Multifunctional portable electric apparatuses

Abstract

The invention relates to portable electric apparatuses of the kind including a tool driven by an electric motor, and a battery supplying the electric power necessary for the operation of said tool, characterised in that said portable electric apparatuses include a communication system enabling, on the one hand, the exchange of information relative to the type, the state and the operation of the tool and of the battery when connected together and, on the other hand, the adjusting if need be of the operation parameters of said tool based on the characteristics of said battery and/or the operation parameters of the battery based on the operation parameters of said tool.

1 . Portable power tools featuring a tool driven by an electric motor, this tool including a tool chosen among a number of different non-dedicated tools, featuring their proper operating parameters and their proper code or means of identification, and a battery supplying the energy required for the functioning of the chosen tool, said portable power tools comprising a communication system that is configured so as to allow, on the one hand, an exchange of information relative to the type, condition and functioning of the tool and the battery connected to each other, and, on the other hand, adapting, as needed, the operating parameters of said tool depending on the characteristics of said battery and/or the operating parameters of the battery depending on the operating parameters of said tool, said communication system comprising:
 on the one hand, a control and command module of the tool, featuring an electronic board configured to transmit, to the battery, information relative to the type, condition and functioning of said tool;   on the other hand, a control and management module of the battery, including an electronic board configured to transmit, to the tool, information relative to the type, condition and functioning of said battery.   
     
     
         2 . Portable power tools according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the battery may be constituted by a battery chosen among a number of different non-dedicated batteries featuring their own operating parameters and their own code or means of identification. 
     
     
         3 . Portable power tools according to  claim 1 , characterized in that:
 the non-dedicated tool chosen has a code and/or a means permitting its identification, by the battery;   the battery is provided with a means of recognition of this code and/or of this means of identification; this means of recognition being activated or identified as soon as the battery is electrically connected to the chosen tool; and/or   the battery has a code and/or a means permitting its identification, by the chosen tool;   the non-dedicated tool has a means of recognition of the battery; this means of recognition being activated or identified as soon as the tool is electrically connected to the latter.   
     
     
         4 . Portable power tools according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the battery is constituted by a lithium battery, for example, a lithium ion or lithium polymer, lithium iron, lithium manganese, lithium cobalt battery or a lithium-ternary alloy battery. 
     
     
         5 . Portable power tools according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the electronic command board of the chosen non-dedicated tool and the electronic management board of the battery are configured so as to store the information supplied by the chosen tool and/or by the battery, while the power tools are in operation, and to eventually give back this information so as to permit its processing by the maintenance and repair departments. 
     
     
         6 . Portable power tools according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said electronic boards are configured so that the exchange of information between the non-dedicated tool and the battery be governed by the command system of the chosen tool. 
     
     
         7 . Portable power tools according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the interface between the chosen non-dedicated tool and the battery is a wire connection. 
     
     
         8 . Portable power tools according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the exchange of information between the chosen non-dedicated tool and the battery is realized by a wireless communication system. 
     
     
         9 . Portable power tools according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the wire connection permitting the exchange of information between the battery and the chosen non-dedicated tool is realized through the intermediary of power conductors, from the tool to the battery or from the battery to the tool, by means of one of the following techniques:
 current carriers;   modulation of the supply voltage; or   analysis of the consumption currents of the tool and/or of the voltage evolution of the battery.   
     
     
         10 . Portable power tools according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the wire connection permitting the exchange of information between the chosen non-dedicated tool and the battery is realized through the intermediary of dedicated conductors, for example:
 in digital mode, by means of a single conductor referenced at 0 Volt and of levels 0/5 V, for example, permitting bidirectional communication between the tool and the battery; or   in rhythmic mode, or in differential mode, through the intermediary of two conductors, referenced at 0 Volt, one for the communication tool to battery and one for the communication battery to tool; or   in digital mode, through the intermediary of two conductors, referenced at 0 Volt, one for the communication tool to battery and one for the communication battery to tool; or   in differential mode, through the intermediary of four conductors, referenced at 0 Volt, two for the communication tool to battery and two for the communication battery to tool.   
     
     
         11 . Portable power tools according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the exchange of information between the battery and the chosen non-dedicated tool is realized by a fiber optic link, for example by infrared rays. 
     
     
         12 . Portable power tools according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the exchange of information between the battery and the chosen non-dedicated tool is realized by a radio relay link system. 
     
     
         13 . Portable power tools according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the exchange of information between the battery and the chosen non-dedicated tool is realized by an IRDA system or a WIFI system or a BLUETOOTH system or a ZIGBEE system.