Power supply device, power tool body, and power tool

Abstract

This power supply device is connected to a power tool body comprising a motor through a connection cable. The power supply device comprises: a control circuit that controls the motor; and a power supply unit that supplies power to the power tool body and the control circuit. The power tool body comprises an operation unit that detects a user operation. The control circuit controls the motor in response to the user operation detected by the operation unit.

Description

Power supply device, power tool body, and power tool

[0001] The present disclosure relates to power tools.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a technique related to a power tool.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,242

[0004] A power supply device, a power tool body, and a power tool are disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply device is connected to a power tool body including a motor via a connection cable. The power supply device includes a control circuit that controls the motor and a power supply unit that supplies power to the power tool body and the control circuit. The power tool body includes an operation unit that detects user operations. The control circuit controls the motor in response to the user operations detected by the operation unit.

[0005] In one embodiment, the power tool body is connected to the power supply device via a connection cable. The power tool body includes a motor and an operation unit that detects a user operation.

[0006] In one embodiment, the power tool main body is connected to the power supply device via a connection cable. The power tool main body includes a motor and an operation unit that detects user operation. The operation unit has a first switch. The power supply device includes a second switch that is operated by the user and a control circuit that controls a drive circuit that drives the motor. When the power supply device is connected to the power tool main body and the first switch and the second switch are in an on state, the control circuit causes the drive circuit to output a motor drive voltage that drives the motor. The power tool main body further includes a supply control circuit that controls the supply of the motor drive voltage to the motor. When the power supply device is connected to the power tool main body and the second switch is in an on state, the supply control circuit supplies the motor drive voltage to the motor when the first switch is in an on state. When the power supply device is connected to the power tool main body and the second switch is in an on state, the supply control circuit does not supply the motor drive voltage to the motor when the second switch is in an on state.

[0007] In one embodiment, the power tool main body is connected to the power supply device via a connection cable. The power tool main body includes a motor and an operation unit that detects user operation. The operation unit has a first switch. The power supply device includes a second switch that is operated by the user and a control circuit that controls a drive circuit that drives the motor. When the first switch and the second switch are in an on state while the power supply device is connected to the power tool main body, the control circuit causes the drive circuit to output a motor drive voltage that drives the motor. The power tool main body further includes a supply control circuit that controls the supply of the motor drive voltage to the motor. The supply control circuit supplies the motor drive voltage to the motor when a power supply device with the second switch in an on state is connected to a power tool main body with the first switch in an off state, and then when the first switch becomes an on state. The supply control circuit does not supply the motor drive voltage to the motor when a power supply device with the second switch in an on state is connected to a power tool main body with the first switch in an on state.

[0008] In one embodiment, a power tool includes the power supply device, the power tool body, and a connection cable connecting the power supply device and the power tool body.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power tool. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how a power supply device can be connected to a plurality of types of power tool bodies. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram mainly showing an example of the circuit configuration of a power tool. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a microcomputer. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of the operation of a power tool. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a microcomputer. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram mainly showing an example of the circuit configuration of a power tool body. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a supply control circuit. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power tool. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power tool.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a power tool 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the power tool 1 includes, for example, a power tool main body 2 including a motor 21, a power supply device 3 that supplies power to the power tool main body 2, a connection cable 4 that connects the power tool main body 2 and the power supply device 3 to each other, and a connection cable 5 that connects the power supply device 3 to a commercial power source. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the power supply device 3 can be connected to each of multiple types of power tool main bodies 2. The power supply device 3 can be connected to each of multiple types of power tool main bodies 2 via the connection cable 4, for example. Because the power supply device 3 can be connected to multiple types of power tool main bodies 2, a user can share the power supply device 3 among multiple types of power tool main bodies 2.

[0011] The power tool 1 shown in Fig. 1 is, for example, a handheld disc grinder. The power tool 1 may be a handheld power tool other than a disc grinder. For example, the power tool 1 may be an impact driver, a driver drill, a circular saw, a reciprocating saw, or a polisher. Hereinafter, the power tool body 2 may be simply referred to as the tool body 2.

[0012] The multiple types of tool body 2 to which the power supply unit 3 can be connected may include the tool body 2 of a disc grinder as shown in FIG. 1, the tool body 2 of an impact driver, the tool body 2 of a drill driver, the tool body 2 of a circular saw, the tool body 2 of a reciprocating saw, or the tool body 2 of a polisher.

[0013] The power supply device 3 may be connectable to only one type of tool body 2. In this case, the power supply device 3 may be connectable to each of a plurality of tool bodies 2 of the same type. Hereinafter, the tool body 2 connected to the power supply device 3 may be referred to as a connected tool body 2. Furthermore, the example of the tool body 2 shown in FIG. 1 may be particularly referred to as a tool body 2A.

[0014] The tool body 2A includes, for example, a housing 20 that contains multiple components and is held by a user. The housing 20 contains a motor 21, a sensor board 22, a cooling fan 23, a connector 24, an operation unit 26, etc. The motor 21 is, for example, a brushless DC motor.

[0015] The tool body 2A includes a drive unit driven by a motor 21. The drive unit includes, for example, a gear unit housed in the housing 20 and a disc-shaped grinding wheel 25 exposed from the housing 20. The gear unit transmits the rotation of the motor 21 to the grinding wheel 25 while reducing the rotation speed. The motor 21 can rotate the grinding wheel 25 via the gear unit. The power tool 1 can perform grinding, cutting, polishing, and the like by rotating the grinding wheel 25. The motor 21 is driven by a power supply 3.

[0016] The sensor board 22 is capable of detecting the rotational position of the motor 21. More specifically, the sensor board 22 is capable of detecting the rotational position of a rotor provided in the motor 21. The cooling fan 23 is connected to a rotary shaft 210 of the motor 21. The cooling fan 23 rotates when the rotary shaft 210 rotates. When the cooling fan 23 rotates, air is taken into the housing 20 through an air intake port provided at the rear of the housing 20. The air taken in through the air intake port cools the motor 21 and other components inside the housing 20, and is then discharged to the outside of the housing 20 through an air exhaust port provided at the front of the housing 20. The connector 24 is partially exposed from the housing 20, and a connection cable 4 is connected to the connector 24.

[0017] The operation unit 26 is operated by a user of the power tool 1. The operation unit 26 is capable of detecting an operation by the user of the power tool 1 (also referred to as a user operation). The operation unit 26 is accommodated in the housing 20 so that the user can operate the operation unit 26 from outside the housing 20. The power supply device 3 controls the motor 21 of the tool connection body 2 in accordance with the user operation detected by the operation unit 26 of the tool connection body 2.

[0018] The user operations detected by the operation unit 26 may include a drive instruction operation that instructs the motor 21 to be driven and a drive stop instruction operation that instructs the motor 21 to be stopped. In this example, the operation unit 26 has an operation switch 260 that detects a drive instruction operation and a drive stop instruction operation. The drive instruction operation is, for example, an operation that changes the operation switch 260 from an off state to an on state. The drive stop instruction operation is, for example, an operation that changes the operation switch 260 from an on state to an off state. The operation switch 260 becomes an on state when it detects a drive instruction operation, and becomes an off state when it detects a drive stop instruction operation. The operation switch 260 may be, for example, a trigger switch or a push button switch.

[0019] An operation switch 260 in the ON state outputs an ON signal to the power supply device 3, indicating that the operation switch 260 is in the ON state. When the operation switch 260 detects a drive instruction operation, it outputs an ON signal. The ON signal can be considered, for example, as a drive instruction signal that instructs the motor 21 to be driven. On the other hand, an operation switch 260 in the OFF state outputs an OFF signal, indicating that the operation switch 260 is in the OFF state. When the operation switch 260 detects a drive stop instruction operation, it outputs an OFF signal. The OFF signal can be considered, for example, as a non-drive instruction signal that instructs the motor 21 not to be driven.

[0020] By receiving an ON signal from the operation switch 260, the power supply device 3 can recognize that the operation switch 260 has detected a drive instruction operation and is in an ON state. When the power supply device 3 receives an ON signal from the tool connection body 2, it can be said that the power supply device 3 has received an instruction from the tool connection body 2 to drive the motor 21. On the other hand, when the power supply device 3 receives an OFF signal from the operation switch 260, it can be said that the operation switch 260 has detected a drive stop instruction operation and is in an OFF state. When the power supply device 3 receives an OFF signal from the tool connection body 2, it can be said that the power supply device 3 has received an instruction from the tool connection body 2 not to drive the motor 21. When the power supply device 3 receives an ON signal from the operation switch 260 of the tool connection body 2, it drives the motor 21 of the tool connection body 2 to rotate the motor 21.

[0021] Each of the multiple types of tool bodies 2 to which the power supply device 3 can be connected includes, for example, at least a motor 21, a drive unit driven by the motor 21, a connector 24, and an operation unit 26. The drive unit is capable of processing an object by being driven by the motor 21.

[0022] The user operations detected by the operation unit 26 may include operations other than the drive instruction operation and the drive stop instruction operation. For example, the user operations detected by the operation unit 26 included in the tool body 2 of an impact driver and the tool body 2 of a driver drill may include a rotational speed instruction operation that instructs the rotational speed of the motor 21. In this case, the operation switch 260 included in the operation unit 26 may detect the rotational speed instruction operation. For example, if the operation switch 260 outputs a detection signal that changes depending on the amount of depression, this detection signal can be used as a signal indicating the set value of the rotational speed of the motor 21, allowing the operation switch 260 to detect the rotational speed instruction operation. Furthermore, the operation unit 26 may include an operation switch that detects the rotational speed instruction operation, separate from the operation switch 260. For example, the operation unit 26 may include an operation switch (also called a selector switch) that detects an operation to instruct the rotational speed of the motor 21 to be high and an operation to instruct the rotational speed of the motor 21 to be low. The rotational speed of the motor 21 is also called the rotation speed of the motor 21. The power supply device 3 sets the rotation speed of the motor 21 in accordance with the rotation speed instruction operation detected by the operation unit 26 .

[0023] Furthermore, for example, the user operation detected by the operation unit 26 included in the tool body 2 of an impact driver and the tool body 2 of a driver drill may include a rotation direction instruction operation for instructing the rotation direction of the motor 21. In this case, the operation unit 26 may include an operation lever that detects the rotation direction instruction operation. The operation lever is also called a forward / reverse switching lever. The power supply device 3 sets the rotation direction of the motor 21 in accordance with the rotation direction instruction operation detected by the operation unit 26.

[0024] The power supply device 3 is a separate device from the tool body 2. The power supply device 3 includes a housing 30 that houses a plurality of components. The housing 30 houses, for example, a circuit board 31, a connector 37, a connector 38, and an operation switch 360.

[0025] The circuit board 31 includes a board 32 and a power supply unit 33, a control circuit 34, and an inverter 35 mounted on the board 32. The power supply unit 33 is capable of supplying the power required by the tool connection body 2 to the tool connection body 2. The power supply unit 33 is also capable of supplying power to circuits mounted on the circuit board 31 other than the power supply unit 33. The power supply unit 33 converts, for example, AC voltage supplied from a commercial power source into DC voltage and supplies the generated DC voltage to the inverter 35 and the control circuit 34. The power supply unit 33 can also be referred to as a power supply circuit. The inverter 35 can drive the motor 21 provided in the tool connection body 2. The inverter 35 can also be referred to as a drive circuit 35 that drives the motor 21, and the control circuit 34 can control the inverter 35 (in other words, the drive circuit 35). The control circuit 34 can control the motor 21 of the tool connection body 2 by controlling the inverter 35. It can also be said that the control circuit 34 can control the motor 21 of the tool connection body 2 via the inverter 35.

[0026] The connector 38 is partially exposed from the housing 30. A connection cable 5 is connected to the connector 38. The connector 37 is partially exposed from the housing 30. A connection cable 4 is connected to the connector 37. The connection cable 4 extends from the housing 30 of the power supply device 3 to the housing 20 of the tool body 2. The length of the connection cable 4 is, for example, several tens of centimeters to several meters. The length of the connection cable 4 is not limited to this.

[0027] One end of the connection cable 4 is provided with a connector 41 that is connected to the connector 24 of the tool body 2. The other end of the connection cable 4 is provided with a connector 42 that is connected to the connector 37 of the power supply device 3. One end of the connection cable 5 is provided with a connector 51 that is connected to the connector 38 of the power supply device 3. The other end of the connection cable 5 is provided with a connector 52 that is connected to an outlet that supplies AC voltage from a commercial power source. The connector 52 is sometimes called a power plug.

[0028] In this example, one end of the connection cable 4 is detachable from the tool body 2. Specifically, the connector 41 of the connection cable 4 is detachable from the connector 24 of the tool body 2. The other end of the connection cable 4 is detachable from the power supply device 3. Specifically, the connector 42 of the connection cable 4 is detachable from the connector 37 inside the housing 30.

[0029] In this example, one end of the connection cable 5 is detachable from the power supply unit 3. Specifically, the connector 51 of the connection cable 5 is detachable from the connector 38 in the housing 30. The connector 52 of the connection cable 5 is detachable from the outlet. It can be said that the power tool 1 includes a cabled power supply unit 300 that includes the power supply unit 3 and the connection cables 4 and 5.

[0030] The operation switch 360 is operated by a user of the power tool 1. The operation switch 360 is accommodated in the housing 30 so that the user can operate it from outside the housing 30. The operation switch 360 may be, for example, a rocker switch (also called a seesaw switch), a push button switch, or a toggle switch.

[0031] When the operation switch 360 is in the ON state, the DC voltage output by the power supply unit 33 is supplied to the inverter 35 and the control circuit 34. When the operation switch 360 is in the ON state, the power supply unit 33 supplies power to the inverter 35 and the control circuit 34. By supplying power to the inverter 35 and the control circuit 34, it becomes possible for the power supply device 3 to supply power to the motor 21 of the tool connection body 2. On the other hand, when the operation switch 360 is in the OFF state, the power supply unit 33 does not supply power to the inverter 35 and the control circuit 34. Therefore, when the operation switch 360 is in the OFF state, no power is supplied from the power supply device 3 to the motor 21 of the tool connection body 2, and the motor 21 does not rotate.

[0032] The operation switch 360 can also be considered, for example, as an operation unit that detects a power supply instruction operation that instructs power supply to the motor 21. The power supply instruction operation is, for example, an operation that changes the operation switch 360 from an off state to an on state. The operation switch 360 can also be considered an operation unit that detects a power supply stop instruction operation that instructs power supply to the motor 21 to be stopped. The power supply stop instruction operation is, for example, an operation that changes the operation switch 360 from an on state to an off state. The operation switch 360 turns on when it detects a power supply instruction operation, and turns off when it detects a power supply stop instruction operation. The operation switch 360 can also be considered, for example, as a power switch. Hereinafter, the operation switch 260 of the tool main body 2 may be referred to as the main body-side operation switch 260, and the operation switch 360 of the power supply device 3 may be referred to as the power supply-side operation switch 360.

[0033] Fig. 3 is a diagram mainly showing an example of the circuit configuration of the power tool 1. As shown in Fig. 3, a single-phase AC voltage from a commercial power source is supplied to the connector 52 of the connection cable 5. The AC voltage is supplied to the connector 38 of the power supply device 3 through the connection cable 5. The connection cable 5 has two signal lines 50a. An AC voltage with an effective value of 100 V, for example, is supplied to the connector 38.

[0034] The AC voltage supplied to the connector 38 is supplied to the power supply unit 33. The power supply unit 33 includes an AC-DC converter 330. The AC-DC converter 330 converts the AC voltage into a DC voltage and outputs it. The AC-DC converter 330 is configured, for example, with a rectifier circuit and includes a diode and a capacitor. The AC-DC converter 330 outputs a DC voltage of, for example, about 140 V. The DC voltage output by the AC-DC converter 330 is supplied to the control circuit 34. In addition, the DC voltage output by the AC-DC converter 330 is supplied to the inverter 35 as a power source.

[0035] A power supply-side operation switch 360 is connected to the positive output terminal of the AC-DC converter 330. The positive output terminal of the AC-DC converter 330 is electrically connected to the inverter 35 and the control circuit 34 when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is on, and is not electrically connected to the inverter 35 and the control circuit 34 when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is off. The negative output terminal of the AC-DC converter 330 is electrically connected to the inverter 35 and the control circuit 34 regardless of the state of the power supply-side operation switch 360. The DC voltage output by the AC-DC converter 330 is supplied to the control circuit 34 and the inverter 35 when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is on, and is not supplied when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is off. The DC voltage supplied from the AC-DC converter 330 to the control circuit 34 can also be considered a drive voltage for driving the control circuit 34. It can be said that the power supply device 3 supplies a drive voltage to the control circuit 34 when the power supply side operation switch 360 is in the ON state, and does not supply a drive voltage to the control circuit 34 when the power supply side operation switch 360 is in the OFF state.

[0036] The inverter 35 includes, for example, six switching elements 350. The switching elements 350 are, for example, semiconductor elements. For example, FETs (Field Effect Transistors) are used as the switching elements 350. The switching elements 350 may be IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) or other semiconductor elements. In the inverter 35, three switching circuits, each consisting of two switching elements 350 connected in series, are connected in parallel. In each switching circuit, the voltage at the connection point of the two switching elements is supplied to the motor 21 as a drive signal 351. The drive signal 351 may also be referred to as a drive voltage 351 or a motor drive voltage 351.

[0037] The three drive voltages 351 generated by the inverter 35 are supplied to the motor 21 via the connector 37 of the power supply device 3, the connection cable 4, and the connector 24 of the tool body 2. The connection cable 4 includes three signal lines 40a that transmit the three drive voltages 351 from the power supply device 3 to the tool body 2. The motor 21 is, for example, a three-phase motor and includes a U-phase coil 21a, a V-phase coil 21b, and a W-phase coil 21c. The three drive voltages 351 are supplied to the U-phase coil 21a, the V-phase coil 21b, and the W-phase coil 21c, respectively.

[0038] The sensor board 22 included in the tool body 2 includes, for example, three sensors 220. Each sensor 220 detects the rotational position of the motor 21. The sensor board 22 can also be considered to constitute a sensor circuit that detects the rotational position of the motor 21. The three sensors 220 are arranged, for example, at 120-degree intervals along the rotational direction of the motor 21. The sensors 220 may be, for example, Hall sensors or other types of sensors. An output signal (i.e., a position detection signal) 230a from each sensor 220 is supplied to the connector 24. The three output signals 230a supplied to the connector 24 are then supplied to the control circuit 34 via the connection cable 4 and the connector 37 of the power supply device 3. The connection cable 4 includes three signal lines 40d that transmit the output signals 230a from the three sensors 220 from the tool body 2 to the power supply device 3. Hereinafter, the output signals 230a from the three sensors 220 may be collectively referred to as sensor signals 230. The sensor board 22 repeatedly outputs the sensor signals 230.

[0039] The control circuit 34 includes, for example, a microcomputer 341 and a DC-DC converter 340. The DC-DC converter 340 steps down the DC voltage supplied from the AC-DC converter 330 and outputs it. The DC-DC converter 340 can be considered a step-down circuit. The DC-DC converter 340 generates power (i.e., drive voltage) for the microcomputer 341. The DC-DC converter 340 also generates power (i.e., drive voltage) for a specific configuration of the tool connection body 2. The specific configuration includes the sensor board 22 and the operation unit 26. The power (e.g., +5 V) for the specific configuration generated by the DC-DC converter 340 is supplied to the sensors 220 on the sensor board 22 and the operation unit 26 via the connector 37, the connection cable 4, and the connector 24. The connection cable 4 includes a signal line 40b that transmits a positive power supply (e.g., a positive potential) for a specific configuration from the power supply device 3 to the tool body 2, and a signal line 40c that transmits a negative power supply (e.g., a ground potential) for a specific configuration from the power supply device 3 to the tool body 2. The DC-DC converter 340 may be provided in the power supply unit 33.

[0040] The operation unit 26 of the connecting tool main body 2 outputs an operation detection signal 261 indicating the detection result of a user operation. The operation detection signal 261 is input to the microcomputer 341 through the connector 24, the connection cable 4, and the connector 37. The connection cable 4 is provided with at least one signal line 40z that transmits the operation detection signal 261 output by the operation unit 26 to the power supply device 3. The operation detection signal 261 includes an ON signal and an OFF signal output by the operation switch 260. The operation detection signal 261 transmitted through at least one signal line 40z is input to the microcomputer 341.

[0041] When the operation unit 26 detects a rotation speed instruction operation, the operation detection signal 261 includes a rotation speed instruction operation detection signal indicating the rotation speed instruction operation detected by the operation unit 26. When the operation unit 26 detects a rotation direction instruction operation, the operation detection signal 261 includes a rotation direction instruction operation detection signal indicating the rotation direction instruction operation detected by the operation unit 26.

[0042] The microcomputer 341 is capable of controlling the tool connection body 2. The microcomputer 341 can also be considered a computer device. The microcomputer 341 can also be considered a control circuit that controls the tool connection body 2. The microcomputer 341 can also be considered a control circuit that can control each of multiple types of tool bodies 2.

[0043] The microcomputer 341 controls the inverter 35 based on, for example, the sensor signal 230 from the sensor board 22 and the operation detection signal 261 from the operation unit 26, thereby controlling the rotation of the motor 21 of the connecting tool main body 2. The microcomputer 341 controls the voltage of the control terminals of each switching element 350 of the inverter 35 based on the sensor signal 230 and the operation detection signal 261, thereby controlling the on / off state of each switching element 350. As a result, the inverter 35 supplies appropriate drive voltages 351 to the U-phase coil 21a, V-phase coil 21b, and W-phase coil 21c of the motor 21, respectively, to control the rotation of the motor 21. The microcomputer 341 generates six control signals 342 and supplies the generated six control signals 342 to the control terminals of the six switching elements 350, respectively.

[0044] Microcomputer 341 includes at least one processor to provide control and processing power for performing various functions, as described in more detail below.

[0045] According to various embodiments, the at least one processor may be implemented as a single integrated circuit (IC) or as multiple communicatively connected integrated circuits ICs and / or discrete circuits. The at least one processor may be implemented according to various known techniques.

[0046] In one embodiment, a processor includes one or more circuits or units configured to perform one or more data computational procedures or processes, for example, by executing instructions stored in associated memory. In other embodiments, a processor may be firmware (e.g., discrete logic components) configured to perform one or more data computational procedures or processes.

[0047] According to various embodiments, the processor may include one or more processors, controllers, microcomputers, microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, or any combination of these devices or configurations, or other known combinations of devices and configurations, to perform the functions described below.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the microcomputer 341. As shown in FIG. 4, the microcomputer 341 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) 400 as a processor, a storage unit 410, and a peripheral circuit 450. The storage unit 410 may include a non-transitory recording medium readable by the CPU 400, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM). The storage unit 410 may also be referred to as a storage circuit. For example, the storage unit 410 stores a program 420 for controlling the operation of the microcomputer 341. Various functions of the CPU 400 are realized, for example, by the CPU 400 executing the program 420 stored in the storage unit 410. The peripheral circuit 450 may include, for example, multiple output ports and multiple input ports, or an A / D converter that converts analog values ​​to digital data. The peripheral circuit 450 may also include a communication circuit for wired communication or a communication circuit for wireless communication.

[0049] The peripheral circuit 450 receives the sensor signal 230 from the sensor board 22 and outputs it to the CPU 400. The peripheral circuit 450 also receives the operation detection signal 261 from the operation unit 26 and outputs it to the CPU 400. The CPU 400 controls the peripheral circuit 450 based on the sensor signal 230 and the operation detection signal 261, causing the peripheral circuit 450 to output six control signals 342 to the inverter 35. The CPU 400 controls the inverter 35 through the peripheral circuit 450, and by controlling the inverter 35, it is possible to control the motor 21 of the tool connection main body 2. The CPU 400 can also be considered a control circuit that controls the tool connection main body 2. The CPU 400 can also be considered a control circuit that can control each of multiple types of tool main bodies 2.

[0050] In this way, in this example, the operating unit 26 is provided on the tool body 2. Therefore, for example, a user can operate the operating unit 26 while holding the tool body 2 in his / her hand, thereby improving the operability of the power tool 1. Furthermore, when performing work using the tool body 2, the user can operate the operating unit 26 of the tool body 2, thereby improving workability.

[0051] <Regarding Control of Motor Power Supply in Accordance with ON / OFF of Each Operation Switch> In the power tool 1 of this example, in principle, when both the power supply-side operation switch 360 and the main body-side operation switch 260 of the tool connection main body 2 are in the ON state, power is supplied from the power supply device 3 to the motor 21 of the tool connection main body 2, causing the motor 21 to rotate. However, there are two exceptions, as shown in FIG. 5 . In the first exception, in a state in which the power supply device 3 is connected to the tool main body 2 (also referred to simply as a connected state), if the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on while the main body-side operation switch 260 is in the ON state, power is not supplied from the power supply device 3 to the motor 21 of the tool connection main body 2, and the motor 21 does not rotate. In the second exception, when the power supply device 3 with the power supply-side operation switch 360 in the ON state is connected to the tool main body 2 with the main body-side operation switch 260 in the ON state, power is not supplied from the power supply device 3 to the motor 21 of the tool connection main body 2, causing the motor 21 to not rotate. An example of the operation of the power tool 1 in response to the on / off state of the main body side operation switch 260 and the power supply side operation switch 360 will be described in detail below.

[0052] <When a power supply device with its power supply-side operation switch in the OFF state is connected to a tool main body with its main body-side operation switch in the OFF state> Here, consider a first connection state in which a power supply device 3 with its power supply-side operation switch 360 in the OFF state is connected to a tool main body 2 with its main body-side operation switch 260 in the OFF state. When the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned ON in the first connection state, a DC voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 33 to the inverter 35 and the control circuit 34. When the DC voltage is supplied to the control circuit 34 and power supply to the control circuit 34 begins, the control circuit 34 begins operating. When the control circuit 34 begins operating, power is supplied from the control circuit 34 to the sensor board 22 and the operation unit 26 of the tool main body 2, and the microcomputer 341 begins operating. After starting operation, the microcomputer 341 receives the sensor signal 230 output from the sensor board 22 and the operation detection signal 261 output from the operation unit 26. At this time, if the operation switch 260 of the connecting tool main body 2 is in the OFF state and the operation detection signal 261 includes an OFF signal, the microcomputer 341 does not output each control signal 342. In other words, the microcomputer 341 does not cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21. Therefore, when the power supply side operation switch 360 is in the ON state and the main body side operation switch 260 is in the OFF state, no power is supplied to the motor 21 and the motor 21 does not rotate.

[0053] Thereafter, when the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on and the operation detection signal 261 includes an on signal, the microcomputer 341 generates each control signal 342 based on the sensor signal 230 and outputs it to the inverter 35, causing the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21. As a result, when the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on while the power supply-side operation switch 360 is on, power is supplied to the motor 21, causing the motor 21 to rotate. In other words, when the power supply-side operation switch 360 detects a power supply instruction operation and then the main body-side operation switch 260 detects a drive instruction operation, power is supplied from the power supply device 3 to the motor 21, causing the motor 21 to rotate.

[0054] When the microcomputer 341 causes the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21, if the operation detection signal 261 includes a rotation speed instruction operation detection signal, the microcomputer 341 controls the inverter 35 so that the rotation speed of the motor 21 corresponds to the rotation speed instruction operation indicated by the rotation speed instruction operation detection signal. Also, if the operation detection signal 261 includes a rotation direction instruction operation detection signal, the microcomputer 341 controls the inverter 35 so that the rotation direction of the motor 21 corresponds to the rotation direction instruction operation indicated by the rotation direction instruction operation detection signal.

[0055] If the main body operation switch 260 is turned off and the operation detection signal 261 contains an off signal while the motor 21 is rotating, the microcomputer 341 stops outputting each control signal 342 and causes the inverter 35 to stop driving the motor 21. This stops the rotation of the motor 21 in response to the detection of the operation of the main body operation switch 260 to instruct the motor 21 to stop driving.

[0056] Furthermore, if the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned off while the motor 21 is rotating, the supply of DC voltage from the power supply unit 33 to the inverter 35 and the control circuit 34 is stopped. This stops the power supply from the power supply device 3 to the tool connection body 2, and stops the rotation of the motor 21. In other words, the rotation of the motor 21 is stopped in response to the detection of the power supply-side operation switch 360 being operated to stop the power supply.

[0057] Furthermore, in the first connection state, when the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on before the power supply-side operation switch 360, power is not supplied to the tool connection body 2 from the power supply device 3 whose power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned off, so the motor 21 does not rotate. When the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on while the main body-side operation switch 260 is on, the microcomputer 341 does not output each control signal 342 to the inverter 35, even though both the main body-side operation switch 260 and the power supply-side operation switch 360 are on, and does not cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21.

[0058] Thus, in this example, in the connected state, when the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on while the power supply-side operation switch 360 is on, the control circuit 34 causes the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21. On the other hand, in the connected state, when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on while the main body-side operation switch 260 is on, the microcomputer 341 does not cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21.

[0059] As described above, the tool body 2 and the power supply device 3 are connected to each other via the connection cable 4. Therefore, there is a possibility that the user will not be holding the tool body 2 in their hand when operating the power supply-side operation switch 360 of the power supply device 3. Therefore, if the motor 21 rotates when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on while the tool body 2 is connected, there is a possibility that the motor 21 will rotate when the user is not holding the tool body 2 in their hand. In this example, when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on while the tool body-side operation switch 260 is on while the tool body 2 is connected, the microcomputer 341 does not cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21, thereby reducing the possibility that the motor 21 will rotate when the user is not holding the tool body 2 in their hand. This improves usability of the power tool 1.

[0060] In this example, the microcomputer 341, which starts operating when the power supply side operation switch 360 is turned on, determines whether or not to cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 based on the input timing of the on signal from the operation switch 260. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the microcomputer 341 when the power supply side operation switch 360 is turned on.

[0061] 6, when the power supply side operation switch 360 is turned on and a drive voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 33 to the control circuit 34, the microcomputer 341 starts operating in step s1. Then, in step s2, the microcomputer 341 executes a confirmation process to check whether an ON signal has been input within a predetermined time after the power supply side operation switch 360 is turned on and starts operating. The predetermined time may be set to, for example, several hundred milliseconds, one second, or another value.

[0062] After the microcomputer 341 confirms that an ON signal has not been input in the confirmation process (NO in step s3), if an ON signal is input (step s5), the microcomputer 341 causes the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 (step s6). As a result, in the connected state, when the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on a predetermined time after the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on, the microcomputer 341 causes the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21. As a result, in the connected state, when the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on while the power supply-side operation switch 360 is on, the microcomputer 341 can cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21.

[0063] On the other hand, when the microcomputer 341 confirms that an ON signal has been input in the confirmation process (YES in step s3), it does not cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 (step s4). In the connected state, when the main body-side operation switch 260 is in the ON state and the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned ON, the microcomputer 341 receives the ON signal immediately after starting operation. Therefore, by not causing the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 when the microcomputer 341 confirms that an ON signal has been input in the confirmation process, it is possible to prevent the inverter 35 from driving the motor 21 when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned ON in the connected state while the main body-side operation switch 260 is in the ON state.

[0064] In this way, in this example, when the power supply side operation switch 360 is turned on and the microcomputer 341 starts operating, it determines whether or not to cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 based on the input timing of the on signal from the operation switch 260. In this way, the first exception can be realized by simple processing in the power supply device 3.

[0065] <When a power supply device with its power-side operation switch in the ON state is connected to a tool main body> When a power supply device 3 with its power-side operation switch 360 in the ON state (sometimes simply referred to as a power supply device 3 in the ON state) is connected to a tool main body 2 with its main body operation switch 260 in the OFF state (sometimes simply referred to as a tool main body 2 in the OFF state), the microcomputer 341 receives an OFF signal from the main body operation switch 260 and does not cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21. Thereafter, when the main body operation switch 260 is turned ON, the microcomputer 341 receives an ON signal from the main body operation switch 260 and causes the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21. In this way, when the main body operation switch 260 is turned ON after the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to a tool main body 2 in the OFF state, the microcomputer 341 causes the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21.

[0066] On the other hand, when the power supply unit 3 is in the on state and connected to the tool body 2 whose main body side operation switch 260 is in the on state (sometimes simply referred to as the tool body 2 in the on state), the microcomputer 341 does not cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21, even though both the main body side operation switch 260 and the power supply side operation switch 360 are in the on state.

[0067] Here, when the power supply device 3 in an ON state is connected to the tool body 2 in an ON state via the connection cable 4, there is a possibility that the user is not holding the tool body 2 in their hand. Therefore, if the motor 21 were to rotate when the power supply device 3 in an ON state is connected to the tool body 2 in an ON state via the connection cable 4, there is a possibility that the motor 21 would rotate even when the user is not holding the tool body 2 in their hand. In this example, when the power supply device 3 in an ON state is connected to the tool body 2 in an ON state, the microcomputer 341 does not cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21, thereby reducing the possibility that the motor 21 would rotate even when the user is not holding the tool body 2 in their hand. This improves the usability of the power tool 1.

[0068] In this example, when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is in the ON state, the microcomputer 341 determines whether or not to cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 based on the input timing of the ON signal from the main body-side operation switch 260 and the input timing of the sensor signal 230. The sensor board 22 (in other words, the sensor circuit 22), which receives power from the power supply device 3, outputs the sensor signal 230 to the microcomputer 341 regardless of whether the power supply-side operation switch 360 is in the ON state or the OFF state.

[0069] 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the microcomputer 341 when the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool body 2 in the ON state. The microcomputer 341 executes the above-described process shown in FIG. 6 and the process shown in FIG. 7 in parallel.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 7 , in step s11, the microcomputer 341 executes step s12 when the sensor signal 230 is input for the first time after the power-side operation switch 360 is turned on. That is, the microcomputer 341 executes step s12 when it receives the sensor signal 230 for the first time after the power-side operation switch 360 is turned on and operation is initiated. In step s12, the microcomputer 341 determines whether an ON signal has been input since the power-side operation switch 360 was turned on. In other words, the microcomputer 341 determines whether an ON signal has been input since operation was initiated. Step s12 is repeatedly executed until a YES determination is made. If a YES determination is made in step s12, step s13 is executed. Hereinafter, the sensor signal 230 input for the first time to the microcomputer 341 after the power-side operation switch 360 is turned on may be referred to as the initial sensor signal 230.

[0071] Here, when the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool body 2 in the ON state, the microcomputer 341 receives the first sensor signal 230 and the ON signal almost simultaneously. When the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool body 2 in the ON state, the first sensor signal 230 may be input to the microcomputer 341 slightly earlier than the ON signal, or the ON signal may be input slightly earlier than the first sensor signal 230. On the other hand, when the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool body 2 in the OFF state and the body-side operation switch 260 is turned on, the microcomputer 341 will receive the ON signal a while after receiving the first sensor signal 230.

[0072] In step s13, the microcomputer 341 determines whether the timing difference (also referred to as the input timing difference) between the timing at which the first sensor signal 230 is input (also referred to as the sensor signal input timing) and the timing at which the ON signal is input (also referred to as the ON signal input timing) is smaller than a predetermined time. Here, the input timing difference is a value equal to or greater than zero. If the sensor signal input timing is earlier than the ON signal input timing, the input timing difference is the time from the sensor signal input timing to the ON signal input timing. If the ON signal input timing is earlier than the sensor signal input timing, the input timing difference is the time from the ON signal input timing to the sensor signal input timing. The predetermined time is set, for example, to between several tens of milliseconds and several hundred milliseconds. However, the value of the predetermined time is not limited to this. In other words, in step s13, the microcomputer 341 determines whether the first sensor signal 230 and the ON signal are input substantially simultaneously.

[0073] If the determination in step s13 is YES, the microcomputer 341 does not cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 (step s14), even though the ON signal has been input. As described above, when the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool body 2 in the ON state, the microcomputer 341 receives the initial sensor signal 230 and the ON signal almost simultaneously. Therefore, by not causing the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 when the determination in step s13 is YES, the microcomputer 341 can prevent the inverter 35 from driving the motor 21 when the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool body 2 in the ON state.

[0074] On the other hand, if the determination in step s13 is NO, the microcomputer 341 causes the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 (step s15). Here, a NO determination in step s13, i.e., the input timing difference being greater than the predetermined time, means that the ON signal was input to the microcomputer 341 a predetermined time after the initial sensor signal 230 was input. Therefore, it can be said that the microcomputer 341 causes the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 when the ON signal is input a predetermined time after the initial sensor signal 230 was input. As described above, when the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool main body 2 in the OFF state and the main body operation switch 260 is turned ON, the microcomputer 341 receives the ON signal a short time after receiving the initial sensor signal 230. Therefore, the microcomputer 341 can cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 when an on signal is input a predetermined time after the first sensor signal 230 is input, thereby causing the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 when the main body side operation switch 260 is turned on after the power supply device 3 in the on state is connected to the tool main body 2 in the off state.

[0075] As described above, in this example, when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is in the ON state, the microcomputer 341 determines whether or not to cause the inverter 35 to drive the motor 21 based on the input timing of the ON signal from the main body-side operation switch 260 and the input timing of the sensor signal 230 from the sensor board 22. In this way, the second exception can be realized by simple processing in the power supply device 3.

[0076] 7, a signal other than the sensor signal 230 may be used. For example, if the tool body 2 is provided with a predetermined circuit that outputs a predetermined signal when the power supply side operation switch 360 is in the on state, regardless of whether the main body side operation switch 260 is in the on state or the off state, similar to the sensor board 22, the predetermined signal may be used instead of the sensor signal 230 in the processing of FIG.

[0077] In the above example, the first and second exceptions are realized by the power supply device 3, but they may also be realized by the tool body 2. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram mainly showing an example of the configuration of the tool body 2 in this case.

[0078] 8, the tool body 2 includes a supply control circuit 27 that controls the supply of each motor drive voltage 351 to the motor 21. Unlike the above example, when both the body-side operation switch 260 and the power supply-side operation switch 360 of the connected tool body 2 are on, the microcomputer 341 of the power supply device 3 in this example always outputs each control signal 342 to the inverter 35, causing the inverter 35 to output the motor drive voltage 351 that drives the motor 21.

[0079] The supply control circuit 27 is supplied with a voltage (for example, +5 V) transmitted through the signal lines 40 b and 40 c of the connection cable 4 as a drive voltage (in other words, power) for driving the supply control circuit 27. When the power supply side operation switch 360 is in the on state, the power supply device 3 outputs a drive voltage for driving the supply control circuit 27, and when the power supply side operation switch 360 is in the off state, the power supply device 3 does not output a drive voltage for driving the supply control circuit 27.

[0080] The supply control circuit 27 includes, for example, a switch circuit 271 that switches whether or not three drive voltages 351 output from the power supply device 3 are supplied to the motor 21, and a control circuit 270 that controls the switch circuit 271. The switch circuit 271 includes, for example, three switching elements. Each of the three switching elements may be, for example, a semiconductor element. The three switching elements are electrically connected to three signal lines 40a of the connection cable 4. The three switching elements are also electrically connected to the U-phase coil 21a, V-phase coil 21b, and W-phase coil 21c of the motor 21, respectively. When the switch circuit 271 is in an ON state, that is, when each switching element included in the switch circuit 271 is in an ON state, the three drive voltages 351 from the power supply device 3 are supplied to the U-phase coil 21a, V-phase coil 21b, and W-phase coil 21c of the motor 21, respectively. On the other hand, when the switch circuit 271 is in the OFF state, that is, when each switching element included in the switch circuit 271 is in the OFF state, the three drive voltages 351 from the power supply device 3 are not supplied to the motor 21. The switch circuit 271 is initially set to the OFF state. In other words, when a drive voltage is supplied to the supply control circuit 27 and the supply control circuit 27 starts operating, the switch circuit 271 is set to the OFF state.

[0081] The control circuit 270 can set the switch circuit 271 to an ON state or an OFF state. An ON signal and an OFF signal are input to the control circuit 270 from the main body side operation switch 260. The control circuit 270 may include, for example, a microcomputer. The microcomputer included in the control circuit 270 may have a configuration similar to that of the microcomputer 341 of the power supply device 3.

[0082] Even in a power tool 1 including a tool main body 2 configured as shown in Figure 8, when both the power supply-side operation switch 360 and the main body-side operation switch 260 of the connected tool main body 2 are on, power is supplied from the power supply device 3 to the motor 21 of the connected tool main body 2, causing the motor 21 to rotate. However, when the power supply device 3 is connected to the tool main body 2 (i.e., the connected state), if the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on while the main body-side operation switch 260 is on, the supply control circuit 27 prevents power from being supplied to the motor 21, causing the motor 21 to not rotate. Also, when the power supply device 3 is on and the tool main body 2 is connected to an on-state power supply device 3, the supply control circuit 27 prevents power from being supplied to the motor 21, causing the motor 21 to not rotate. An example of the operation of a power tool 1 including a tool main body 2 configured as shown in Figure 8 will be described below.

[0083] <When a power supply device with a power supply-side operation switch in an OFF state is connected to a tool body with a body-side operation switch in an OFF state> In a first connection state in which a power supply device in an OFF state is connected to a tool body in an OFF state, when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on, the control circuit 34 starts operating and a drive voltage (in other words, power) is supplied to the sensor board 22, the operation unit 26, and the supply control circuit 27. Because the operation detection signal 261 output by the operation unit 26 that has started operating includes an OFF signal, the microcomputer 341 does not cause the inverter 35 to output each drive voltage 351. In this example, when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is on and the body-side operation switch 260 is off, no power is supplied to the motor 21 and the motor 21 does not rotate.

[0084] Thereafter, when the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on, the operation detection signal 261 contains an on signal, and the microcomputer 341 causes the inverter 35 to output each motor drive voltage 351. Meanwhile, in the tool connection body 2, the control circuit 270 sets the switch circuit 271 to the on state when the on signal is input. This causes each drive voltage 351 from the power supply device 3 to be supplied to the motor 21. Therefore, when the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on while the power supply-side operation switch 360 is on, power is supplied to the motor 21, causing it to rotate.

[0085] Furthermore, in the first connection state, when the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on before the power supply-side operation switch 360, power is not supplied to the tool connection body 2 from the power supply device 3 with the power supply-side operation switch 360 turned off. When the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on while the main body-side operation switch 260 is on, the microcomputer 341 causes the inverter 35 to output each motor drive voltage 351. Meanwhile, the control circuit 270 starts operation and receives an on signal, but does not set the switch circuit 271 to the on state. As a result, although each drive voltage 351 is output from the power supply device 3, the drive voltage 351 is not supplied to the motor 21.

[0086] Thus, in the connected state, when the power-side operation switch 360 is in the on state and the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on, the supply control circuit 27 supplies each drive voltage 351 output from the power supply device 3 to the motor 21. On the other hand, in the connected state, when the power-side operation switch 360 is in the on state and the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on, the supply control circuit 27 does not supply each drive voltage 351 output from the power supply device 3 to the motor 21. This reduces the possibility that the motor 21 will rotate when the user is not holding the tool main body 2 in their hand. This improves the usability of the power tool 1.

[0087] <When a power supply device with its power supply-side operation switch in the ON state is connected to the tool main body> When the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool main body 2 in the OFF state, the drive voltages for the sensor board 22, the operation unit 26, and the supply control circuit 27 are supplied from the power supply device 3 to the tool connection main body 2. Because the main body-side operation switch 260 is in the OFF state, the drive voltage 351 is not supplied to the tool connection main body 2. When the main body-side operation switch 260 is then turned ON, the drive voltages 351 are supplied from the power supply device 3 to the tool connection main body 2. In the tool connection main body 2, the control circuit 270 receives an ON signal and sets the switch circuit 271 to the ON state. As a result, the drive voltages 351 from the power supply device 3 are supplied to the motor 21. In this way, when the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool main body 2 in the OFF state and the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned ON, the supply control circuit 27 supplies the drive voltages 351 from the power supply device 3 to the motor 21 to drive the motor 21.

[0088] On the other hand, when the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool body 2 in the ON state, the control circuit 270 in the supply control circuit 27, to which the ON signal is input, does not set the switch circuit 271 to the ON state. As a result, although each drive voltage 351 is output from the power supply device 3, each drive voltage 351 is not supplied to the motor 21. In this way, since the motor 21 does not rotate when the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool body 2 in the ON state, the possibility of the motor 21 rotating when the user is not holding the tool body 2 in his / her hand is reduced. This improves the usability of the power tool 1.

[0089] In this example, the supply control circuit 27, which receives the drive voltage from the power supply 3, realizes the first and second exceptions by determining whether or not to supply each drive signal 351 from the power supply 3 to the motor 21 based on the input timing of the ON signal from the main body side operation switch 260. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the supply control circuit 27.

[0090] When the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on and a drive voltage is supplied from the power supply device 3 to the supply control circuit 27, the supply control circuit 27 starts operating in step s21, as shown in Fig. 9. After starting operation, the control circuit 270 of the supply control circuit 27 executes a confirmation process in step s22 to check whether an ON signal has been input within a predetermined time after the drive voltage is supplied and operation starts. The predetermined time may be set to, for example, several hundred milliseconds, one second, or another value.

[0091] After confirming that an ON signal has not been input in the confirmation process (NO in step s23), the control circuit 270 turns on the switch circuit 271 when an ON signal is input (step s25). This causes each drive voltage 351 to be supplied to the motor 21 (step s26). By executing steps s21, s22, s23, s25, and s26, the supply control circuit 27 supplies each drive voltage 351 to the motor 21 when an ON signal is input some time after the drive voltage is supplied from the power supply device 3 and operation has started.

[0092] On the other hand, when the control circuit 270 confirms that an ON signal has been input in the confirmation process (YES in step s23), it does not set the switch circuit 271 to the ON state. As a result, the drive signals 351 are not supplied to the motor 21 (step s24). By executing steps s21, s22, s23, and s24, the supply control circuit 27 does not supply the drive voltages 351 to the motor 21 if an ON signal is input immediately after the drive voltage is supplied from the power supply device 3 and operation begins.

[0093] In this example, in the connected state, when the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on while the power supply-side operation switch 360 is on, the supply control circuit 27 receives an on signal a while after the drive voltage is supplied from the power supply device 3 and operation has started. In the example of Fig. 9, the supply control circuit 27 supplies each drive voltage 351 to the motor 21 when an on signal is input a predetermined time after the drive voltage is supplied from the power supply device 3 and operation has started. Therefore, in the connected state, when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is on and the main body-side operation switch 260 is turned on, each drive voltage 351 can be supplied to the motor 21.

[0094] On the other hand, in this example, when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on while the main body-side operation switch 260 is on in the connected state, the supply control circuit 27 receives an on signal immediately after the drive voltage is supplied from the power supply device 3 and operation begins. In the example of Fig. 9, when an on signal is input immediately after the drive voltage is supplied from the power supply device 3 and operation begins, the supply control circuit 27 does not supply the drive voltages 351 to the motor 21. Therefore, when the power supply-side operation switch 360 is turned on while the main body-side operation switch 260 is on in the connected state, it is possible to prevent the drive voltages 351 from being supplied to the motor 21.

[0095] In this example, when the power supply 3 is connected to the tool body 2 in the OFF state and the body-side operation switch 260 is turned on, the supply control circuit 27 does not receive an ON signal until a certain time has elapsed since the power supply 3 started supplying the drive voltage and operation started, just as when the power supply 3 is connected to the tool body 2 in the OFF state and the body-side operation switch 260 is turned on when the power supply 3 is connected to the tool body 2 in the OFF state and the body-side operation switch 260 is turned on. In the example of Fig. 9, the supply control circuit 27 supplies each drive voltage 351 to the motor 21 when an ON signal is input a predetermined time after the power supply 3 is connected to the tool body 2 in the OFF state and operation starts. Therefore, when the power supply 3 is connected to the tool body 2 in the ON state and the body-side operation switch 260 is turned on, each drive voltage 351 can be supplied to the motor 21.

[0096] On the other hand, when the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool main body 2 in the ON state, just as the power supply side operation switch 360 is turned ON when the main body side operation switch 260 is turned ON in the connected state, the supply control circuit 27 receives an ON signal immediately after the drive voltage is supplied from the power supply device 3 and operation begins. In the example of Fig. 9, when an ON signal is input immediately after the drive voltage is supplied from the power supply device 3 and operation begins, the supply control circuit 27 does not supply each drive voltage 351 to the motor 21. Therefore, when the power supply device 3 in the ON state is connected to the tool main body 2 in the ON state, it is possible to prevent each drive voltage 351 from being supplied to the motor 21.

[0097] In this way, in this example, the supply control circuit 27, to which the drive voltage is supplied from the power supply device 3, determines whether or not to supply each drive signal 351 from the power supply device 3 to the motor 21 based on the input timing of the ON signal from the main body side operation switch 260. In this way, the first and second exceptions can be realized by simple processing in the tool main body 2.

[0098] The first exception may not be present in the power tool 1. The second exception may not be present in the power tool 1.

[0099] In the above example, the operation detection signal 261 output by the operation unit 26 is transmitted to the power supply device 3 via a wired connection. However, as shown in Fig. 10, the tool body 2 may include a communication circuit 28 that wirelessly transmits the operation detection signal 261. In this case, the power supply device 3 includes a communication circuit 36 ​​that wirelessly communicates with the communication circuit 28. The wireless communication method used by the communication circuit 28 and the communication circuit 36 ​​may be Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi, ZigBee (registered trademark), or NFC (Near Field Communication).

[0100] The communication circuit 28 includes, for example, a wireless circuit and a microcomputer 28a. The microcomputer 28a includes, for example, an A / D converter. This A / D converter converts the operation detection signal 261 into digital data. The wireless circuit included in the communication circuit 28 wirelessly transmits the digital data operation detection signal 261 to the communication circuit 36. The configuration of the microcomputer 28a may be the same as the example configuration of the microcomputer 341, for example.

[0101] The communication circuit 36 ​​includes, for example, a wireless circuit and a microcomputer 36a. The wireless circuit included in the communication circuit 36 ​​receives the operation detection signal 261 wirelessly transmitted from the communication circuit 28. The microcomputer 36a included in the communication circuit 36 ​​then outputs the operation detection signal 261 received by the wireless circuit to the microcomputer 341. The configuration of the microcomputer 36a may be the same as the exemplary configuration of the microcomputer 341, for example.

[0102] The power for the communication circuit 36 ​​may be supplied from the DC-DC converter 340 or from a battery provided in the power supply device 3. Furthermore, the power supplied from the power supply device 3 to the sensor board 22, etc. may be used as the power source for the communication circuit 28, or power may be supplied to the communication circuit 28 from a battery provided in the tool body 2.

[0103] The communication circuit 28 and the communication circuit 36 ​​may also communicate with each other via wire. In this case, the microcomputer 28a of the communication circuit 28 and the microcomputer 36a of the communication circuit 36 ​​may also communicate with each other via wire. The wired communication method used by the communication circuit 28 and the communication circuit 36 ​​may be, for example, SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) or I / O. ２ The communication circuit 36 ​​may be an Inter Integrated Circuit (C) or a Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter (UART). Alternatively, the power supply device 3 may not be provided with the communication circuit 36, and the microcomputer 341 may communicate with the microcomputer 28a of the tool body 2 via a wire.

[0104] The microcomputer 36a or the microcomputer 341 may perform error detection on the digital operation detection signal 261 (also referred to as operation detection data 261) transmitted by the communication circuit 28. In other words, the microcomputer 36a or the microcomputer 341 may function as an error detection unit that performs error detection on the operation detection data 261 transmitted by the communication circuit 28. In this case, the microcomputer 28a of the communication circuit 28 generates the operation detection data 261 to which an error detection code such as a parity code or a checksum is added, and the communication circuit 28 transmits the operation detection data 261 with the error detection code added. The microcomputer 36a or the microcomputer 341 performs error detection on the operation detection data 261 with the error detection code added from the communication circuit 28.

[0105] When the microcomputer 36a or the microcomputer 341 detects an error in the operation detection data 261 with the error detection code, it may discard the operation detection data 261 with the error detection code and request the communication circuit 28 to resend it.

[0106] Furthermore, the microcomputer 36a or the microcomputer 341 may perform error detection on the operation detection data 261 with error detection codes multiple times. For example, the microcomputer 36a or the microcomputer 341 may perform error detection on the operation detection data 261 with error detection codes a predetermined number of times, two or more times. However, if the microcomputer 36a or the microcomputer 341 detects an error in the operation detection data 261 with error detection codes, the microcomputer 36a or the microcomputer 341 will not perform further error detection even if the predetermined number of error detections has not been performed. If the microcomputer 36a or the microcomputer 341 completes the predetermined number of error detections without detecting an error, the microcomputer 36a or the microcomputer 341 determines that the operation detection data 261 with error detection codes has been properly received and uses the operation detection data 261 included in the operation detection data 261 with error detection codes. On the other hand, if the microcomputer 36a or the microcomputer 341 detects an error, it discards the operation detection data 261 with error detection codes and requests the communication circuit 28 to retransmit the data.

[0107] The microcomputer 36 a or the microcomputer 341 may change the number of times that the error detection is executed depending on the type of the tool connection body 2 .

[0108] For example, consider a case where the connected tool body 2 is a driver drill or polisher, which poses a relatively low risk. In this case, the microcomputer 36a or microcomputer 341 performs error detection on the operation detection data 261 with the error detection code only once. In contrast, consider a case where the connected tool body 2 is a grinder or circular saw, which poses a relatively high risk. In this case, the microcomputer 36a or microcomputer 341 performs error detection on the operation detection data 261 with the error detection code a predetermined number of times (two or more times). However, if the microcomputer 36a or microcomputer 341 detects an error in the operation detection data 261 with the error detection code, it will not perform further error detection even if the predetermined number of error detections has not been performed. If the microcomputer 36a or microcomputer 341 completes the predetermined number of error detections without detecting an error, it determines that it has properly received the operation detection data 261 with the error detection code. On the other hand, if the microcomputer 36a or microcomputer 341 detects an error, it discards the operation detection data 261 with the error detection code and requests the communication circuit 28 to resend it.

[0109] In the above example, the inverter 35 is provided in the power supply device 3, but it may also be provided in the tool body 2. Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the inverter 35 being provided in the tool body 2. When the inverter 35 is provided in the tool body 2, the connection cable 4 is provided with six signal lines for respectively transmitting six control signals 342 for controlling the inverter 35 output from the control circuit 34, and two signal lines for respectively transmitting the positive power supply and the negative power supply of the inverter 35, instead of the three signal lines 40a.

[0110] Furthermore, in the above example, the connection cable 5 of the cable-attached power supply device 300 is detachable from the power supply device 3, but it may be fixed so as not to be detachable from the power supply device 3. Furthermore, in the cable-attached power supply device 300, the connection cable 4 may be fixed so as not to be detachable from the power supply device 3. Furthermore, in the cable-attached power supply device 300, the connection cable 4 may be fixed so as not to be detachable from the tool body 2.

[0111] Furthermore, since the inverter 35 easily generates heat, the power supply device 3 including the inverter 35 may be provided with a cooling fan for cooling the inverter 35. Note that, when the tool body 2 includes the inverter 35, the inverter 35 may be cooled by the cooling fan 23 of the tool body 2.

[0112] In the above example, the power supply unit 33 of the power supply device 3 includes the AC-DC converter 330, but a battery may be included instead of the AC-DC converter 330. If the power supply unit 33 includes a battery, the connection cable 5 is not required. The battery may be rechargeable by a charger separate from the power tool 1. In this case, charging terminals for charging the battery are provided inside the housing 30 of the power supply device 3 so as to be exposed from the housing 30. A charging voltage from the charger is then supplied to the charging terminals to charge the battery. The DC voltage output from the battery is supplied to the inverter 35 and the DC-DC converter 340 of the control circuit 34 instead of the DC voltage generated by the AC-DC converter 330.

[0113] Although the power supply device, the power tool main body, and the power tool have been described in detail above, the above description is merely illustrative in all respects and does not limit the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, the various examples described above can be combined as long as they are not mutually inconsistent. It is understood that countless examples not illustrated herein can be envisioned without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0114] This disclosure includes the following:

[0115] In one embodiment, (1) the power supply device is connected to a power tool body having a motor via a connection cable, and includes a control circuit that controls the motor, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the power tool body and the control circuit, the power tool body having an operation unit that detects user operations, and the control circuit controls the motor in response to the user operations detected by the operation unit.

[0116] (2) In the power supply device of (1) above, the user operations include a drive instruction operation for instructing the motor to be driven, and a drive stop instruction operation for instructing the motor to be stopped from being driven.

[0117] (3) In the power supply device of (1) or (2) above, the user operation includes a rotation speed instruction operation for instructing the rotation speed of the motor.

[0118] (4) In the power supply device according to any one of (1) to (3) above, the user operation includes a rotation direction instruction operation for instructing the rotation direction of the motor.

[0119] (5) In any one of the power supply devices (1) to (4) above, the operating unit has a first switch and is further provided with a second switch operated by a user, the control circuit controls a drive circuit that drives the motor, and when the first switch is turned on while the second switch is on when the power supply device is connected to the power tool body, the control circuit causes the drive circuit to drive the motor, and when the second switch is turned on while the first switch is on when the power supply device is connected to the power tool body, the control circuit does not cause the drive circuit to drive the motor.

[0120] (6) In the power supply device of (5) above, the power supply unit supplies power to the control circuit when the second switch is in the on state, and does not supply power to the control circuit when the second switch is in the off state. When the first switch is in the on state, the power tool body outputs an on signal to the control circuit. When the second switch is in the on state and the control circuit begins to operate, the control circuit determines whether or not to cause the drive circuit to drive the motor based on the input timing of the on signal.

[0121] (7) In the power supply device of (6) above, the control circuit executes a confirmation process to check whether the on signal has been input within a predetermined time after the second switch is turned on and starts operating, and after confirming that the on signal has not been input in the confirmation process, if the on signal is input, causes the drive circuit to drive the motor, and when it confirms that the on signal has been input in the confirmation process, does not cause the drive circuit to drive the motor.

[0122] (8) In any one of the power supply devices (1) to (7) above, the operating unit has a first switch and is further provided with a second switch operated by a user, the control circuit controls a drive circuit that drives the motor, and the control circuit causes the drive circuit to drive the motor when the first switch is turned on after the power supply device with the second switch in the on state is connected to the power tool body with the first switch in the off state, and does not cause the drive circuit to drive the motor when the power supply device with the second switch in the on state is connected to the power tool body with the first switch in the on state.

[0123] (9) In the power supply device of (8) above, the power supply unit supplies power to the control circuit when the second switch is in the on state, and does not supply power to the control circuit when the second switch is in the off state, and when the first switch is in the on state, the power tool body outputs an on signal to the control circuit, and the power tool body has a predetermined circuit that outputs a predetermined signal to the control circuit regardless of whether the first switch is in the on state or the off state, and when the second switch is in the on state, the control circuit determines whether or not to cause the drive circuit to drive the motor based on the input timing of the on signal and the input timing of the predetermined signal.

[0124] (10) In the power supply device of (9) above, when the second switch is in the on state, the control circuit causes the drive circuit to drive the motor when the on signal is input after a predetermined time has elapsed since the input of the predetermined signal, and does not cause the drive circuit to drive the motor when the timing difference between the input timing of the on signal and the input timing of the predetermined signal is smaller than the predetermined time.

[0125] (11) The power tool body is connected to any one of the power supply devices (1) to (10) via a connection cable, and includes an operation unit that detects user operations.

[0126] (12) The electric power tool comprises a power supply unit of either (1) or (10) above, an electric power tool body of (11) above, and a connection cable connecting the power supply unit and the electric power tool body.

[0127] (13) The power tool body is connected to any one of the power supply devices (1) to (4) above via a connection cable, and includes a motor and an operation unit that detects user operation, the operation unit having a first switch, and the power supply device includes a second switch operated by the user and a control circuit that controls a drive circuit that drives the motor, and the control circuit outputs a motor drive voltage to the drive circuit when the first switch and the second switch are on when the power supply device is connected to the power tool body, and further includes a supply control circuit that controls the supply of the motor drive voltage to the motor, and when the first switch is on and the second switch is on when the power supply device is connected to the power tool body, the supply control circuit supplies the motor drive voltage to the motor when the first switch is on and the second switch is on when the power supply device is connected to the power tool body, and does not supply the motor drive voltage to the motor when the second switch is on and the first switch is on when the power supply device is connected to the power tool body.

[0128] (14) An electric power tool body is connected to any one of the power supply devices (1) to (4) above via a connection cable, and includes a motor and an operation unit that detects user operation, the operation unit having a first switch, and the power supply device includes a second switch operated by the user and a control circuit that controls a drive circuit that drives the motor, and the control circuit further includes a supply control circuit that, when the first switch and the second switch are in an on state while the power supply device is connected to the power tool body, causes the drive circuit to output a motor drive voltage that drives the motor and controls the supply of the motor drive voltage to the motor, and when the first switch becomes an on state after the power supply device with the second switch in an on state is connected to the power tool body with the first switch in an off state, the supply control circuit supplies the motor drive voltage to the motor, and when the first switch becomes an on state, does not supply the motor drive voltage to the motor when the power supply device with the second switch in an on state is connected to the power tool body with the first switch in an on state.

[0129] (15) In the electric power tool body of (13) or (14) above, the power supply device outputs a drive voltage to drive the supply control circuit when the second switch is in the on state, and does not output the drive voltage when the second switch is in the off state. When the first switch is in the on state, an on signal is input to the supply control circuit, and the supply control circuit to which the drive voltage is supplied determines whether or not to supply the motor drive voltage to the motor based on the input timing of the on signal.

[0130] (16) In the power tool body of (15) above, the supply control circuit executes a confirmation process to check whether the on signal has been input within a predetermined time after the drive voltage is supplied and operation begins, and after confirming that the on signal has not been input in the confirmation process, if the on signal is input, the supply control circuit supplies the motor drive voltage to the motor, and when it confirms that the on signal has been input in the confirmation process, the supply control circuit does not supply the motor drive voltage to the motor.

[0131] (17) A power supply device according to any one of (1) to (4) above, a power tool body according to any one of (13) to (16) above, and a connection cable connecting the power supply device and the power tool body.

[0132] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Power tool 2 Power tool body 2A Connected tool body 3 Power supply device 4 Connection cable 26 Operation unit 27 Supply control circuit 33 Power supply unit 34 Control circuit 35 Inverter (drive circuit) 260, 360 Operation switch

Claims

1. A power supply device connected to a power tool body having a motor via a connection cable, a control circuit for controlling the motor; a power supply unit that supplies power to the power tool body and the control circuit; Preparation, the power tool body includes an operation unit that detects a user operation; The control circuit controls the motor in response to the user operation detected by the operation unit.

2. 2. The power supply device according to claim 1, The power supply device, wherein the user operations include a drive instruction operation for instructing the motor to be driven, and a drive stop instruction operation for instructing the motor to be stopped from being driven.

3. 3. The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2, The power supply device, wherein the user operation includes a rotation speed instruction operation for instructing a rotation speed of the motor.

4. 3. The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2, The power supply device, wherein the user operation includes a rotation direction instruction operation for instructing a rotation direction of the motor.

5. 3. The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2, the operation unit has a first switch, Further provided is a second switch operated by a user; the control circuit controls a drive circuit that drives the motor; The control circuit When the power supply device is connected to the power tool body and the first switch is turned on while the second switch is on, the drive circuit drives the motor; a power supply device that, when the power supply device is connected to the power tool body and the first switch is in an on state and the second switch is in an on state, does not cause the drive circuit to drive the motor.

6. 6. The power supply device according to claim 5, the power supply unit supplies power to the control circuit when the second switch is in an on state, and does not supply power to the control circuit when the second switch is in an off state; When the first switch is in an on state, the power tool body outputs an on signal to the control circuit, The control circuit, which has started operating when the second switch is turned on, determines whether or not to cause the drive circuit to drive the motor based on the input timing of the on signal.

7. 7. The power supply device according to claim 6, The control circuit a confirmation process for confirming whether or not the ON signal has been input is executed within a predetermined time after the second switch is turned on and starts operation; After confirming that the ON signal has not been input in the confirmation process, if the ON signal is input, the drive circuit drives the motor; When it is confirmed in the confirmation process that the ON signal has been input, the power supply device does not cause the drive circuit to drive the motor.

8. 3. The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2, the operation unit has a first switch, Further provided is a second switch operated by a user; the control circuit controls a drive circuit that drives the motor; The control circuit When the power supply device is connected to the power tool body with the first switch in an OFF state and the second switch in an ON state, and then the first switch is turned ON, the drive circuit drives the motor; The power supply device prevents the drive circuit from driving the motor when the power supply device with the second switch in the on state is connected to the power tool body with the first switch in the on state.

9. 9. The power supply device according to claim 8, the power supply unit supplies power to the control circuit when the second switch is in an on state, and does not supply power to the control circuit when the second switch is in an off state; When the first switch is in an on state, the power tool body outputs an on signal to the control circuit, the power tool body has a predetermined circuit that outputs a predetermined signal to the control circuit regardless of whether the first switch is in an on state or an off state; When the second switch is in the on state, the control circuit determines whether or not to cause the drive circuit to drive the motor based on the input timing of the on signal and the input timing of the predetermined signal.

10. 10. The power supply device according to claim 9, When the second switch is in an on state, the control circuit When the ON signal is input after a predetermined time has elapsed since the input of the predetermined signal, the drive circuit drives the motor; When the timing difference between the input timing of the ON signal and the input timing of the predetermined signal is smaller than the predetermined time, the power supply device does not cause the drive circuit to drive the motor.

11. 10. An electric power tool body connected to the power supply device according to claim 1 through a connection cable, A motor; an operation unit for detecting a user operation; The power tool body includes:

12. The power supply device according to claim 1; The power tool body according to claim 11; a connection cable connecting the power supply device and the power tool body; A power tool comprising:

13. 10. An electric power tool body connected to the power supply device according to claim 1 through a connection cable, A motor; an operation unit for detecting a user operation; Equipped with the operation unit has a first switch, the power supply device includes a second switch operated by a user and a control circuit that controls a drive circuit that drives the motor; the control circuit causes the drive circuit to output a motor drive voltage for driving the motor when the first switch and the second switch are in an on state while the power supply device is connected to the power tool body; a supply control circuit for controlling the supply of the motor drive voltage to the motor; The supply control circuit When the power supply device is connected to the power tool body and the first switch is turned on while the second switch is on, the motor drive voltage is supplied to the motor; When the power supply device is connected to the power tool body and the second switch is turned on while the first switch is on, the motor drive voltage is not supplied to the motor.

14. 10. An electric power tool body connected to the power supply device according to claim 1 through a connection cable, A motor; an operation unit for detecting a user operation; Equipped with the operation unit has a first switch, the power supply device includes a second switch operated by a user and a control circuit that controls a drive circuit that drives the motor; the control circuit causes the drive circuit to output a motor drive voltage for driving the motor when the first switch and the second switch are in an on state while the power supply device is connected to the power tool body; a supply control circuit for controlling the supply of the motor drive voltage to the motor; The supply control circuit supplying the motor drive voltage to the motor when the first switch is turned on after the power supply device is connected to the power tool body with the first switch in the off state and the second switch in the on state; When the power supply device with the second switch in the on state is connected to the power tool body with the first switch in the on state, the motor drive voltage is not supplied to the motor.

15. The power tool body according to claim 13 or 14, the power supply device outputs a drive voltage for driving the supply control circuit when the second switch is in an on state, and does not output the drive voltage when the second switch is in an off state; When the first switch is in an on state, an on signal is input to the supply control circuit, The power tool body, to which the drive voltage is supplied, determines whether or not to supply the motor drive voltage to the motor based on the input timing of the on signal.

16. The power tool body according to claim 15, The supply control circuit a confirmation process for confirming whether or not the ON signal has been input is executed within a predetermined time after the drive voltage is supplied and operation is started; After confirming that the ON signal has not been input in the confirmation process, if the ON signal is input, the motor drive voltage is supplied to the motor; When it is confirmed in the confirmation process that the ON signal has been input, the power tool body does not supply the motor drive voltage to the motor.

17. The power supply device according to claim 1; The power tool body according to claim 13 or 14, a connection cable connecting the power supply device and the power tool body; A power tool comprising: