Power tool, battery pack, and combination, and method of controlling the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Suction force cleaning systems face challenges when operating on hard surfaces, as the high-speed brush can scatter debris, requiring the agitator to be turned off, and battery packs struggle with high current surges, affecting microcontroller signal deciphering.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with a low current power supply and a controller to manage power distribution, allowing continuous low current supply and high current power when needed, along with a communication circuit to distinguish logic signals during high current usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the brush motor is turned off while cleaning hard surfaces, then debris scattering is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to the three-position switch requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the brush motor operation control from the main power switch by providing a separate brush motor on/off switch. This allows the suction motor to remain on while independently controlling the brush motor, eliminating the need for a three-position switch and simplifying the overall control mechanism while preventing debris scattering on hard surfaces
2Power
If the battery pack provides high current power continuously, then the power available to the cleaning system is maximized, but the microcontroller cannot decipher digital signals during high current surges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power delivery system into two separate circuits: a high current power circuit for motor operation and a low current signal circuit for microcontroller communication. This segmentation allows high current to be supplied to motors while a separate low current path maintains clear digital signal transmission to the microcontroller, preventing signal deciphering issues during high current surges
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a separate low current power supply terminal and circuit as an intermediary between the battery pack and the microcontroller. This intermediary circuit provides a dedicated low current path that isolates the microcontroller from high current surges, enabling reliable signal reception and processing while the main system operates at high power
3Loss of energy
If the battery pack only supplies power when the three-position switch is ON, then energy consumption is reduced, but additional functionality is lost when the switch is OFF
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the always-on low current power supply with the switch-controlled high current power supply by providing separate terminals for each. This allows the microcontroller and communication circuits to always have power for basic functions while the high power circuits remain controlled by the switch, combining energy efficiency with continuous operational functionality
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack, power tool, and power tool combination. The battery pack includes one or more battery cells, a first terminal electrically connected to the one or more battery cells, a high current power supply terminal, a power switch electrically connected between the one or more battery cells and the high current power supply terminal, and a low current power supply terminal electrically connected to the one or more battery cells. The first terminal and low current power supply terminal are operable to provide a substantially continuous low current to the power tool during a normal operating state of the battery pack. The battery pack also includes a controller operable to control the power switch to provide high current power through the high current power supply terminal in response to a call for power from the power tool.