Hand-Held Power Tool Shutdown Feedback for Task Completion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hand-held power tools lack a clear indication of target achievement, making it difficult for users to determine if a task, such as a screw connection, has been completed, and whether the operating mode was executed correctly, affecting user comfort and tool functionality.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced that activates a target achievement display mode using a control unit to determine the reason for the drive motor shutdown and displays this information via a display unit, allowing users to immediately assess goal completion and mode completeness, utilizing a control unit, display unit, and sensor parameters to provide visual and potentially acoustic feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If no target achievement display mode is activated, then the device complexity remains low, but the user cannot determine if a task has been completed or if the operating mode was executed correctly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTask completion informationVSAvoidDisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit determines the shutdown reason of the drive motor and activates a target achievement display mode that provides visual feedback to the user. The display unit shows whether the operating mode was completed completely or incompletely, giving the user immediate information about task completion without adding significant complexity to the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If a display unit is added to show shutdown reasons, then user convenience is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUser convenienceVSAvoidDevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display unit serves multiple functions: it displays the shutdown reason, indicates target achievement status, and provides operational feedback. By making the display unit multi-functional, the patent improves user convenience without proportionally increasing device complexity, as a single component performs multiple information delivery tasks.

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

3Measurement precision

If the control unit determines shutdown reasons and activates display modes, then information accuracy is improved, but the processing requirements and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTask completion detection accuracyVSAvoidControl system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit utilizes existing data about the drive motor shutdown reasons that is already available in the system. Rather than requiring additional complex measurement systems, the control unit processes information that is naturally generated during motor operation, achieving accurate task completion detection through self-service of existing system data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4364896A1Method for displaying a target achievement of a hand-held power tool
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP4364896A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4364896A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4364896A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method (300) for indicating the achievement of a target by a hand-held power tool (100) is disclosed, the hand-held power tool (100) comprising a drive motor (114), the method comprising the steps - activating a target achievement display mode (400) by means of a control unit (170); - determining a shutdown reason (410) of the drive motor (114); - displaying the target achievement by means of a display unit (210) depending on the shutdown reason (410).