Communication adapter and electric working machine system

• US 9,916,739 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHAVAL V
• Application Number:
  US15/391,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20170193761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391, 340 125, 34053911, 340542, 455 741, 455425
• 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: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/03 Constructional details, e.g. casings, housings

Abstract

A communication adapter in one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a plurality of outer surfaces comprising at least two outer surfaces, an interface device, an antenna, and a transmission device. The interface device is provided at at least one outer surface of the at least two outer surfaces and electrically coupled to an electric working machine through the at least one outer surface. The antenna is provided at another at least one outer surface, which is different from the at least one outer surface, among the plurality of outer surfaces, and configured to be capable of transmitting a radio wave for wireless communication with a communication device other than the electric working machine from the another at least one outer surface.

Claims

1. An electric working machine system comprising:

an electric working machine configured to drive a working element by an electric power; and

a communication adapter comprising a plurality of outer surfaces and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the electric working machine,

wherein the electric working machine comprises;

a recess arranged at an outer surface of the electric working machine and configured for attachment thereto of the communication adapter, the recess comprising at least two facing surfaces, each being configured to face a corresponding one of at least two outer surfaces of the communication adapter when the communication adapter is attached to the recess; and

a machine-side interface device configured to be electrically coupled to the communication adapter, and

wherein the communication adapter comprises;

a plurality of outer surfaces comprising the at least two outer surfaces;

an adapter-side interface device provided at at least one outer surface of the at least two outer surfaces and configured to be electrically coupled to the machine-side interface device of the electric working machine through the at least one outer surface;

an antenna provided at another at least one outer surface, which is different from the at least one outer surface, among the plurality of outer surfaces, and configured to be capable of transmitting a radio wave for wireless communication with a communication device other than the electric working machine from the another at least one outer surface; and

a transmission device configured to acquire machine information indicating a state of the electric working machine and to transmit the acquired machine information to the communication device through the antenna,

wherein the electric working machines system further comprises;

a restriction member configured to restrict detachment of the communication adapter from the recess; and

an elastic member configured to elastically support the communication adapter by applying an elastic force on at least one of the plurality of outer surfaces so as to force the communication adapter out of the recess,

wherein the elastic member provided between at least one of the at least two facing surfaces and at least one of the at least two outer surfaces and configured to elastically support the communication adapter with respect to the electric working machine, and

wherein the restriction member and the elastic member are provided such that the communication adapter abuts the restriction member by the elastic force of the elastic member, and thereby the communication adapter is attached to the recess in a state of receiving the elastic force of the elastic member and a reaction force from the restriction member caused by the elastic force.

2. The electric working machine system according to claim 1,

wherein the another at least one outer surface is oriented so as not to face any of the at least two facing surfaces of the recess when the communication adapter is attached to the recess.

3. The electric working machine system according to claim 1,

wherein the restriction member has a plate-shape.

4. The electric working machine system according to claim 3,

wherein the antenna is provided at the one of the plurality of outer surfaces, and

wherein the restriction member comprises a surface area facing the antenna and at least partially comprising at least one through hole.

5. A communication adapter comprising:

a plurality of outer surfaces comprising at least two outer surfaces, each being configured to face a corresponding one of at least two surfaces of a recess for attachment thereto of the communication adapter when the communication adapter is attached to the recess, the recess being provided in an outer surface of an electric working machine, the electric working machine being configured to drive a working element by an electric power;

an interface device provided at at least one outer surface of the at least two outer surfaces, and configured to be electrically coupled to the electric working machine through the at least one outer surface;

an antenna provided at another at least one outer surface, which is different from the at least one outer surface, among the plurality of outer surfaces, and configured to be capable of transmitting a radio wave for wireless communication with a communication device other than the electric working machine from the another at least one outer surface;

a transmission device configured to acquire machine information indicating a state of the electric working machine and to transmit the acquired machine information to the communication device through the antenna;

a supported portion configured to be elastically supported by an elastic member having an elastic force with respect to the electric working machine; and

an abutment portion configured to abut a restriction member configured to restrict detachment of the communication adapter from the recess of the electric working machine by the elastic force of the elastic member, the abutment portion being configured to receive a reaction force from the restriction member caused by the elastic force.

6. The communication adapter according to claim 5,

wherein the another at least one outer surface is oriented so as not to face the recess when the communication adapter is attached to the recess.

7. The communication adapter according to claim 5,

wherein the interface device is configured to be electrically coupled to the electric working machine by a contactless power supply system.

8. The communication adapter according to claim 7,

wherein the electric working machine is configured to be capable of outputting an electric power for operation of the communication adapter to the interface device of the communication adapter by the contactless power supply system, and

wherein the communication adapter comprises a power obtaining device configured to obtain the electric power outputted from the electric working machine through the interface device.

9. The communication adapter according to claim 7,

wherein the electric working machine is configured to be capable of outputting the machine information to the interface device of the communication adapter by the contactless power supply system, and

wherein the communication adapter comprises an information acquisition device configured to acquire the machine information outputted from the electric working machine through the interface device.

10. An electric working machine system comprising:

an electric working machine configured to drive a working element by an electric power; and

a communication adapter comprising a plurality of outer surfaces and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the electric working machine,

wherein the electric working machine comprises;

a recess arranged at an outer surface of the electric working machine and configured for attachment thereto of the communication adapter, the recess comprising at least two facing surfaces, each being configured to face a corresponding one of at least two outer surfaces of the communication adapter when the communication adapter is attached to the recess; and

a machine-side interface device configured to be electrically coupled to the communication adapter by a contactless power supply system,

wherein the electric working machine is configured to be capable of outputting an electric power for operation of the communication adapter to the communication adapter by the contactless power supply system,

wherein the communication adapter comprises;

a plurality of outer surfaces comprising the at least two outer surfaces;

an adapter-side interface device provided at at least one outer surface of the at least two outer surfaces and configured to be electrically coupled to the machine-side interface device of the electric working machine through the at least one outer surface by the contactless power supply system;

a power obtaining device configured to obtain the electric power outputted from the electric working machine through the adapter-side interface device;

an antenna provided at another at least one outer surface, which is different from the at least one outer surface, among the plurality of outer surfaces, and configured to be capable of transmitting a radio wave for wireless communication with a communication device other than the electric working machine from the another at least one outer surface; and

a transmission device configured to acquire machine information indicating a state of the electric working machine and to transmit the acquired machine information to the communication device through the antenna.

11. A communication adapter comprising:

a plurality of outer surfaces comprising at least two outer surfaces, each being configured to face a corresponding one of at least two surfaces of a recess for attachment thereto of the communication adapter when the communication adapter is attached to the recess, the recess being provided in an outer surface of an electric working machine, the electric working machine being configured to drive a working element by an electric power;

an interface device provided at at least one outer surface of the at least two outer surfaces, and configured to be electrically coupled to the electric working machine through the at least one outer surface by a contactless power supply system;

an antenna provided at another at least one outer surface, which is different from the at least one outer surface, among the plurality of outer surfaces, and configured to be capable of transmitting a radio wave for wireless communication with a communication device other than the electric working machine from the another at least one outer surface; and

a transmission device configured to acquire machine information indicating a state of the electric working machine and to transmit the acquired machine information to the communication device through the antenna,

wherein the electric working machine is configured to be capable of outputting an electric power for operation of the communication adapter to the interface portion of the communication adapter by the contactless power supply system, and

wherein the communication adapter further comprises a power obtaining device configured to obtain the electric power outputted from the electric working machine through the interface device.