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US6005489A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electric power tool with code receiver

Assignee: Atlas Copco Industrial Technique AB
•
Filing: 1995-08-17
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Granted: 1999-12-21
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Expires: 2015-08-17
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Abstract

Abstract An electric power tool includes a power supply which is one of a replaceable battery unit, a rechargeable battery unit, and a cable connection for detachably connecting to a mains power supply. A code receiver is provided for receiving a code signal from a code signal emitting device via a contact free transmission. An electronic controller is arranged to switch the power tool to an operable mode when the power supply is coupled to the power tool and the code signal is received by the code signal receiver. The electronic controller is also arranged to switch the power tool to an inoperable mode when the power supply is uncoupled from the power tool and to maintain the power tool in the inoperable mode until the power supply is re-coupled to the power tool and the code signal is again received by the code signal receiver.

Inventors

  • 👤 Volker Siegle
  • 👤 Gunnar Christer Hansson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 08:24
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25F; B25F5/00; G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/02; G08B13/14; G08B13/1409; G08B13/1418

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 184 words
A device for disabling and enabling operation of a portable electric power tool, said electric power tool including a replaceable battery unit and a rechargeable battery unit, said device comprising: a code signal receiver for receiving a code signal from a code signal emitting device via a contact free transmission; and an electronic controller arranged to switch the power tool to an operable mode only when both a charged battery unit is fitted to the power tool and the code signal is received by said code signal receiver, and to maintain the power tool in the operable mode so long as the battery unit remains fitted to the power tool without requiring the code signal to be received again by said code signal receiver; and the electronic controller being arranged to switch the power tool to an inoperable mode when the battery unit is removed from the power tool and to maintain the power tool in the inoperable mode until both a new charged battery unit is fitted to the power tool and the code signal is again received by said code signal receiver.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 184 words
A device for disabling and enabling operation of a portable electric power tool, said electric power tool including a replaceable battery unit and a rechargeable battery unit, said device comprising: a code signal receiver for receiving a code signal from a code signal emitting device via a contact free transmission; and an electronic controller arranged to switch the power tool to an operable mode only when both a charged battery unit is fitted to the power tool and the code signal is received by said code signal receiver, and to maintain the power tool in the operable mode so long as the battery unit remains fitted to the power tool without requiring the code signal to be received again by said code signal receiver; and the electronic controller being arranged to switch the power tool to an inoperable mode when the battery unit is removed from the power tool and to maintain the power tool in the inoperable mode until both a new charged battery unit is fitted to the power tool and the code signal is again received by said code signal receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 55 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic controller continuously repeats a probe cycle when the tool is in the inoperable mode whereby said code signal receiver is continuously probed to determine whether or not the code signal has been received each time a new charged battery unit is fitted to the power tool.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
The device according to claim 2, wherein said electronic controller discontinues said probe cycle after a predetermined time interval during which said code signal receiver does not receive the code signal, whereby said electronic controller maintains the power tool in the inoperable mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said code signal receiver comprises an optical receiver for receiving an optical code signal from the code signal emitting device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said code signal receiver comprises an electromagnetic receiver for wireless receiving an electromagnetic code signal from the code signal emitting device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 72 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the power tool has a manually operable ON-OFF switch, and wherein when the electronic controller maintains the power tool in the operable mode, the power tool is manually switchable between the ON and OFF conditions by an operator, so as to permit manual starting and stopping operation of the power tool without requiring the code signal to be received again by said code signal receiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 166 words
A portable electric power tool comprising: a replaceable battery unit for supplying power; a code receiver for receiving a code signal from a code signal emitting device via a contact free transmission; and an electronic controller arranged to switch the power tool to an operable mode only when both a charged battery unit is fitted to the power tool and the code signal is received by said code signal receiver, and to maintain the power tool in the operable mode so long as the battery unit remains fitted to the power tool without requiring the code signal to be received again by said code signal receiver; and the electronic controller being arranged to switch the power tool to an inoperable mode when the battery unit is removed from the power tool and to maintain the power tool in the inoperable mode until both a new charged battery unit is fitted to the power tool and the code signal is again received by said code signal receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 166 words
A portable electric power tool comprising: a replaceable battery unit for supplying power; a code receiver for receiving a code signal from a code signal emitting device via a contact free transmission; and an electronic controller arranged to switch the power tool to an operable mode only when both a charged battery unit is fitted to the power tool and the code signal is received by said code signal receiver, and to maintain the power tool in the operable mode so long as the battery unit remains fitted to the power tool without requiring the code signal to be received again by said code signal receiver; and the electronic controller being arranged to switch the power tool to an inoperable mode when the battery unit is removed from the power tool and to maintain the power tool in the inoperable mode until both a new charged battery unit is fitted to the power tool and the code signal is again received by said code signal receiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 56 words
The power tool according to claim 7, wherein said electronic controller continuously repeats a probe cycle when the tool is in the inoperable mode whereby said code signal receiver is continuously probed to determine whether or not the code signal has been received each time a new charged battery unit is fitted to the power tool.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 44 words
The power tool according to claim 7, wherein said electronic controller discontinues said probe cycle after a predetermined time interval during which said code signal receiver does not receive the code signal, whereby said electronic controller maintains the power tool in the inoperable mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The power tool according to claim 7, wherein said code signal receiver comprises an optical receiver for receiving an optical code signal from the code signal emitting device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 29 words
The power tool according to claim 7, wherein said code signal receiver comprises an electromagnetic receiver for wireless receiving an electromagnetic code signal from the code signal emitting device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 70 words
The power tool according to claim 7, further comprising a manually operable ON-OFF switch, and wherein when the electronic controller maintains the power tool in the operable mode, the power tool is manually switchable between the ON and OFF conditions by an operator, so as to permit manual starting and stopping operation of the power tool without requiring the code signal to be received again by said code signal receiver.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-12-20 2003-06-21 2003-12-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-12-20 2007-06-21 2007-12-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-12-20 2011-06-21 2011-12-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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