Power Equipment with Inertia Based Measurement and Guidance

• US 20150360305A1
• Filed: 01/30/2014
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: WILLGERT, Mikael
• Granted Patent: US 10,668,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/001 Measuring or control devices, e.g. for automatic control of work feed pressure on band saw blade measuring in general G01; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/002 for the position of the saw blade B27B5/36 and B27B9/02 take precedence
• 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: B27B 17/00 Chain saws; Equipment therefor slotting or mortising machines equipped with chain cutters B27F5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 17/0025 Length measuring devices incorporated in the chain saw

Abstract

An outdoor power tool may include an engine, a working assembly that performs a cutting operation powered by the engine, movement sensor circuitry configured to at least determine movement information of the outdoor power tool using inertia based measurements locally determined at the outdoor power tool, and a position monitoring module including processing circuitry configured to receive the movement information and receive an input defining a reference point. The position monitoring module may be further configured to provide feedback to an operator of the outdoor power tool to direct operation of the outdoor power tool based on the movement information.

Claims

1. An outdoor power tool comprising:

an engine;

a working assembly that performs a cutting operation powered by the engine;

movement sensor circuitry configured to at least determine movement information of the outdoor power tool using inertia based measurements locally determined at the outdoor power tool; and

a position monitoring module including processing circuitry configured to receive the movement information and receive an input defining a reference point, the position monitoring module being further configured to provide feedback to an operator of the outdoor power tool to direct operation of the outdoor power tool based on the movement information.

2. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, further comprising a feedback indicator disposed on a casing of the outdoor power tool to provide feedback to the operator.

3. The outdoor power tool of claim 2, wherein the feedback indicator includes one or more lights to provide visual feedback.

4. The outdoor power tool of claim 2, wherein the feedback indicator includes a speaker to provide audible feedback.

5. The outdoor power tool of claim 2, wherein the feedback indicator provides tactile feedback.

6. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein feedback is provided to the operator based on a comparison of the movement information to a stored program.

7. The outdoor power tool of claim 6, wherein the stored program is downloaded wirelessly to the outdoor power tool or is downloaded to the outdoor power tool from a removable memory device.

9. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein the engine is electrically powered or gas powered.

11. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein the feedback is provided responsive to lateral movement of the outdoor power tool a predetermined distance from the reference point based on the movement information.

12. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein actuation of a measurement trigger indicates a location of the reference point.

13. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, further comprising a measurement trigger disposed on a casing of the outdoor power tool, and wherein actuation of the measurement trigger indicates the reference point.

14. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein the feedback is provided responsive to lateral movement of the outdoor power tool and the feedback is indicative of a change in elevation of the outdoor power tool relative to an elevation of the reference point based on the movement information.

15. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein the feedback is provided responsive to movement of the outdoor power tool and the feedback is indicative of acceleration away from a straight line extending away from the reference point based on the movement information.

16. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein the feedback is provided responsive to lateral movement of the outdoor power tool toward a point located a predetermined distance from the reference point based on the movement information, and

wherein the feedback is indicative of a proximity of the outdoor power tool to the point or the feedback provides a series of audible beeps that increase in frequency as proximity of the outdoor power tool to the point decreases.

18. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein the feedback is provided responsive to movement of the outdoor power tool toward a point located a predetermined distance from the reference point based on the movement information, and wherein the feedback provides a series of visible flashes that increase in frequency as proximity of the outdoor power tool to the point decreases.

19. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein the outdoor power tool is a chainsaw, a trimmer, an edger or a mower, and wherein the feedback is provided to automatically guide steering of the outdoor power tool.

21. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein the feedback is provided responsive to movement of the outdoor power tool in a plurality of directions, and wherein the feedback compares the movement information in each of the directions to programmed instructions to provide feedback to the operator indicative of deviation from the programmed instructions.

22. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein receiving the input defining the reference point comprises detecting operational parameters indicative of a trigger operation.

23. The outdoor power tool of claim 1, wherein the position monitoring module employs real time kinematic (RTK)—

global position system (GPS) navigation.

8. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

24. A method of providing feedback for operation of an outdoor power tool, the method comprising:

receiving movement information indicative of movement of the outdoor power tool using inertia based measurements locally determined at the outdoor power tool;

receiving an input defining a reference point; and

providing feedback to an operator of the outdoor power tool to direct operation of the outdoor power tool based on the movement information.

25-32. -32. (canceled)