Theft-deterrence system for power tool system, and adapter and method therefor
First Claim
1. A power tool system comprising:
- a hand-held power tool including a motor or a solenoid configured to drive a tool, and a first memory that stores a plurality of pass codes that include a main pass code and at least one sub pass code;
a battery pack configured to be detachably attached to, and supply current to, the power tool, the battery pack including a second memory that stores a plurality of pass codes that include a main pass code and at least one sub pass code;
a first electronically-actuatable lock provided in the power tool and/or in the battery pack, the first electronically-actuatable lock being configured to selectively prohibit or impair operation of the power tool; and
a first controller provided in the power tool and/or in the battery pack, the first controller being configured to;
read the pass codes from the first and second memories when the battery pack is attached to the power tool,directly compare the plurality of pass codes stored in the first memory with the plurality of pass codes stored in the second memory, andcause the first electronically-actuatable lock to prohibit or impair operation of the power tool when no match is found between at least one of the plurality of pass codes stored in the first memory and at least one of the plurality of pass codes stored in the second memory,wherein the first controller is further configured to require input of the main pass code to permit;
one of the at least one sub pass code stored in the first memory and/or in the second memory to be changed ora new sub pass code in addition to the at least one sub pass code to be stored in the first memory and/or in the second memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power tool system includes a hand-held power tool having a motor or a solenoid that drives a tool, and a first memory that stores at least one pass code. A battery pack is detachably attached to, and supplies current to, the power tool and has a second memory that stores at least one pass code. An electronically-actuatable lock and a first controller are provided in the power tool and/or in the battery pack. The first controller reads the pass codes from the first and second memories when the battery pack is attached to the power tool, directly compares the pass codes from the first memory and the second memory, and causes the first electronically-actuatable lock to prohibit or impair operation of the power tool when the pass codes do not match or otherwise correspond in a predetermined manner.
105 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A power tool system comprising:
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a hand-held power tool including a motor or a solenoid configured to drive a tool, and a first memory that stores a plurality of pass codes that include a main pass code and at least one sub pass code; a battery pack configured to be detachably attached to, and supply current to, the power tool, the battery pack including a second memory that stores a plurality of pass codes that include a main pass code and at least one sub pass code; a first electronically-actuatable lock provided in the power tool and/or in the battery pack, the first electronically-actuatable lock being configured to selectively prohibit or impair operation of the power tool; and a first controller provided in the power tool and/or in the battery pack, the first controller being configured to; read the pass codes from the first and second memories when the battery pack is attached to the power tool, directly compare the plurality of pass codes stored in the first memory with the plurality of pass codes stored in the second memory, and cause the first electronically-actuatable lock to prohibit or impair operation of the power tool when no match is found between at least one of the plurality of pass codes stored in the first memory and at least one of the plurality of pass codes stored in the second memory, wherein the first controller is further configured to require input of the main pass code to permit; one of the at least one sub pass code stored in the first memory and/or in the second memory to be changed or a new sub pass code in addition to the at least one sub pass code to be stored in the first memory and/or in the second memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for operating a power tool system, comprising:
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reading a plurality of pass codes that include a main pass code and at least one sub pass code from a first memory of a battery pack while the battery pack is attached to a power tool, reading a plurality of pass codes that include a main pass code and at least one sub pass code from a second memory of the power tool while the battery pack is attached to a power tool, directly comparing the plurality of pass codes read from the first memory and the plurality of pass codes read from the second memory in a controller provided in the power tool and/or in the battery pack, causing a first electronically-actuatable lock located in the power tool and/or the battery pack to prohibit or impair operation of the power tool when no match is found between at least one of the plurality of pass codes stored in the first memory and at least one of the plurality of pass codes stored in the second memory, and one of; rewriting or deleting at least one of the at least one sub pass code stored in the first memory or in the second memory only upon receiving an input of the main pass code in the controller, or storing an additional sub pass code in the first memory or in the second memory only upon receiving an input of the main pass code in the controller.
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24. A battery pack system for a hand-held power tool, comprising:
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a battery pack configured to be detachably attached to, and supply current to, the power tool, the battery pack including a first memory that stores a plurality of pass codes that include a main pass code and at least one sub pass code; a charger configured to be detachably attached to, and to charge, the battery pack, the charger including a second memory that stores a plurality of pass codes that include a main pass code and at least one sub pass code; an electronically-actuatable lock provided in the charger and/or in the battery pack, the electronically-actuatable lock being configured to selectively prohibit or impair operation of the charger and/or the battery pack; and a controller provided in the battery pack and/or in the charger, the controller being configured to; read the pass codes from the first and second memories when the battery pack is attached to the charger, directly compare the plurality of pass codes stored in the second memory with the plurality of pass codes stored in the first memory, cause the electronically-actuatable lock to prohibit or impair operation of the charger and/or the battery pack when no match or other correspondence in a predetermined manner is found between at least one of the plurality of pass codes stored in the first memory and at least one of the plurality of pass codes stored in the second memory, and require input of the main pass code stored in the first memory to permit one of the at least one sub pass code in the first memory to be changed or to permit a new sub pass code in addition to the at least one sub pass code to be stored in the first memory. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification