ELECTRIC TOOL AND COMMUNICATION PLUG FOR ELECTRIC TOOL

• US 20120292070A1
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: NISHIKAWA, Tomomasa, MASHIKO, Hironori, ITO, Tatsuya, NAKAMURA, Mizuho, IIMURA, Yoshio
• Granted Patent: US 9,833,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 173/217
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/02 with means for imparting impact to screwdriver blade or nut socket
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/35 Devices for recording or transmitting machine parameters, e.g. memory chips or radio transmitters for diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132

Abstract

An electric tool including: a motor configured to drive a front end tool; a control device configure to control rotation of the motor; a storage part configured to store a method of driving the motor by the control device; and a communication terminal to which a communication line for reading or writing information of the storage part is configured to be connected.

Claims

1. An electric tool comprising:

a motor configured to drive a front end tool;

a control device configure to control rotation of the motor;

a storage part configured to store a method of driving the motor by the control device; and

a communication terminal to which a communication line for reading or writing information of the storage part is configured to be connected.

2. The electric tool according to claim 1,

wherein the control device includes a microprocessor, and

wherein the method of driving the motor is determined according to at least one of a computer program and a control parameter stored in the storage part.

3. The electric tool according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing that accommodates the motor; and

a battery that is detachably fixed to the housing,

wherein the housing includes a body portion that extends in a front-back direction, a handle portion that extends downward from the body portion, and a battery holding portion that is provided lower to the handle portion.

4. The electric tool according to claim 3,

wherein the communication terminal is provided at the battery holding portion.

5. The electric tool according to claim 4,

wherein the communication terminal is provided at a portion which is exposed when the battery is removed from the battery holding portion, and

wherein a connection cable is configured to be connected to the communication terminal when the battery is removed.

6. The electric tool according to claim 5,

wherein the battery holding portion accommodates a circuit board to which the control device is mounted, and

wherein the communication terminal is connected to the circuit board.

7. The electric tool according to claim 3,

wherein the communication terminal is provided at the body portion.

8. The electric tool according to claim 3,

wherein the communication terminal is provided at the handle portion.

9. The electric tool according to claim 4,

wherein a socket cover for closing the opening portion is provided at an opening portion of the communication terminal of the housing.

10. A communication plug connected to an electric tool including a control device, a storage part and a communication terminal for reading or writing information stored in the storage part from the outside, the communication plug comprising:

a housing;

a base plate that is mounted in the housing;

a plug that is fixed to the base plate, protrudes outward from the housing, and is configured to be connected to the communication terminal; and

a connection terminal for connecting the base plate and an external connection device,

wherein the plug has a shape such that its connection direction is limited to a specific direction, and

wherein a converter configured to perform conversion between a protocol for communication with the electric tool and a protocol for communication with the external connection device is provided to the base plate.

11. The communication plug according to claim 10,

wherein the converter is configured to perform conversion between an RS232 protocol and a USB protocol.

12. The communication plug according to claim 10,

wherein the connection terminal is a socket which is attached to the base plate and to which a connection cable for connection with the external connection device is configured to be attached.

13. The communication plug according to claim 11,

wherein the housing is substantially cuboid,

wherein the plug protrudes in a perpendicular direction from the largest surface of the cuboid, and

wherein the connection terminal is provided to the smallest surface of the cuboid.

14. The communication plug according to claim 11,

wherein the connection terminal is a plurality of groups of terminals which are provided on the base plate and to which the connection cable is soldered, or a socket that is provided on the base plate.

15. The communication plug according to claim 10,

wherein the housing is configured in a shape such that, when the communication plug connects with the communication terminal which is exposed when a battery attached to the electric tool is removed, the housing does not interfere with a protruding portion of the electric tool.

16. The communication plug according to claim 10,

wherein power for operating the control device is configured to be supplied from the external connection device to the electric tool.

17. The communication plug according to claim 16, further comprising:

a display part configured to display a communication situation representing whether the power is being supplied.

18. The communication plug according to claim 17,

wherein the housing includes a connection direction limiting part that is configured to limit the communication plug such that the communication plug is attached to the electric tool in a correct direction.

19. An electric tool comprising:

a control device;

a storage part; and

a USB connector for reading or writing information from an external personal computer,

wherein the control device can be operated by power supplied from the personal computer through the USB connector,

wherein the USB connector and the control device are connected such that a power supply line is disposed to supply power to a signal pin different from that for a USB protocol, and

wherein the control device operates by the supplied power when the control device is connected to the personal computer.

20. The electric tool according to claim 19,

wherein the electric tool is of a cordless type which is configured to be operated by a detachable battery pack, and

wherein the USB connector is provided at a position which is accessible only when the battery is removed.