FUEL LEVEL MONITORING SYSTEM FOR COMBUSTION-POWERED TOOLS
First Claim
1. A combustion tool employing a fuel cell containing fuel, comprising:
- a spark initiator configured to initiate spark events;
a fuel level monitoring system for monitoring the fuel level in the fuel cell and for indicating the monitored fuel level to a user, wherein the monitoring system comprises;
a programmable control unit configured to control the spark initiator and to count spark events initiated by the spark initiator, the programmable control unit configured to compare a number of spark events with at least two predetermined ranges of spark events, and to determine the fuel level in the fuel cell based on the determinations; and
an indicator controlled by the programmable control unit for providing the user with an indication of the fuel level in the fuel cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell includes a spark initiator configured to initiate spark events, and a fuel level monitoring system configured for monitoring the fuel level in the fuel cell and indicating the monitored fuel level to a user. Included in the fuel level monitoring system is a programmable control unit configured to control the spark initiator and to count the spark events initiated by the spark initiator, to compare a number of spark events with at least two predetermined ranges of spark events, and to determine the fuel level in the fuel cell based on the determinations. An indicator controlled by the programmable control unit is supplied for providing the user with an indication of the fuel level in the fuel cell.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A combustion tool employing a fuel cell containing fuel, comprising:
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a spark initiator configured to initiate spark events; a fuel level monitoring system for monitoring the fuel level in the fuel cell and for indicating the monitored fuel level to a user, wherein the monitoring system comprises; a programmable control unit configured to control the spark initiator and to count spark events initiated by the spark initiator, the programmable control unit configured to compare a number of spark events with at least two predetermined ranges of spark events, and to determine the fuel level in the fuel cell based on the determinations; and an indicator controlled by the programmable control unit for providing the user with an indication of the fuel level in the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fuel level monitoring system for monitoring the fuel level in a fuel cell of a combustion tool, and for indicating the monitored fuel level to a user, the system including:
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a programmable control unit configured to count spark events initiated by a spark initiator of the tool, the programmable control unit comparing a number of spark events with at least two predetermined ranges of spark events, and determining the fuel level in the fuel cell based on the determinations; an indicator controlled by the programmable control unit for providing the user with an indication of the fuel level in the fuel cell; and a reset device configured to reset the number of spark events counted by the programmable control unit to zero. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of monitoring and indicating a fuel level of a fuel cell in a combustion tool, comprising:
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providing at least two predetermined ranges of spark events; counting the number of spark events in the tool; comparing the number of spark events with the at least two predetermined ranges of spark events; and indicating the fuel level in the fuel cell with an indicator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification