Hand-Held Power Tool Interface with Derived Status Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand-held power tools lack an effective means to provide operators with a clear and concise overview of their operational readiness, particularly regarding charging status, temperature, and wear conditions, which can lead to unexpected tool failures during use.

Innovation Solution

A user interface with a device status output element that combines partial status information from multiple sources, such as battery charge and temperature, into a single, visually prominent display, using larger and ring-shaped optical elements that change color or brightness based on relevance, allowing operators to quickly assess operational readiness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple partial status output elements are provided to display individual status parameters, then the information completeness is improved, but the device complexity and information overload increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatus information completenessVSAvoiduser interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple partial status output elements into a single device status output element that displays an overall status derived from individual status parameters. This merging approach maintains complete information display while reducing interface complexity and preventing information overload.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device status output element serves multiple functions: it displays overall device status, indicates operational readiness, and provides derived status information that synthesizes multiple individual status parameters into a single comprehensive indicator.

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

2Measurement precision

If multiple partial status output elements are provided for detailed status display, then the measurement precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in quick assessment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatus monitoring precisionVSAvoidoperational readiness assessment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple partial status indicators into a single device status output element, the system maintains precise monitoring of individual parameters while enabling quick overall assessment through the derived device status, thus improving ease of operation without sacrificing measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary synthesis of multiple status parameters into a derived device status that indicates operational readiness in advance, allowing operators to quickly assess whether the tool is ready for operation without needing to interpret multiple individual status indicators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If a device status output element is added to display derived status information, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational readiness assessment easeVSAvoidoutput element quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device status output element is designed to be multi-functional, serving as both a detailed status display and a simplified operational readiness indicator. This universal design improves ease of operation without requiring additional separate output elements, thus avoiding increased device complexity.

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

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

Enables operators to easily and quickly determine if the tool is ready for operation, providing early warnings of potential issues and enhancing safety and efficiency by highlighting critical status changes.

Implementation Method 1

The output elements are designed as optical output elements, in particular as LEDs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3463759B1Hand-held power tool device
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3463759B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3463759B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3463759B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a hand-held power tool device (10) having at least one user interface (12), which has at least a plurality of partial status output elements (14, 16), each of which is provided for indicating a partial status of a hand-held power tool (18). According to the invention, the hand-held power tool device (10) has at least one device status output element (20), which is provided for indicating at least one device status of the hand-held power tool (18) derived from the partial status.