Battery Module Bus Interface for Wireless Tool Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage modules for handheld power tools and vacuum cleaners have limited application due to their inability to facilitate advanced wireless communication capabilities, requiring the electrical device to have a wireless communication interface, which increases complexity and reduces durability, leading to frequent replacements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a data interface separate from the supply contacts, specifically a bus interface, in the energy storage module to enable wireless communication with external devices, allowing the module to manage communication tasks, including switching and configuration, without needing a wireless communication interface on the electrical device, and supporting multiple communication standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the electrical device has a wireless communication interface, then wireless communication capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication interface is extracted from the electrical device and relocated to the energy storage module. This allows the electrical device to maintain simplicity while the energy storage module provides wireless communication capabilities. The energy storage module acts as an independent communication unit that interfaces with both the electrical device and external communication devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy storage module is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides electrical energy storage, manages power supply to the electrical device, and handles wireless communication with external devices. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise require separate components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electrical device has a wireless communication interface, then wireless communication capability is improved, but reliability decreases due to frequent replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage module is designed as a replaceable component with a shorter service life compared to the main electrical device. When the energy storage module wears out or needs updating, it can be easily replaced without replacing the entire electrical device. This approach improves reliability by isolating the wear-prone wireless communication interface to a disposable module.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into two distinct parts: a durable electrical device and a replaceable energy storage module containing the wireless communication interface. This segmentation allows the electrical device to maintain long-term reliability while the energy storage module can be periodically replaced or upgraded.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a separate data interface is added to the energy storage module, then communication functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data interface is merged with the existing device interface on the energy storage module. Rather than adding a completely separate communication subsystem, the patent integrates data communication capabilities into the existing physical interface structure, allowing both power and data to be transmitted through the same connection point.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an energy storage module (40) for use with an electric device in the form of an electric hand-held power tool (20) or a vacuum cleaner (70, 870). The energy storage module (40) has a wireless communication interface (60, 60C) for a wireless communication with an external communication device (100), in particular a vacuum cleaner (70, 870), which is arranged at a distance from the energy storage module (40), and a module housing (41), in which an electric energy store (42), in particular a storage cell assembly (43) with at least one electrically rechargeable storage cell (43), is arranged and on which a device interface is provided for releasably connecting the energy storage module (40) to the electric device. The device interface has electric device supply contacts (52) for supplying electric energy to the electric device. The device interface of the energy storage module (40) has a data interface, in particular a bus interface, which is separate from the device supply contacts (52), for data communication with the electric device, and the energy storage module (40) is designed to transmit transmission signals (SM) to the external communication device (100) via the wireless communication interface (60) depending on received information (EM) obtained from the electric device via the data interface and/or transmit transmission information (SM) to the electric device depending on received signals (ESI) received from the external communication device (100) via the wireless communication interface (60).