Combustion Tool Motion Sensing Circuit for Battery Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Combustion tools with battery-powered elements face battery drainage due to ancillary components like indicator lights and switches, even when not in use, leading to reduced battery life and requiring users to manually turn off or remove the battery, which is often forgotten.

Innovation Solution

A motion sensing circuit and control circuit system that automatically places the tool in a low power consumption mode after a period of inactivity, using minimal battery power to maintain a low resistance path for immediate activation upon movement detection, eliminating the need for manual priming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the tool remains on to allow immediate use, then the tool is ready for quick actuation, but the battery is drained by ancillary components like indicator lights and switches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequick actuation readinessVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tool enters a sleep mode after a period of inactivity, pre-preparing for quick activation by maintaining minimal circuit readiness. When motion is detected, the tool can be activated immediately without requiring manual priming, thus achieving both battery conservation and quick readiness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system alternates between active mode and sleep mode based on motion detection. During sleep mode, ancillary components like indicator lights are turned off to conserve battery power, while the core system remains capable of quick reactivation through motion sensing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If mechanical switches are used for sleep mode circuits, then the tool can enter sleep mode to conserve power, but the switches are subject to corrosion, wear, and vibration reducing long term effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery power conservationVSAvoidswitch durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical switches with a motion sensing circuit that uses vibration and tilt sensors to detect tool movement. This electronic sensing system eliminates the corrosion, wear, and vibration issues associated with mechanical switches while maintaining the ability to transition between active and sleep modes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The motion sensing circuit automatically detects when the tool is moved and triggers activation without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the transition from sleep mode to active mode based on detected motion, eliminating the need for mechanical priming switches

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by moving object

If the tool is placed in sleep mode to conserve battery power, then battery life is prolonged, but the tool requires manual priming to wake up from sleep mode

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidactivation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The motion sensing circuit replaces the need for manual priming by automatically detecting tool movement through vibration and tilt sensors. When motion is detected, the system automatically wakes from sleep mode and activates, providing both battery conservation and operational convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The motion sensing circuit continuously monitors for tool movement and provides feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables automatic wake-up from sleep mode when motion is detected, eliminating the need for manual priming while maintaining power conservation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2485873B1Automatic low power consumption mode for combustion tools
Publication Date: 2016.11.30 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP2485873B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2485873B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP2485873B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A combustion tool (100) having a circuit for conserving battery power includes a battery assembly (114) to power at least a portion of the combustion tool, a control circuit (512) to place the combustion tool in an active mode or a low power consumption mode, and a motion sensing circuit (502) to indicate a movement of the combustion tool and to indicate a non -movement of the combustion tool. A timer (506) is set when a movement is detected and resets each time a new movement is sensed. If a new movement is not sensed when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed, the combustion tool enters into a low power consumption mode. The movement may be a vibration or a tilt movement. The motion sensing circuit (502) enables the tool to be actuated without any unnecessary priming when motion is sensed and only minimal current is consumed when motion is not sensed, conserving battery power.