Power Tool Usage Data Collection for Selection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulty in choosing the appropriate electric power tool for their specific work requirements due to the variety of tools available, each with different mechanisms and specifications, leading to confusion in selection.

Innovation Solution

An electric power tool system that includes a processing apparatus and server system, which collects usage information from the tool, estimates the content of work performed, and provides recommendation information on the suitable tool type and operation parameters, communicated to the user for informed purchasing decisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple types of electric power tools with different mechanisms and specifications are made available, then the versatility and adaptability of the tool selection is improved, but the ease of operation and decision-making for users deteriorates due to confusion in selection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool selection versatilityVSAvoidease of tool selection
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by collecting usage information from the tool and providing recommendation information back to the user. The server receives usage data, analyzes it to estimate work content, and generates personalized tool recommendations, creating a closed-loop system that helps users make informed decisions about tool selection based on actual usage patterns and work requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If detailed usage information is collected and processed to provide personalized recommendations, then the measurement precision of work content estimation is improved, but the device complexity of the system deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework content estimation precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that handles the complex tasks of collecting usage information, analyzing the data, estimating work content, and generating recommendations. This intermediary approach allows the tool itself to remain relatively simple while the server handles the computational complexity, dividing the system into a simple client side and a processing server side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3848152B1Power tool and processing device
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3848152B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3848152B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3848152B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric power tool 1 includes: an output shaft 7 on which a front-end tool is adapted to be mounted; and a power transmission mechanism 6 that transmits a rotational output of a motor 4 to the output shaft. A posture information acquisition unit 12 acquires posture information for identifying a posture of the electric power tool 1. A torque information acquisition unit 13 acquires torque information indicating a measured value of tightening torque produced by the front-end tool. A transmission unit 41 transmits the posture information, the torque information, and time information related to a time when respective information is acquired to an external apparatus.