Hand-Held Tool Grip Sensing for Safe Drive Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-held machine tools lack flexibility in actuating their drive devices, as they often rely on rigid systems that do not adapt to different user postures or tool operations, potentially leading to unsafe or inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The method employs at least two capacitive sensor elements connected to a control device, which determine electrical charges and enable actuation of the drive device only when predefined conditions are met, allowing for optimized operation modes based on user posture and tool usage, and preventing operation in unsafe regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single capacitive sensor is used to detect user presence, then the system is simple, but the actuation flexibility and safety are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive sensor is divided into multiple sensor elements (first sensor element and second sensor element) arranged in different regions of the hand-held machine tool. Each sensor element independently detects electrical charge in its respective region, allowing differentiated detection of user hand position and enabling flexible actuation based on specific grip patterns.
2Reliability
If the drive device can be actuated without specific grip detection, then the operation is simple, but the safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is configured to evaluate the electrical charges from multiple sensor elements before enabling actuation of the drive device. The system requires that the first electrical charge exceeds a first threshold value and the second electrical charge exceeds a second threshold value, ensuring proper user grip is detected before the drive device becomes operational.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor elements with threshold comparisons are implemented, then the operational safety and flexibility improve, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adjusts the actuation state based on real-time evaluation of electrical charges from multiple sensor elements. The system can enable different operation modes depending on which sensor elements detect charges exceeding their respective threshold values, providing adaptive control that responds to user grip position and posture.
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
This approach enhances flexibility and safety by ensuring the drive device is actuated only when the user is holding the tool correctly, optimizing operation modes for different tools and preventing unsafe contact with hazardous regions.
Implementation Method 1
The capacitive sensor is arranged in a grip region of the machine tool, for example, and can detect a user's hand located in the grip region
Implementation Method 2
determining a first electrical charge of the first sensor element, determining a second electrical charge of the second sensor element
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for actuating a hand-held machine tool including a drive device, with a control device for actuating the drive device and at least two capacitive sensor elements operatively connected to the control device being provided. The method includes the following method steps of determining an electrical charge of the first and second sensor element comparing the determined first electrical charge with a defined first threshold value and the determined second electrical charge with a defined second threshold value; enabling the actuation of the drive device and/or defined activation of the drive device via the control device when a predefined condition exists between the determined first electrical charge of the first sensor element and the determined detected second electrical charge of the second sensor element. A machine tool for carrying out a method of this kind is also described.