Magnetic Tool Identification for Overload-Controlled Power Tools

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Solution Overview

Problem

Handheld electric power tools face difficulties in identifying the type of attached disk, leading to potential failure or breakage due to incorrect usage.

Innovation Solution

A tool system with a tool sensing unit that identifies the type of attached tool based on dimension measurement, preventing unsupported work and reducing the likelihood of failure or breakage by adjusting the driver's operation accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If no tool identification system is implemented, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates due to inability to identify tool type and prevent incorrect usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool type identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical identification systems with a magnetic field-based sensing system. The tool carrier includes magnetic or magnetizable material, and the sensing unit uses an electrical coil to detect magnetic flux, enabling non-contact, automatic tool type identification without complex mechanical interfaces or manual input mechanisms.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The tool carrier automatically provides identification information through its magnetic properties when attached to the power tool. The sensing unit automatically detects the magnetic flux and the control device automatically executes appropriate controlling measures, eliminating the need for manual tool registration or configuration by the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If magnetic or magnetizable material is used in the tool carrier for identification, then the measurement precision improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements worsen due to material placement constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool identification accuracyVSAvoidmagnetic material placement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system can detect various magnetic parameters including the presence, strength, and distribution of magnetic flux. This allows the identification system to work with different amounts and placements of magnetic material, providing tolerance for manufacturing variations while maintaining reliable tool type identification.

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

The tool system effectively identifies the type of tool, preventing unsupported work and reducing the risk of failure or breakage by controlling the driver's operation based on the identified tool type, thus ensuring safe and efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor unit comprises an electrical coil, which detects magnetic flux. The code comprises of magnetic or magnetizable material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic flux detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3620265B1Tool system
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3620265B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3620265B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3620265B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tool system in which a failure or breakage is less likely to occur is provided. A tool system (1) includes a body (20), a driver (30), and a tool sensing unit (40). To the body (20), a tool (10) is attachable. The driver (30) is configured to drive the tool (10) attached to the body (20). The tool sensing unit (40) is configured to perform identification of a type of the tool (10) attached to the body (20). The tool system (1) may further include a controller (50) configured to control, based on sensing of an overload applied to the driver (30), the driver (30) by a control mode according to a result of the identification performed by the tool sensing unit (40).