Device and method for communication between a control system for small internal combustion engines and an external computer

• US 7,953,543 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sem AB (SEM Holding AB)
• Original Assignee: Sem AB (SEM Holding AB)
• Inventors: Olsson, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLEMAN, KEITH A
• Application Number:
  US11/817,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,890 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.16, 310/359, 123/198.F, 123/179.1, 123/179.4, 123/179.26, 123/490, 123/299, 123/533, 123/456, 123/516, 123/491, 123/305, 123/352, 123/179.16, 123/179.17, 290/38.R, 290/48, 290/1.A, 290/1.B, 320/103, 320/114, 320/138, 701/101, 701/102, 701/103, 701/104, 701/105, 701/112, 701/115, 701/116
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/008 comprising computers
• 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: F02D 2400/06 Small engines with electronic control, e.g. for hand held tools
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/263 the program execution being modifiable by physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0862 characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0885 Capacitors, e.g. for additional power supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2250/02 Battery voltage drop at start, e.g. drops causing ECU reset
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 3/00 Other muscle-operated starting apparatus with intermediate power storage F02N5/00 - F02N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 3/02 having pull-cords
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 17/00 Testing of ignition installations, e.g. in combination with adjusting testing fuel injection apparatus F02M65/00; testing ignition installations in general F23Q23/00; Testing of ignition timing in compression-ignition engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 9/005 by weakening or suppression of sparks to limit the engine speed

Abstract

By incorporating digital control systems for ignition of, and to some extent for fuel injection in, small internal combustion engines, opportunities have been created for the connection of external computers, in order thereby to be able to change the characteristics of the control system, as well as to be able to read operational data from the same. The operational data may be e.g. operating time and trip meter. The method according to the invention means that a combined communication port and stop entry is created, which will result in a cost-effective implementation of the communication interface when a stop entry with an associated transient protection already exists.

Claims

1. A tool comprising:

a manually started an internal combustion engine free of a starter battery;

an electronic control circuit to control the internal combustion engine;

a stop button to stop said internal combustion engine; and

a connection being arranged between the stop button and said electronic control circuit, wherein said connection between the stop button and the control circuit is arranged to be used for data communications between the control circuit and an external computer, and wherein the electronic control circuit comprises at least one serial port constructed to read switching of the stop button, and the at least one serial port is synchronized with transmission or reception of the data during use.

2. A tool according to claim 1, wherein said connection between the stop button and the control circuit is arranged to be used for external voltage supply to said electronic control circuit.

3. A tool according to claim 1, wherein said connection between the stop button and the control circuit is arranged to be used for other electronic components connected to said connection.

4. A tool according to claim 2, wherein a capacitor is charged by said external voltage supply, and that said capacitor supplies power to the electronic control circuit in the absence of external voltage supply via the connection or voltage supply from the engine.

5. A tool according to claim 1, wherein an outer contact, connected to said connection, is arranged at a casing of said tool.

6. A tool according to claim 1, wherein said connection comprises a low-pass filter arranged between the electronic control circuit and the stop button.

7. A tool according to claim 1, wherein said connection comprises a one-wire bus for two-way data communications.

8. A tool according to claim 7, wherein a communication interface is arranged between said connection and the external computer.

9. A tool according to claim 8, wherein said communication interface converts a one-wire communication from the tool to a conventional interface.

10. A tool according to claim 9, wherein the conventional interface comprises a RS-232 interface.

11. A tool according to claim 8, wherein the communication interface is in the form of a separate unit.

12. A method of communicating data from a tool, said tool comprising:

a manually started an internal combustion engine free of a starter battery;

an electronic control circuit for controlling the internal combustion engine;

a stop button for stopping the internal combustion engine, and a connection between the electronic control circuit and the stop button, wherein the electronic control circuit comprises at least one serial port constructed to read switching of the stop button, the method comprising;

communicating data between the electronic control circuit and an external computer and using the serial port to read switching of the stop button.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising using the connection between the stop button and the electronic control circuit to supply current to the electronic control circuit and to other components connected to said connection.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the data communications take place from the external computer to the electronic control circuit.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the data communications take place from the control circuit to the external computer.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the data communications take place serially.

17. A method according to claim 12, further comprising manually starting the internal combustion motor.