Power tools

• US 6,771,043 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hitoshi, Matsunaga, Yutaka, Ishikawa, Goushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/142,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20020175656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 320/114, 320/115, 320/132, 320/161, 320/162, 320/163, 320/164
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence

Abstract

Battery-powered tools may include battery 1 or battery pack BP and a drive source (e.g., motor M) for generating power using current supplied from the battery. A switch 3 may electrically connect the battery to the drive source. A voltage detector may detect the output battery voltage of the battery. Further, a processor 60, 210, a comparator 5 or another similar device preferably determines when a difference between (1) a first battery voltage detected at a first predetermined time period after the switch is turned OFF and (2) a second battery voltage detected at a second predetermined time after the first predetermined time period exceeds a predetermined value. This information may be utilized to determine whether to warn an operator of the battery powered tool that further operation using the battery 1 or battery pack BP should be discontinued.

Claims

1. A battery-powered tool, comprising:

a rechargeable battery,

a drive source for generating power using current supplied from the battery,

a switch electrically connecting and disconnecting the battery with the drive source,

a voltage detector detecting the output battery voltage of the battery; and

means for determining whether a voltage difference between (1) a first output battery voltage detected at a first predetermined time period after the switch is turned OFF and (2) a second output battery voltage detected at a second predetermined time period after the first predetermined time period exceed a first predetermined value, thereby determining whether the battery has sufficient remaining battery capacity for further operation, wherein the switch has been maintained OFF until the first and second predetermined time periods have elapsed.

2. A battery-powered tool as in claim 1, wherein the switch comprises:

a first switch that is manually operable and

a second switch that is intermittently turned ON and OFF in order to increase or decrease current per unit time supplied by the battery to the drive source.

3. A battery-powered tool as in claim 2, wherein the determining means begins counting the first predetermined time period after the first switch has been turned OFF.

4. A battery-powered tool as in claim 3, wherein the drive source comprises a motor, and wherein the determining means begins counting the first predetermined time period if the first switch was turned OFF hen a substantially constant current was being supplied to the motor.

5. A battery-powered tool as in claim 4, further comprising a first means for warning an operator that the battery has insufficient remaining battery capacity for further operation, the first warning means being connected to the determining means, wherein the determining means actuates the first warning means when the voltage difference exceeds the first predetermined value.

6. A battery-powered tool as in claim 5, further comprising:

a second means for warning an operator that the battery has insufficient remaining battery capacity for further operation and

means for actuating the second warning means when a third output battery voltage, which is detected when a substantially constant current is being supplied to the motor, is less than a second predetermined value.

7. A battery-powered tool as in claim 2, wherein the determining means begins counting the first predetermined time period after the second switch has been turned OFF.

8. A battery powered tool as in claim 7, further comprising a switching circuit arranged and constructed to repeatedly switch the second switch between an ON-state and an OFF-state, wherein the switching circuit is arranged and constructed to (A) turn ON the second switch when the first switch is turned ON, and (B) turn OFF the second switch after the battery voltage applied to the drive source has stabilized.

9. A battery-powered tool as in claim 8, wherein the drive source comprises a motor having a time constant, an wherein the time period between when the second switch is turned ON and when the second switch is turned OFF is greater than or equal to the time constant of the motor.

10. A battery-powered tool as in claim 8, wherein the drive source comprises a motor, and wherein the switching circuit is further arranged and constructed to (A) turn ON the second switch when the first switch is turned ON, and (B) turn OFF the second switch before the motor starts rotating.

11. A battery-powered tool as in claim 10, further comprising a first means for warning an operator that the battle has insufficient remaining battery capacity for further operation, the first warning means being connected to the determining means, wherein the determining means actuates the first warning means when the voltage difference exceeds the first predetermined value.

12. A battery-powered tool as in claim 11, wherein the second switch is maintained OFF when determining means actuates the first warning means.

13. A battery-powered tool as in claim 12, further comprising:

a third means for warning operator that the battery has insufficient remaining battery capacity for further operation, and

means for actuating the third warning means when a fourth output battery voltage, which is detected during the time period between (A) turning ON the first switch and (B) turning ON the second switch, is less than a third predetermined value.

14. A battery-powered tool as in claim 13, wherein the second switch is maintained OFF when the actuating means is actuating the third warning means.

15. A battery-powered tool as in claim 11, further comprising:

a fourth means for warning an operator that the battery has insufficient remaining battery capacity for further operation and

means for actuating the fourth warning means when a difference between (i) a fourth output battery voltage, which is detected during the time period between (A) turning ON the first switch and (B) turning ON the second switch, and (ii) a fifth battery voltage, which is detected when a predetermined time has elapsed after the second switch is turned ON, exceeds a fourth predetermined value.

16. A battery-powered tool as in claim 15, wherein the second switch is maintained OFF when the actuating means is actuating the fourth warning means.