Hand-Held Garden Tool Control With Integrated Assistance Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gardening and forestry equipment systems lack user-friendly features that enable safe and efficient operation, particularly in harsh environments, as they often require users to interrupt their work to control assistance devices or manage multiple tools, leading to potential safety hazards and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A gardening and forestry equipment system that includes a hand-held tool with an integrated assistance device, allowing users to control the system without putting it down, featuring a user-actuable control element for selecting assistance functions and a detection device for real-time feedback, including a camera, inertial measuring unit, and satellite positioning, to support safe and precise operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the assistance device is integrated into the hand-held tool, then the user can control assistance functions without putting down the tool and continuous operation is maintained, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the hand-held garden tool with an assistance device into an integrated system. The assistance device includes a control unit that receives signals from the user-operated control element on the tool and automatically performs auxiliary functions such as adjusting operational parameters or activating safety features, allowing continuous operation without putting down the tool.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The assistance device is designed to perform multiple functions including automatic parameter adjustment, safety monitoring, and operational optimization. The control unit can handle various tasks based on different user inputs, making the system versatile while maintaining a single integrated structure.

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

2Ease of operation

If a user-operated control element is provided for selecting assistance functions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol convenienceVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The user-operated control element is positioned on the handle of the tool within easy reach of the user's hand. This local placement allows the user to select assistance functions without changing grip or moving to a different location, improving ease of operation while keeping the control system relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the assistance device supports automatic operation, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidautomation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The assistance device automatically adjusts operational parameters and activates safety features based on user input without requiring manual intervention for each adjustment. The control unit processes signals from the control element and autonomously implements the selected assistance functions, improving productivity while maintaining relatively simple automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3648567B1Garden and/or forestry system
Publication Date: 2022.09.28 ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO KG
  • EP3648567B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3648567B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a garden and/or forestry system.