Power tool system

• US 20060179473A1
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Miwa, Tatsuya, Tanaka, Naotake, Innami, Teruhisa, Ikeda, Masaki, Kubota, Atsumasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,784,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A power tool system with enhanced antitheft capability has a hand-held power tool and a wearable piece worn by the user. The wearable piece incorporates a certification unit which stores an identification code specifying the power tool and transmits the identification code to an authenticator incorporated in the power tool. The authenticator reads the identification code from the certification unit and to provide an authentication signal when the identification code is authenticated to be eligible for a privileged use of the power tool. The power tool is enabled only in response to the authentication signal, and otherwise disabled for avoiding unauthorized use. A communication is established between the certification unit and the authenticator for transmission of the identification code, while the user holds the power tool with the wearable piece carried on.

Claims

1. A power tool system comprising:

a power tool configured to be manipulated by a user and to include a controller which enables said power tool only upon receiving an authentication signal;

a wearable piece provided as a separate entity from said power tool and configured to be worn by said user;

a certification unit configured to store an identification code specifying said power tool and to transmit said identification code; and

an authenticator configured to read said identification code from said certification unit and to provide said authentication signal to said controller when said identification code is authenticated to be eligible for a privileged use of said power tool;

wherein said power tool incorporates one of said authenticator and said certification unit, while said wearable piece incorporates the other of said authenticator and said certification unit;

said system includes communication means which is configured to establish a communication between said certification unit and said authenticator for transmission of said identification code therebetween, while the user holds said power tool with said wearable piece carried on.

2. The power tool system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication means is configured to use the user'"'"'s body as a signal transmission path.

3. The power tool system as set forth in claim 2, wherein

said communication means comprises a first transceiver incorporated in said certification unit ( ), and

a second transceiver incorporated in said authenticator;

and,

said first transceiver including;

a signal electrode configured to be held in close proximity to the user'"'"'s body;

a ground electrode configured to be held close proximity to the user'"'"'s body in a spatially spaced from said signal electrode;

a transmitter configured to apply a voltage signal indicative of said identification code across said signal electrode and said ground electrode;

said second transceiver including;

a circuit ground configured to be connected to the ground through a casing of said power tool;

a touch electrode provided on a grip of said power tool for contact with the user'"'"'s hand;

a signal detector configured to be connected across said touch electrode and said circuit ground for detection of said voltage signal.

4. The power tool system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said communication means is configured to make said communication by a radio signal transmission between said certification unit and said authenticator.

5. The power tool system as set fort in claim 4, wherein

said communication means comprises a first transceiver incorporated in said certification unit;

and

a second transceiver incorporated in said authenticator ( ),

said first transceiver including;

a first antenna;

a first transmitter configured to transmit a voltage signal indicative of said identification code through said first antenna;

said second transceiver including;

a second antenna configured to receive said voltage signal transmitted through said first antenna;

a reader configured to convert said voltage signal into a data to be authenticated.

6. The power tool system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said wearable piece (20) incorporates said certification unit (200;

200A), and said power tool (10) incorporates said authenticator (100;

100A),

said authenticator (100;

100A) is configured to interrogate said certification unit to receive said identification code therefrom for authentication of said identification code, said authenticator transmitting said authentication signal to said controller when said identification code is authenticated.

7. The power tool system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said power tool incorporates said certification unit ( ), and said wearable piece incorporates said authenticator ( ),

said authenticator is configured to interrogate said certification unit to receive said identification code therefrom for authentication of said identification code, said authenticator transmitting said authentication signal to said controller when said identification code is authenticated.

8. The power tool system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said authenticator (100;

100A) configured to be activated upon said power tool being energized.

9. The power tool system as set forth in claim 6, wherein

said power tool has a reversible motor and is configured to have a direction selector which is movable past a neutral position of not rotating said motor between a forward position of rotating said motor in a forward direction and a reverse position of rotating said motor,

said authenticator being configured to be activated in response to said direction selector being out of said neutral position.

10. The power tool system as set forth in claim 6, wherein

said power tool is configured to have a function of varying an output power or an output torque to be applied to a target object;

said certification unit is configured to store a limit value of said output power or said output torque;

said authenticator passing said limit value from said certification unit to said controller for limiting said output power or said output torque.

11. The power tool system as set forth in claim 10, wherein

said certification unit is configured to communicate with a transmitter provided on the side of a target object for which said power tool is used, said certification unit being configured to obtain said limit value specified in a data memory provided on the side of said target object and transmitted through said transmitter.

12. The power tool system as set forth in claim 6, wherein

said power tool is configured to have a detachable battery pack as a power source,

said battery pack is configured to have a battery authenticator and an interrupter,

said battery authenticator configured to read said identification code from said certification unit and to provide a battery authentication signal when said identification code is authenticated to be eligible for a privileged use of said battery pack;

said interrupter configured to interrupt an electrical connection from said battery pack to said power tool in the absence of said battery authentication signal.

13. The power tool system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said authenticator (100;

100A) configured to be activated upon said power tool being energized.

14. The power tool system as set forth in claim 7, wherein

said power tool has a reversible motor and is configured to have a direction selector which is movable past a neutral position of not rotating said motor between a forward position of rotating said motor in a forward direction and a reverse position of rotating said motor,

said authenticator being configured to be activated in response to said direction selector being out of said neutral position.

15. The power tool system as set forth in claim 7, wherein

said power tool is configured to have a detachable battery pack as a power source,

said battery pack is configured to have a battery authenticator and an interrupter,

said battery authenticator configured to read said identification code from said certification unit and to provide a battery authentication signal when said identification code is authenticated to be eligible for a privileged use of said battery pack;

said interrupter configured to interrupt an electrical connection from said battery pack to said power tool in the absence of said battery authentication signal.