Rechargeable Electric Tool Motor-Lock Detection via Battery Voltage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric tools struggle to reliably detect motor-lock conditions without additional sensors or circuits, particularly when battery voltage changes slowly, leading to potential motor damage due to thermal issues.

Innovation Solution

An electric tool design that measures and stores a reference voltage during motor-lock conditions, using this value to control motor operation by comparing it with real-time battery voltage, allowing for detection and prevention of motor-lock without additional sensors, and optionally adjusting the reference voltage based on temperature and battery level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional sensors or circuits are added to detect motor-lock, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor-lock detection reliabilityVSAvoidsensor and circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery voltage measurement function is made multi-functional: it serves both the existing overdischarge protection function and the new motor-lock detection function. By storing a reference voltage value representing motor-lock conditions in memory and comparing real-time voltage against this reference, the system achieves reliable motor-lock detection without adding dedicated sensors or circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own existing battery voltage measurement capability to detect motor-lock conditions, rather than relying on external sensors. The control unit leverages the voltage measurement already performed for overdischarge protection to simultaneously detect motor-lock by comparing voltage against the stored reference value.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If overdischarge protection voltage threshold is used for motor-lock detection, then circuit simplicity is maintained, but detection precision deteriorates when battery voltage changes slowly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit simplicityVSAvoidmotor-lock detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a fixed overdischarge protection voltage threshold, the system dynamically adapts the detection threshold by storing a reference voltage value that specifically represents motor-lock conditions. This reference voltage is measured and stored during manufacturing or initial operation, and then used as the comparison基准 for detecting motor-lock, thereby improving detection precision while maintaining circuit simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If motor-lock detection is implemented without additional sensors, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor quantityVSAvoidvoltage change detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The battery voltage measurement function is made multi-functional: it serves both the existing overdischarge protection function and the new motor-lock detection function. By storing a reference voltage value representing motor-lock conditions in memory and comparing real-time voltage against this reference, the system achieves reliable motor-lock detection without adding dedicated sensors or circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a fixed overdischarge protection voltage threshold, the system dynamically adapts the detection threshold by storing a reference voltage value that specifically represents motor-lock conditions. This reference voltage is measured and stored during manufacturing or initial operation, and then used as the comparison基准 for detecting motor-lock, thereby improving detection precision while maintaining circuit simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively detects motor-lock conditions in both rapid and slow voltage changes, preventing motor damage by stopping or decelerating the motor when the battery voltage remains below the reference threshold for a predetermined period, thus enhancing motor protection without additional sensor requirements.

Implementation Method 1

a voltage measurement section configured to measure a battery voltage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage measurement: Ohm's Law

Implementation Method 2

an electric tool powered by a secondary battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBattery electrochemical energy conversion: Battery (electricity)

Implementation Method 3

a motor, a decelerator, and an output section configured to be transmitted thereto a rotation of the motor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2623268B1Rechargeable electric tool and method for manufacturing rechargeable electric tool
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP2623268B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2623268B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2623268B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Providing an electric tool that can reliably detect the occurrence of the motor-lock and can prevent the damage of the motor without adding a sensor and/or a circuit. The electric tool is powered by a secondary battery as a power source, and includes: an output section configured to be transmitted thereto a rotation of a motor 11 directly or through a decelerator; a voltage measurement section 31 that measures a battery voltage; a storage means 32 that stores, as a reference voltage, a voltage value of the battery voltage measured preliminarily when a motor-lock is occurring; and a control means 30 that controls a driving of the motor. The control means 30 is configured to decide that the motor 11 is being locked and then stop or decelerate the motor 11 upon detecting that the battery voltage measured through the voltage measurement section 31 is maintained lower than or equal to the reference voltage stored in the storage means 32 for a predetermined period of time during the driving of the motor.