Power tool system with programmable control unit

• US 6,390,205 B2
• Filed: 12/09/1999
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools AB (Atlas Copco AB)
• Original Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools AB (Atlas Copco AB)
• Inventors: Glader, Henrik, Wallgren, Carl Johan Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US09/458,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20020003043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 173/2, 173/4, 173/176, 173/216, 173/217, 173/171, 814/74, 814/70, 814/67, 814/69, 318/434
• US Class Current: 173/2
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/14 Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers couplings for transmitting rotation or clutches F16D; devices for measuring torque per se G01L
• 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 comprises a portable power tool (10), an operation control device (11) including an integrated memory (16) for storing power tool operation data, and an auxiliary memory module (18) normally containing the same power tool operation data as the integrated memory (16) easily connectable and disconnectable in relation to the control the operation control device (11), wherein the auxiliary memory module (18) serves as a removable back-up memory intended to carry operation data from one operation control device to another, notwithstanding the control device being integrated part of a battery powered tool or a separate unit at a main powered tool.

Claims

1. Power tool system, comprising a portable power tool (10), an operation control unit (11) including an integrated memory (16) for storing power tool operation data, and a connection means (12,13) connecting the power tool (10) to the control unit (11),

characterized in that said control unit (11) comprises an auxiliary memory module (18) normally containing the same power tool operation data as said integrated memory (16),

a contact means (20) for easy connection and disconnection of said auxiliary memory module (18) relative to said control unit (11), wherein said control unit (11) comprises a communication device (21) for communicating power tool operation data between said integrated memory (16) and said auxiliary memory module (18).

2. Power tool system according to claim 1, wherein said communication device (21) comprises a detecting means for detecting existing discrepancies between the data previously stored in said integrated memory (16) and the data stored in said auxiliary memory module (18) as said auxiliary memory module (18) is connected to said control unit (11), and

said detecting means enabling transfer of the data stored in either one of said auxiliary memory module (18) and said integrated memory (16) to the other one of said auxiliary memory module (18) and said integrated memory (16) in case of occurring discrepancies.

3. Power tool system according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary memory module (18) is comprise in a connector plug which is connectable to a matching jack (20) on said control unit (11).

4. Power tool system according to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary memory module (18) also comprises a program identifying and activating code.

5. Power tool system according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary memory module (18) is comprised in a memory card.

6. Power tool system according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary memory module (18) also comprises a program identifying and activating code.

7. Power tool system according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary memory module (18) also comprises a program identifying and activating code.

8. Power tool system according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary memory module (18) is comprised in a connector plug which is connectable to a matching jack (20) on said control unit (11).

9. Power tool system according to claim 8, wherein said auxiliary memory module (18) also comprises a program identifying and activating code.

10. Power tool system according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary memory module (18) is comprised in a memory card.

11. Power tool system according to claim 10, wherein said auxiliary memory module (18) also comprises a program identifying and activating code.

12. Power tool system according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary memory module (18) also comprises a program identifying and activating code.

13. Power tool system, comprising a power tool (30), an electric motor, a battery unit (31), and a control device connected to said motor and including an integrated memory for storing power tool operation data,

characterized in that said control device comprises an auxiliary memory module (32) normally containing the same operation data as said integrated memory,

a contact means for easy connection and disconnection of said auxiliary memory module (32) relative to said to said control device, wherein

said control device comprises a means for communicating power tool operation data from said auxiliary memory module (32) to said integrated memory.

14. Power tool according to claim 13, wherein said control device comprises a detecting means for detecting existing discrepancies between the data previously stored in said integrated memory and the data stored in said auxiliary memory module (32) as said auxiliary memory module (32) is connected to said control device, and

said detecting means enabling transfer of the data stored in said auxiliary memory module (32) to said integrated memory in case of occurring discrepancies.

15. Power tool according to claim 14, wherein said auxiliary memory module (32) also comprises a program identifying and activating code.

16. Power tool according to claim 15, wherein said auxiliary memory module (32) comprises a memory card.

17. Power tool according to claim 14, wherein said auxiliary memory module (32) comprises a memory card.

18. Power tool according to claim 13, wherein said auxiliary memory module (32) also comprises a program identifying and activating code.

19. Power tool according to claim 18, wherein said auxiliary memory module (32) comprises a memory card.

20. Power tool according to claim 13, wherein said auxiliary memory module (32) comprises a memory card.