A soldering apparatus and method involves capturing an image of a soldering operation, and storing image data in association with that particular soldering operation. A soldering tool that is used to perform the soldering operation has a position during the soldering operation, and the image data could also be stored in association with data for that particular position. The position data could be for an operation start point and/or an operation endpoint. Associating the image data in this way could help a manufacturer investigate soldering abnormalities that might be reported after a product is shipped to a customer.

A soldering iron system with automatic variable temperature control comprising a hand piece or robot arm including a soldering cartridge having a soldering tip, a coil that generates a magnetic field, and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the soldering tip; a variable power supply for delivering variable power to the coil to heat the soldering tip; a processor including associated circuits for accepting a set temperature input and the sensed temperature of the soldering tip, and providing a control signal to control the variable power supply to deliver a suitable power to the coil to keep the temperature of the soldering tip at a substantially constant level of the set temperature input.

A soldering iron system with automatic variable temperature control comprising a hand piece or robot arm including a soldering cartridge having a soldering tip, a coil that generates a magnetic field, and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the soldering tip; a variable power supply for delivering variable power to the coil to heat the soldering tip; a processor including associated circuits for accepting a set temperature input and the sensed temperature of the soldering tip, and providing a control signal to control the variable power supply to deliver a suitable power to the coil to keep the temperature of the soldering tip at a substantially constant level of the set temperature input.

A smart soldering iron tip of a handheld soldering iron comprises a hollow cylindrical base; a pointed distal end; and a proximal end with an ID feedback device including a conductive material coating, which when read provides authentication information on the smart soldering iron tip.

A smart soldering iron tip of a handheld soldering iron comprises a hollow cylindrical base; a pointed distal end; and a proximal end with an ID feedback device including a conductive material coating, which when read provides authentication information on the smart soldering iron tip.

A smart soldering iron tip of a handheld soldering iron comprises a hollow cylindrical base; a pointed distal end; and a proximal end with an ID feedback device, which when read provides authentication information on the smart soldering iron tip.

A gas powered tool (70) comprising a housing (73) and a soldering tool element (72) releasably coupled to the housing (73). A latching element (105) pivotally mounted on a pivot pin (106) in the housing (73) is retained in a non-latching state (FIG. 26) by an abutment element (102) which is urgeable into the housing (73) by the soldering tool element (72) when the soldering tool element (72) is coupled to the housing (73). The latching element (105) is spring biased in the direction of the arrow E from the non-latching state to a latching state (FIG. 27) for latching a switching element (89) in a first state to in turn retain an isolating valve (86), which supplies fuel gas from a reservoir (78) in the housing (73) to the soldering tool element (72), in the isolating state. On decoupling of the soldering tool element (72) from the housing (73), the abutment element (102) is spring urged outwardly and disengages the latching element (105). The latching element (105) pivots about the pivot pin from the non-latching state to the latching state engaging the switching element (89) in the first state, thereby retaining the isolating valve (86) in the isolating state isolating the soldering tool element (72) from the fuel gas in the fuel gas reservoir (78) in the housing (73).

A self-standing tool includes a body and a tool head. The body includes front and rear ends spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis. The body further includes a lamp seat projecting from an outer periphery thereof surrounding the longitudinal axis. A side of the lamp seat distant from the body has a supporting portion. The center of gravity of the body is located between the rear end and a virtual reference plane extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and passing through the supporting portion. A lighting member is disposed on a side of the lamp seat adjacent to the front end. The tool head includes a first end connected to the front end and a second end distant from the body. The second end of the tool head has a head end located in a projection area of light emitted from the lighting member.

A self-standing tool includes a body and a tool head. The body includes front and rear ends spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis. The body further includes a lamp seat projecting from an outer periphery thereof surrounding the longitudinal axis. A side of the lamp seat distant from the body has a supporting portion. The center of gravity of the body is located between the rear end and a virtual reference plane extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and passing through the supporting portion. A lighting member is disposed on a side of the lamp seat adjacent to the front end. The tool head includes a first end connected to the front end and a second end distant from the body. The second end of the tool head has a head end located in a projection area of light emitted from the lighting member.

The present invention provides a soldering iron with a tip having two separate halves that are electrically isolated from one another. When both halves of the tip are applied to an electrically conductive material, such as the material to be soldered, an electrical circuit between the tip halves and an electrical power source is completed. Therefore, the tip can reach operating temperatures quickly. When the tip is removed from the joint, the electrical circuit is broken and the tip material may quickly cool to a temperature safe for human contact. The tip material permits higher power outputs than other battery operated portable soldering irons and heat and cools faster the conventional soldering tips.