Power Tool Controller with Near-Field Communication for Setting Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of electric power tools face difficulties in changing operating conditions due to the need to manually find settable items and ranges, leading to cumbersome preparation and potential incorrect settings.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus that allows users to easily change operating conditions using an external device, with a controller that notifies and corrects settings within settable ranges, preventing incorrect changes and improving usability through near field wireless communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users manually find settable items and ranges through manuals or manufacturer websites, then they can change operating conditions, but the preparation process becomes burdensome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of setting operating conditionsVSAvoidpreparation time before setting
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The communication device provides feedback to the external device about the settable items and ranges of operating conditions. This feedback mechanism allows the external device to automatically understand what parameters can be adjusted and within what ranges, eliminating the need for users to manually search through manuals or websites before making settings changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If users manually find settable items and ranges, then they can change operating conditions, but the process requires cumbersome preparation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of setting operating conditionsVSAvoidcomplexity of setting process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically providing information about settable items and ranges to the external device. The communication device autonomously transmits the necessary setting information without requiring the user to manually search for it, thereby simplifying the overall setting process and reducing user burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The communication device acts as an intermediary between the power tool and the external device. It facilitates automatic communication of settable parameters and ranges, eliminating the need for users to directly search through manuals or websites, thus reducing the complexity of the setting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If users change operating conditions using external devices without automatic notification, then settings can be modified, but incorrect settings may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of operating condition changesVSAvoidaccuracy of setting values
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The communication device provides feedback to the external device regarding the settable ranges of operating conditions. This feedback enables the external device to automatically validate and correct setting values within acceptable ranges, preventing incorrect settings while maintaining the flexibility to adjust various operating parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining and communicating the settable ranges of operating conditions before the actual setting process. This allows the external device to automatically validate and correct setting values within acceptable ranges, preventing incorrect settings before they occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3150337B1Device for power tool
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 MAKITA CORP
  • EP3150337B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3150337B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3150337B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

An apparatus for an electric power tool in one aspect of the present invention comprises a controller, a storage device, and a communication device. The controller reads a settable item and a settable range from the storage device in accordance with a request from an external device received by the communication device, and transmits the settable item and the settable range to the external device through the communication device.