated more reliably.In extended operating mode, functionalities that cannot be influenced via the extension device can be deactivated or set to a predefined mode. Similarly, functionalities that are only available when operating with the extension device can be enabled in extended operating mode. A query for corresponding control commands is not required in the normal operating mode of the electrical tool.

[0016] The device interface can be configured to connect a signal line from the power source or extension device to the control unit of the electrical work tool. The operating parameters can then be detected by the control unit via this signal line. This method allows existing signal lines to be used to adapt the operation of the electrical work tool to the presence of the extension device. Additional signal lines for transmitting information about whether the power source is directly or indirectly connected to the electrical work tool are therefore unnecessary.

[0017] The operating parameter can be determined by the controller, for example, by recording the time-dependent profile of a measured value from the voltage source using at least one electrical connection and then calculating the operating parameter based on this time-dependent profile. This allows for better utilization of lines that would otherwise only carry information about slowly varying measured values.

[0018] The operating parameter can be a time interval, which can be calculated or determined by the controller using the time-dependent behavior. The operating parameter can therefore be a signal propagation delay, or the time required to determine the temperature or—if the voltage source is a battery pack—the charge and / or operating state of the battery pack using a corresponding signal. The operating parameter can also be determined using the shape, in particular the width, tilt, or asymmetry, of the area surrounding maxima or minima (often also referred to as peaks) in the aforementioned functions or time series.

[0019] The measured quantity can be, or correspond to, a voltage, current, resistance, and / or temperature of the battery pack. For example, the measured quantity could be the temperature of the voltage source or a temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of the voltage source. The temperature or temperature signal can be determined or recorded using a temperature-dependent resistor, such as a negative temperature coefficient thermistor (NTC). If the voltage source is a battery pack, the measured quantity can include information about the internal resistance of one or more cells in the battery pack, or be generated using corresponding measurements or signals.In these cases, the method offers the particular advantage that the voltage range for such measurements or the aforementioned signals, especially the temperature signal, can be used unchanged.

[0020] The controller can apply a test signal to at least one electrical connection via the device interface to determine the operating parameters. The extension device can therefore be detected by the controller, for example, based on an impulse response on an existing line that carries information about the measured quantity.

[0021] The electrical device can be configured to operate using electrical energy from a multiple voltage source and / or voltage source type. In this case, the device interface is configured to directly connect each voltage source from the multiple different voltage sources and / or voltage source types to the device interface, thereby establishing at least one electrical connection.The operating parameters can include information that can be uniquely assigned to each of the voltage sources and / or voltage source types, allowing the controller to additionally evaluate the operating parameters to determine which voltage source from the majority of different voltage sources and / or voltage source types is directly connected to the device interface and / or the voltage source-side extension interface. The operation of the electrical device can thus be adapted to the respective connected voltage source, in particular the power parameters of the voltage source and / or voltage source type.

[0022] The information that can be assigned to a voltage source and / or a voltage source type can be imprinted on the operating parameter—similar to how the operating parameter is changed by an extension device. This imprinting can be done, for example, by a component of the respective voltage source and / or voltage source type, such as a delay element that allows the propagation time for determining the operating parameter to be specifically varied. Such a delay element could be, for example, a capacitor, an inductor, or a coil. Cascading is possible. For example, a capacitor with a small capacitance can be used in the extension device and capacitors with larger capacitances in the voltage sources, or vice versa. The method can therefore be used not only with an extension device, but also with different voltage sources or voltage source types, and possibly other components.Further devices that can be coupled with the electrical work equipment can also be detected.

[0023] The invention further relates to a control unit for an electrical working device, which is configured to carry out the process steps of one of the methods just described using a voltage source for supplying the electrical working device with electrical energy and a device interface. The device interface is configured to directly connect the voltage source or an extension device for supplying the electrical working device with electrical energy to the voltage source and thereby establish at least one electrical connection.Furthermore, the extension device has a device-side extension interface and a voltage source-side extension interface, wherein the device-side extension interface and the voltage source-side extension interface are configured to connect the electrical working device directly to the device-side extension interface and the voltage source directly to the voltage source-side extension interface for supplying the electrical working device with electrical energy from the voltage source, thereby extending the at least one electrical connection. The extension device is configured to impose a change on an operating parameter of the voltage source that is characteristic of the extension device.

[0024] Furthermore, the invention relates to an electrical working device with a control unit as described above. The control unit of the electrical working device is configured to carry out the process steps of one of the methods described above, using a voltage source to supply the electrical working device with electrical energy and a device interface. The device interface is configured to directly connect the voltage source or an extension device for supplying the electrical working device with electrical energy to the device interface, thereby establishing at least one electrical connection.Furthermore, the extension device has a device-side extension interface and a voltage source-side extension interface, wherein the device-side extension interface and the voltage source-side extension interface are configured to connect the electrical working device directly to the device-side extension interface and the voltage source directly to the voltage source-side extension interface for supplying the electrical working device with electrical energy from the voltage source, thereby extending the at least one electrical connection. The extension device is configured to impose a change on an operating parameter of the voltage source that is characteristic of the extension device.

[0025] Another starting point for the invention is an extension device for an electrical working device as just described, wherein the extension device is designed to impose a change characteristic of the extension device on an operating parameter of a voltage source.

[0026] The extension device may include an additional electrical component designed to impose the characteristic change for the extension device on the operating parameters of the voltage source. Such components enable reliable detection of an interposed extension device.

[0027] The additional electrical component can be, for example, a capacitor and / or an inductor. Capacitors and / or inductors offer cost-effective ways to implement a time delay element. The additional electrical component can also be a time delay element to modify the impulse response described above in a way characteristic of the extension device.

[0028] The starting point of the invention is also a system comprising an electric working device and an extension device as just described.

[0029] Furthermore, the invention is based on a computer program comprising commands that cause a controller as described above to execute the process steps of one of the methods described above.

[0030] The invention also involves a computer-readable medium on which the computer program just described is stored.

[0031] Further features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following figures, which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments are exemplary. It is understood that there are a number of other different ways to implement the invention. The figures show: Fig. 1 an electrical working device, Fig. 2 a battery pack, Fig. 3 an extension device, Fig. 4 a battery pack, Fig. 5 a flow chart of a method according to the invention, and Fig. 6 a diagram.

[0032] Fig. 1Figure 1 shows a hand-held electric tool 100 with an electric motor 110. The electric motor 110 is electrically connected via electrical lines 112 and 114. These lines are in turn electrically connected to a control unit or electronics 120. Therefore, the electric motor 110 is electrically connected to the electronics 120 via the electrical lines 112 and 114.

[0033] The electronics 120 is electrically connected to a contact plate 130 via electrical lines 122, 126, and 128. The contact plate 130 represents a device interface for the electrical working device 100. The contact plate 130 of the device interface has contacts 132, 134, 136, and 138. Contact 132 is electrically connected to electrical line 122, contact 134 to electrical line 124, contact 136 to electrical line 126, and contact 138 to electrical line 128. Electrical line 124 is also connected to a switch 140. By closing the switch 140, electrical line 124 can be electrically connected to electrical line 126. In this case, the electronics 120 is electrically connected to contact 134 via electrical lines 124 and 126 and the closed switch 140. Furthermore, the electronics 120 are electrically connected to an electrical line 129.Electrical conductor 129 is electrically connected to electrical conductor 124. The connection between the electronics 120 and electrical conductor 128 also features a pull-up resistor. The pull-up resistor has a value of 3.3 kΩ. In other configurations, the pull-up resistor can also have a value in the range of 1 kΩ to 100 kΩ, in particular a value in the range of 2 kΩ to 20 kΩ.

[0034] The electrical tool also has a control element 150. The control element 150 is electrically connected to electrical lines 152 and 154. Electrical line 152 is electrically connected to switch 140. Electrical line 154 is electrically connected to potentiometer 160. By actuating the control element 150, switch 140 can be closed, and the electronics or the electric motor can be controlled using the potentiometer 160 connected to the control element 150. In this way, an operator of the handheld electrical tool 100 can specify to the electronics 120 the speed at which the electric motor 110 is to be operated.

[0035] In this embodiment, the rotational speed is set using a potentiometer. However, the rotational speed can also be set using other means, for example, using one or more Hall sensors.

[0036] Fig. 2Figure 1 shows a battery pack 200, which can be used to operate the electrical tool 100. The battery pack 200 has contacts 232, 234, and 238. The battery pack 200 can be electrically connected to the electrical tool 100 via contacts 232, 234, and 238. Contact 232 corresponds to contact 132, contact 234 to contact 134, and contact 238 to contact 138. When the battery pack 200 is electrically connected to the electrical tool 100 via contacts 132, 134, 232, and 234, the electronics 120 are supplied with electrical energy from the battery pack 200 via electrical lines 122 and 129. The electric motor 110 can be supplied with electrical energy by closing the switch 140 via the electrical lines 122, 124 and 126 as well as the electrical lines 112 and 114.

[0037] The battery pack also features a negative temperature coefficient thermistor 210 (NTC 210 for short). The NTC 210 is electrically connected to contacts 232 and 238 via electrical leads 222 and 228. An NTC or temperature signal can therefore be accessed via contacts 232 and 238, providing information about the temperature of the battery pack 200.

[0038] The 200-cell battery pack contains a majority of rechargeable lithium-ion cells. In other versions, the battery pack can also be constructed from NiCd or nickel-metal hydride cells. It can also be constructed from primary cells instead of secondary cells.

[0039] Fig. 3Figure 1 shows an extension device 300. The extension device 300 has contacts 332, 334, 336, and 338, which constitute a device-side extension interface of the extension device 300. The extension device 300 can be electrically connected to the electrical working device 100 via contacts 332, 334, 336, and 338 of the device-side extension interface. Contact 332 corresponds to contact 132, contact 334 to contact 134, contact 336 to contact 136, and contact 338 to contact 338.

[0040] Furthermore, the extension device 300 has contacts 392, 394, and 398, which constitute a voltage source-side extension interface of the extension device 300. The extension device 300 can be electrically connected to the battery pack 200 via contacts 392, 394, and 398 of the voltage source-side extension interface. Contact 232 corresponds to contact 392, contact 234 to contact 394, and contact 238 to contact 398.

[0041] The extension device 300 also has electrical conductors 322, 324, 326, and 328. Electrical conductor 322 connects contact 332 to contact 392. Contacts 338 and 398 are connected by electrical conductor 398. Electrical conductor 324 also connects electrical contacts 334 and 394. Electrical conductor 326 connects contact 336 to a switch 340. Switch 340 is also connected to electrical conductor 324, so that closing switch 340 allows contact 336 to be electrically connected to contact 394.

[0042] If the battery pack 200 is electrically connected to the extension device 300 and the extension device 300 is electrically connected to the electric working device 100 via contacts 132, 134, 232, 234, 332, 334, 392 and 394, the electronics 120 are supplied with electrical energy from the battery pack via electrical lines 322, 324, 122 and 129. The electric motor 110 can be supplied with electrical energy by closing the switch 340 via electrical lines 322, 326, 122 and 126 as well as electrical lines 112 and 114. In this case, the battery pack 200 is also electrically connected to the extension device 300 and the extension device 300 to the electrical working device 100 via contacts 138, 238, 338 and 398, so that the electronics 120 can tap the NTC or temperature signal of the NTC 210 via contacts 132, 138, 232, 238, 392 and 398.

[0043] The battery pack 200 can be directly connected to the electric work tool 100. The battery pack 200 can also be directly connected to the extension device 300, and the extension device 300, with the battery pack 200 connected to it, can in turn be directly connected to the electric work tool 100. Connecting the battery pack 200 to the extension device 300 and the extension device 300 to the electric work tool 100 creates not only the electrical connections described above, but also mechanical connections. The extension device 300 thus allows the working area that an operator can reach from a given location with the electric work tool 100 to be increased or extended.

[0044] The extension device also has a control element 350. The control element is electrically connected to an electrical line 352. The electrical line 352 is also electrically connected to the switch 340. By actuating the control element 350, an operator of the extension device 300 can close the switch 340. In contrast to the control element 150, the control element 350 does not have any further electrical line. Therefore, if the extension device 300 is coupled to the electrical work device 100 and to a battery pack, e.g., battery pack 200, the control element 350 cannot be used to specify to the electronics 120 the speed at which the electric motor 110 should be operated. The electric motor 110 is therefore operated by the electronics 120 at its maximum speed when the electronics 120 detect that the battery pack, e.g., battery pack 200, is depleted.The battery pack 200 is indirectly coupled to the electric working device 100 via the extension device 300. In this embodiment, this represents a good compromise between the complexity of the extension device 300 and the applications for which the extension device 300 is designed. In In other embodiments, the control element 350 can be connected to other electrical lines, for example to establish an electrical connection to the potentiometer 160 and to be able to specify the speed of the electric motor 110 via the control element 350.

[0045] Furthermore, the extension device 300 includes a capacitor 370. The capacitor is electrically connected to electrical lines 372 and 374. Electrical line 372 is also electrically connected to electrical line 322, and electrical line 378 is connected to electrical line 328.

[0046] Fig. 4Figure 400 shows a battery pack 400. The battery pack 400 has many components that the battery pack 200 also has. The electric tool 100 can also be operated with the battery pack 400. The battery pack 400 has contacts 432, 434, and 438. The battery pack 400 can be electrically connected to the electric tool 100 using contacts 432, 434, and 438. Contact 432 corresponds to contact 132, contact 434 to contact 134, and contact 438 to contact 138. If the battery pack 400 is electrically connected to the electrical working device 100 via contacts 132, 134, 432 and 434, the electronics 120 are supplied with electrical energy from the battery pack 400 via electrical lines 122 and 129.The electric motor 110 can be supplied with electrical energy by closing the switch 140 via the electrical lines 122, 124 and 126 as well as the electrical lines 112 and 114.

[0047] The battery pack 400 also features an NTC 410. The NTC 410 is electrically connected to contacts 432 and 438 via electrical leads 422 and 428. An NTC or temperature signal can therefore be accessed via contacts 432 and 438, providing information about the temperature of the battery pack 400.

[0048] The 400 battery pack also features a majority of rechargeable lithium-ion cells. However, in other versions, the battery pack can also be constructed from NiCd or nickel-metal hydride cells. It can also be constructed from primary cells instead of secondary cells.

[0049] Additionally, the battery pack 400 includes a capacitor 470. The capacitor 470 is electrically connected to the electrical leads 422 and 428. The capacitor 470 and the NTC 410 are thus connected in parallel with respect to contacts 432 and 438.

[0050] Fig. 5Figure 5 shows a flowchart of a method 500 according to the invention. The method 500 is executed by the electronics 120 of the electrical working device 100 to detect whether the electrical working device 100 is directly connected to the battery pack 200, the battery pack 400, or the extension device 300. The method 500 begins with step 510, in which the supply of electrical energy to the electronics 120 from a battery pack begins. The supply of electrical energy can be effected by inserting the battery pack 200 or the battery pack 400 into the electrical working device 100. Alternatively, it can be effected 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 electrical working device 100.

[0051] In step 520, the electrical line 128 is pulled to ground by the electronics 120 for 5 ms with a resistance of 220 Ω, and the voltage profile between lines 128 and 122 is recorded. Lines 122 and 128 are connected to the NTC 210 or the NTC 410 via contacts 132 and 138. During this time, the temperature value, which can otherwise be reliably determined using lines 122 and 128 and the NTC 210 or the NTC 410, is invalid. The temperature value can only be reliably determined again after a certain period of time using lines 122 and 128 and the NTC 210 or the NTC 410. Since the temperature signal, which is recorded via lines 122 and 128 and the NTC 210 or the NTC 410, is...Since the response time of the pull-up of line 128 to ground is typically many times slower than the impulse response, temperature measurement during step 520 can be omitted. In other embodiments, other resistors can be used instead of the 220-ohm resistor, for example, a resistor of 100, 200, or 300 ohms. The time interval during which line 128 is pulled to ground can also be chosen differently in other embodiments of the method; for example, the time interval can be 2 ms, 4 ms, 6 ms, or 8 ms.

[0052] In step 530, the electronics then evaluate the recorded voltage curve to determine when the NTC voltage is established. Without the extension device 300, the NTC voltage is established earlier: after approximately 10 ms for battery pack 200 and after approximately 60 ms for battery pack 400 due to the additional capacitance provided by capacitor 470. With the extension device 300 connected, the NTC voltage is also delayed due to the additional capacitance provided by capacitor 370: after approximately 20 ms for battery pack 200 and after approximately 70 ms for battery pack 400. The electronics can thus detect whether battery pack 200, battery pack 400, or the extension device 300 is directly connected to the electrical device. The actual NTC signal is indeed influenced by capacitors 370 and 470, but only within tolerable error limits or for a relatively short time.In this case, the deviation caused by the use of capacitors 370 and 470 is temporarily less than approximately 2 K. The deviation is therefore not permanent, but only lasts briefly; that is, the deviation returns relatively quickly to a negligible level.

[0053] In the next step, step 540, the electronics 120 adjusts the operation of the electric tool 100 according to the result of the evaluation in step 530. For the electric tool 100, operation with the potentiometer function described above—that is, the speed of the electric motor 110 can be set by an operator using the control element 150—represents normal operation. However, if the extension device 300 is coupled to the electric tool 100, the electric motor 110 is designed to operate at a predetermined speed, in particular the maximum speed. This mode represents the extension operating mode for this device. Method 500 reliably detects whether the electric tool 100 is operated with the extension device 300 or not, and the operating mode of the electric tool 100 is adjusted accordingly by the electronics 120.

[0054] Fig. 6Figure 6 shows a voltage curve 600 and a voltage curve 610. Voltage curve 600 was recorded by the electronics 120 during step 520 in one execution of procedure 500, after the battery pack 200 was connected to the electrical working device 100. Using voltage curve 600, the controller recognized that the battery pack 200 was directly connected to the electrical working device 100. The controller then adjusted the operation of the electrical working device 100 so that the electric motor 110 operated at a speed corresponding to the operator's setting via potentiometer 160. Voltage curve 610 was recorded by the controller during step 520 in a later execution of procedure 500, after the battery pack 200 was connected to the electrical working device 100 via the extension device 300 and the controller repeated procedure 500.The control system detected that the battery pack 200 was connected to the electric work device 100 via the extension device 300. The control system then adjusted the operation of the electric work device 100 so that the electric motor 110 would run at its specified speed.

Claims

1. Method (500) for operating an electrical working device (100); 1.1 using a voltage source (200; 400) for supplying the electrical working device (100) with electrical energy, 1.2 a control (120) and 1.3 a device interface, 1.3.1 wherein the device interface is configured to directly couple the voltage source (200; 400) or an extension device (300) for supplying the electrical working device (100) with electrical energy to the device interface and thereby establish at least one electrical connection; 1.3.2 wherein the extension device (300) has a device-side extension interface and a voltage source-side extension interface; 1.3.3 wherein the extension device (300), the device-side extension interface and the voltage source-side extension interface are configured to couple the electrical working device (100) directly to the device-side extension interface and the voltage source (200; 400) directly to the voltage source-side extension interface for supplying the electrical working device (100) with electrical energy via the device interface, thereby extending the at least one electrical connection; comprising the following steps: 1.4 an operating parameter of the voltage source (200; 400) is detected by the controller (120) via the at least one electrical connection through the device interface (520); 1.5 the operating parameter is evaluated by the controller (120) to determine (530) whether the voltage source (200; 400) or the extension device (300) is directly connected to the device interface; 1.5.1 wherein the control (120) searches for a change in the operating size; 1.5.1.1 wherein the change is characteristic of the extension device (300); and 1.5.1.2 the operating size is imposed by the extension device (300).

2. Method (500) according to the preceding claim, characterized by 2.1 that the electrical working device (100) has a normal operating mode and an extended operating mode; 2.2 that the electrical working device (100) is switched to the normal operating mode (540) by the controller (120) when the evaluation (530) of the controller (120) shows that the voltage source (200; 400) is directly connected to the device interface; and 2.3 that the electrical working device (100) is switched to the extended operating mode (540) by the controller (120) when the evaluation (530) of the controller (120) shows that the extension device (300) is directly connected to the device interface.

3. Method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by 3.1 that the device interface is designed to connect a signal line of the voltage source (200; 400) or the extension device (300) to the control (120) of the electrical working device (100); and 3.2 that the operating variable is detected by the control (120) using the signal line (520).

4. Method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by 4.1 that a time course (600, 610) of a measured quantity of the voltage source (200; 400) is acquired by the controller (120) using the at least one electrical connection via the device interface (520); and 4.2 that the operating quantity is formed by the controller (120) using the time course (600, 610) of the measured quantity and is acquired in this way (520).

5. Method (500) according to the immediately preceding claim, characterized by thatThe operating size is a time span and the time span is determined by the control (120) using the time course (600, 610).

6. Method (500) according to one of the two immediately preceding claims, characterized by that the measured quantity is a voltage, a current, a resistance and / or a temperature of the voltage source (200; 400) or corresponds to a voltage, a current, a resistance and / or a temperature of the voltage source (200; 400).

7. Method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one electrical connection via the device interface is supplied with a test signal from the controller (120) in order to detect the operating size (520).

8. Method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by8.1 that the electrical working device (100) is configured to be operated with electrical energy from a voltage source (200; 400) from a plurality of different voltage sources (200; 400) and / or voltage source types (200; 400); 8.2 wherein the device interface is configured to connect each voltage source (200; 400) from the plurality of different voltage sources (200; 400) and / or voltage source types (200; 400) for supplying the electrical working device (100) with electrical energy directly to the device interface and thereby establish the at least one electrical connection; and 8.3 that the operating size is additionally evaluated by the controller (120) to determine (530) which voltage source (200; 400) from the majority of the different voltage sources (200; 400) and / or voltage source types (200; 400) is directly coupled to the device interface and / or the voltage source-side extension interface.

9. Control (120) for an electrical working device (100), wherein the control (120) is configured to perform the process steps of a method (500) according to one of the preceding claims using a voltage source (200; 400) to supply the electrical working device (100) with electrical energy and a device interface.

10. Electrical work device (100) with a control unit (120) according to the immediately preceding claim.

11. Extension device (300) for an electrical working device (100) according to the immediately preceding claim, wherein the extension device (300) is designed to impose a change characteristic of the extension device (300) on an operating parameter of a voltage source (200; 400).

12. Extension device (300) according to the immediately preceding claim, characterized by,an electrical component designed to impose the change characteristic of the extension device (300) on the operating size of the voltage source (200; 400).

13. Extension device (300) according to the immediately preceding claim, characterized by that the electrical component is or includes a capacitor and / or an inductor.

14. System comprising an electrical working device (100) according to claim 10 and an extension device (300) according to any one of claims 11 to 13.

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