Power Tool System Wireless Condition Monitoring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In environments like construction sites and factories, managing multiple power tools, their battery packs, and chargers is inconvenient due to the difficulty in tracking and monitoring their condition information.

Innovation Solution

A power tool system equipped with condition detection units and communication units enabling bidirectional wireless communication between devices, forming a network that allows for the sharing and monitoring of condition information, such as state of charge and usage, using standardized protocols like Bluetooth or ZigBee, allowing users to track and control tools remotely through smartphones or monitor terminals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple power tools and battery packs are used simultaneously, then productivity increases, but it becomes difficult to track and monitor condition information of each device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of power tools usedVSAvoidcondition information tracking
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple power tools, battery packs, and chargers into a unified wireless communication network where all devices can exchange condition information. This merging approach allows simultaneous use of multiple devices while maintaining centralized monitoring capability through shared information exchange among all connected devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where condition information from each device is automatically transmitted to other devices in the network. This creates a feedback loop that continuously updates the status of all power tools and battery packs, enabling users to track condition information without manual intervention even when multiple devices are in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If battery packs are made removable from power tools, then ease of operation improves, but information management becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery pack removabilityVSAvoidinformation management
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service information management where devices automatically transmit their own condition information to the network. When battery packs are removed or attached, they autonomously communicate their status to power tools and chargers, eliminating the need for manual tracking and reducing information management complexity despite increased device mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless communication network provides universal information exchange capability across all device types (power tools, battery packs, chargers). This multi-functional communication system handles various information types (charge status, usage conditions, identification) through a single standardized protocol, simplifying information management regardless of device configuration changes.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2962813B1Power tool system
Publication Date: 2017.01.25 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP2962813B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2962813B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2962813B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A power tool system includes a plurality of tool devices (11, 12, 20). Each of the tool devices (11, 12, 20) includes a condition detection unit (11e, 12d) that detects condition information of the tool device and a communication unit (11 d, 12c) capable of performing bidirectional wireless communication with a further one of the tool devices (11, 12, 20). The communication unit (11d, 12c) is configured to obtain the condition information of the tool device from the condition detection unit (11e, 12d) and transmit the obtained condition information of the tool device to the further one of the tool devices (11, 12, 20).