THEFT-DETERRENCE SYSTEM FOR POWER TOOL SYSTEM, AND ADAPTER AND METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20140158389A1
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Kosuke, Suzuki, Hitoshi, Furui, Nobuyasu, Fukumoto, Masaaki, Umemura, Takuya, Sengiku, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 10,124,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 173/46
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 5/54 Arrangements or details not restricted to group B23Q5/02 or group B23Q5/22 respectively , e.g. control handles
• 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 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.

Claims

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 at least one 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 at least one 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 pass codes from the first memory and the second memory, and

cause 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.

2. The power tool system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first memory and the second memory are configured to store a plurality of pass codes, and

the first controller is configured to;

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 pass code stored in the first memory and at least one pass code stored in the second memory.

3. The power tool system according to claim 2, wherein:

the plurality of pass codes includes a main pass code and at least one sub pass code, and

the first controller is configured to require input of the main pass code to permit the at least one sub pass code to be stored, deleted and/or rewritten in the first memory (16) and/or in the second memory (46).

4. The power tool system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a charger configured to be detachably attached to, and to charge, the battery pack, the charger including a third memory that stores at least one pass code;

a second electronically-actuatable lock provided in the charger and/or in the battery pack, the second electronically-actuatable lock being configured to selectively prohibit or impair operation of the charger and/or the battery pack; and

a second controller provided in the battery pack and/or in the charger, the second controller being configured to read the pass codes from the second and third memories when the battery pack is attached to the charger, and to cause the second electronically-actuatable lock to prohibit or impair operation of the charger and/or the battery pack when the pass codes of the second memory and the third memory do not match or otherwise correspond in a predetermined manner.

5. The power tool system according to claim 4, wherein:

the second memory and the third memory store a plurality of pass codes, and

the second controller is configured to;

directly compare the plurality of pass codes stored in the second memory with the plurality of pass codes stored in the third memory, and

cause the second electronically-actuatable lock to prohibit or impair operation of the charger and/or the battery pack when no match is found between at least one pass code stored in the second memory and at least one pass code stored in the third memory.

6. The power tool system according to claim 5, wherein:

the plurality of pass codes stored in the second memory or in the third memory includes a main pass code and at least one sub pass code, and

the second controller is configured to require input of the main pass code to permit the at least one sub pass code to be stored, deleted and/or rewritten in the second memory and/or in the third memory.

7. The power tool system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third controller provided in the power tool and/or in the battery pack, wherein the third controller is configured to cause the first electronically-actuatable lock to prohibit or impair operation of the power tool and/or the battery pack when a predetermined condition is fulfilled, wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of;

a predetermined operation performed by a user,

a predetermined time that has elapsed since the last activation of the power tool,

the activation of the power tool a predetermined number of times, and/or

the charging of the battery pack a predetermined number of times.

9. The power tool system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a charger configured to be detachably attached to the battery pack, the charger having a user interface configured to receive a pass code inputted by a user, and

a fourth controller at least partially provided in the battery pack, the fourth controller being configured to;

be coupled with the user interface when the battery pack is attached to the charger,

receive a first pass code and a second pass code inputted via the user interface, and

rewrite the current pass code stored in the second memory to the second pass code when the first pass code matches, or corresponds in a predetermined manner with, the current pass code stored in the second memory.

12. The power tool system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a charger configured to be detachably attached to the battery pack, the charger including a third memory configured to store at least one pass code and a user interface configured to receive a pass code inputted by a user, and

a sixth controller at least partially provided in the battery pack, the sixth controller being configured to;

be coupled with the user interface and the third memory of the charger, respectively, when the battery pack is attached to the charger,

receive and store a fifth pass code and a sixth pass code inputted via the user interface while the battery pack is attached to the charger, and

rewrite the current pass code stored in the third memory of the charger to the sixth pass code when the fifth pass code matches, or corresponds in a predetermined manner with, the current pass code stored in the third memory.

13. The power tool system according to claim 12, wherein the sixth controller (42) is further configured to:

receive a first pass code inputted via the user interface while the battery pack is attached to the charger, and

perform the operation of receiving and storing the fifth and sixth pass codes only when the inputted first pass code matches, or corresponds in a predetermined manner with, the pass code stored in the second memory of the battery pack.

14. The power tool system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a charger configured to be detachably attached to the battery pack (40);

an adapter configured to be detachably attached to the charger, the adapter including a user interface configured to receive a pass code inputted by a user, and

a fourth controller at least partially provided in the battery pack, the fourth controller being configured to;

be coupled with the user interface when the battery pack and the adapter are attached to the charger,

receive a first pass code and a second pass code inputted via the user interface, and

rewrite the current pass code stored in the second memory of the battery pack to the second pass code when the first pass code matches, or corresponds in a predetermined manner with, the current pass code stored in the second memory.

17. The power tool system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a charger configured to be detachably attached to the battery pack, the charger including a third memory configured to store at least one pass code;

an adapter configured to be detachably attached to the charger, the adapter including a user interface configured to receive a pass code inputted by a user, and

a sixth controller at least partially provided in the battery pack, the sixth controller being configured to;

be coupled with the user interface and the third memory of the charger, respectively, when the battery pack and the adapter are attached to the charger,

receive and store a fifth pass code and a sixth pass code inputted via the user interface while the battery pack and the adapter are attached to the charger, and

rewrite the current pass code stored in the third memory of the charger to the sixth code when the fifth pass code matches, or corresponds in a predetermined manner with, the current pass code stored in the third memory.

18. The power tool system according to claim 17, wherein the sixth controller is further configured to:

receive a first pass code inputted via the user interface while the battery pack and the adapter are attached to the charger, and

perform the operation of the receiving and storing the fifth and sixth pass codes only when the inputted first pass code matches, or corresponds in a predetermined manner with, the pass code stored in the second memory of the battery pack.

19. The power tool system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an adapter configured to be detachably attached to the power tool, the adapter including a user interface configured to receive a pass code inputted by a user, and

a fourth controller at least partially provided in the battery pack the fourth controller being configured to;

be coupled with the user interface when the battery pack and the adapter are attached to the power tool,

receive a first pass code and a second pass code inputted via the user interface, and

rewrite the current pass code stored in the second memory of the battery pack to the second pass code when the first pass code matches, or corresponds in a predetermined manner with, the current pass code stored in the second memory.

20. The power tool system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an adapter configured to be detachably attached to the power tool, the adapter including a user interface configured to receive a pass code inputted by a user, and

a fifth controller at least partially provided in the battery pack, the fifth controller being configured to;

be coupled with the user interface when the battery pack and the adapter are attached to the power tool,

receive and store a third pass code and a fourth pass code inputted via the user interface, and

rewrite the current pass code stored in the first memory of the power tool to the fourth pass code when the third pass code matches, or corresponds in a predetermined manner with, the current pass code stored in the first memory.

21. The power tool system according to claim 20, wherein the fifth controller is further configured to:

receive a first pass code inputted via the user interface while the battery pack and the adapter are attached to the power tool, and

perform the operation of receiving and storing the third and fourth pass codes only when the inputted first pass code matches the pass code stored in the second memory of the battery pack.

24. The power tool system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an adapter configured to be detachably attached to the battery pack, the adapter including a user interface configured to receive a pass code inputted by a user, and

a fourth controller at least partly provided in the battery pack, the fourth controller being configured to;

be coupled with the user interface when the adapter is attached to the battery pack,

receive a first pass code and a second pass code inputted via the user interface, and

rewrite the current pass code stored in the second memory of the battery pack to the second pass code when the first pass code matches, or corresponds in a predetermined manner with, the current pass code stored in the second memory.

29. The power tool system according to claim 1, wherein the first electronically-actuatable lock comprises a cut-off switch configured to cut off the supply of current from the battery pack to the motor or solenoid when the first cut off switch is turned OFF.

30. The power tool system according to claim 19, wherein the second electronically-actuatable lock comprises a cut-off switch configured to cut off the supply of current from the charger to the battery pack when the second cut off switch is turned OFF.

31. The power tool system according to claim 19, wherein the user interface of the adapter comprises a wireless transceiver.

32. The power tool system according to claim 31, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with a smart phone.

33. The power tool system according to claim 19, wherein the user interface of the adapter comprises a manual data input device.

34. The power tool system according to claim 33, wherein the manual data input device comprises a keyboard, push button(s) and/or a touch screen.

35. The power tool system according to claim 19, wherein the adapter is configured to be physically engageable with only the power tool.

8. (canceled)

10-11. -11. (canceled)

15-16. -16. (canceled)

22-23. -23. (canceled)

25-28. -28. (canceled)

36-41. -41. (canceled)

42. A method for operating a power tool system, comprising:

reading a pass code from a first memory of a battery pack while the battery pack is attached to a power tool,

reading a pass code from a second memory of the power tool while the battery pack is attached to a power tool,

directly comparing the pass codes from the first memory and the second memory in a first controller provided in the power tool and/or in the battery pack, and

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 the pass codes do not match or otherwise correspond in a predetermined manner.

43-49. -49. (canceled)