Electric hand-held power tool

Abstract

Electric hand-held power tool with a housing and a tool fitting, the hand-held power tool having a TOF sensor, which is arranged on the or in the housing and the field of view of which is oriented in the direction of the tool fitting, so that the TOF sensor can detect a tool to be fitted in the tool fitting.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12: An electric hand-held power tool comprising: a housing; a tool fitting; and a TOF sensor arranged on the or in the housing and having a field of view oriented in the direction of the tool fitting so that the TOF sensor can detect a tool to be fitted in the tool fitting.

13: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 12 further comprising sensor electronics designed to determine at least one tool parameter of the tool on the basis of a sensor signal obtained by the TOF sensor.

14: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 13 wherein the at least parameter is a length, shape or size.

15: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 13 further comprising control electronics designed to adapt at least one operating parameter of the hand-held power tool on the basis of a control signal relating to the at least one tool parameter obtained by the sensor electronics.

16: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 15 wherein comparison or reference values of the at least one tool parameter are stored in the sensor electronics or in the control electronics.

17: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 16 wherein the comparison or reference values are in the form of a lookup table.

18: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 13 wherein the sensor electronics are designed to determine an amount of wear of the tool on the basis of a sensor signal obtained by the TOF sensor.

19: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 13 wherein the sensor electronics are designed to determine on the basis of a sensor signal obtained by the TOF sensor a depth of penetration of the tool into a surface to be worked and to adapt the at least one operating parameter on the basis of the depth of penetration.

20: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 19 wherein the at least one operating a parameter is a speed.

21: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 12 further comprising a display for indicating or acknowledging the at least one tool-specific operating parameter.

22: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 12 wherein the hand-held power tool is battery-operated, the housing having a battery locking foot, the TOF sensor being arranged on or in the battery locking foot.

23: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 12 wherein an angle between a central axis of the field of view and an axis of rotation of the tool is at least 30 degrees.

24: The hand-held power tool as recited in claim 12 wherein the tool fitting is designed for holding a rotating or striking tool.

25: A method for operating an electric hand-held power tool comprising: employing a TOF sensor for detecting a tool fitted in a tool fitting of the electric hand-held power tool, the TOF sensor being part of the electric hand-held power tool.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In the figures, identical and similar components are denoted by the same reference signs. Specifically:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a first preferred exemplary embodiment of an electric hand-held power tool according to the invention in the form of a hammer drill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] A preferred exemplary embodiment of an electric hand-held power tool 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The hand-held power tool 100 is equipped with a housing 90 and a tool fitting 80. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the hand-held power tool 100 is designed as a battery-operated drill driver with a battery locking foot 95. The battery locking foot 95 is understood as being part of the housing 90.

[0018] The hand-held power tool 100 has a TOF sensor 30, arranged on the housing 90 in the region of the battery locking foot 95. A field of view FOV of the TOF sensor 30 is in this case oriented in the direction of the tool fitting 80, so that the TOF sensor 30 can detect a tool 200 clamped in the tool fitting 80. The tool fitting 80 is designed for holding a rotating tool 200. The tool 200 is provided by way of example in the form of a drill with an axis of rotation RA.

[0019] The TOF sensor 30 emits a modulated infrared light by means of a transmitter array 31. This light is at least partially reflected by the tool 200 and received again by a receiver array 33 of the TOF sensor 30. The measured phase difference between the emitted light and the received light and also the amplitude of the received light are evaluated by sensor electronics 40, which are connected in signaling terms to the TOF sensor 30, and provide very accurate distance information and contours of the tool 200. As a result, the tool 200 can be detected very accurately and reliably, for example in its shape and size. Accordingly, the sensor electronics 80 are comprised by the hand-held power tool 100 and designed to determine at least one tool parameter of the tool 200, in particular its length, shape and/or size, on the basis of a sensor signal obtained by the TOF sensor 30.

[0020] As can be seen from FIG. 1, an angle WA between a central axis MA of the field of view FOV and an axis of rotation RA of the tool 200 is approximately 45 degrees, i.e. at least 30 degrees. This does mean that the tool 200 is sensed obliquely or laterally by the TOF sensor 30, which leads to a distorted image of the tool 200. However, this distortion can be “calculated out” by the sensor electronics 40. As can be seen from FIG. 1, this means the angle WA located between a tip 201 of the tool 200 and the axis of rotation RA of the tool 200 on the side of the axis of rotation RA that is facing away from the battery locking foot 95.

[0021] In the present exemplary embodiment illustrated, the hand-held power tool 100 also has control electronics 50 which are designed to adapt at least one operating parameter of the hand-held power tool 100 on the basis of a control signal obtained by the sensor electronics 40. This is to be explained in more detail on the basis of an example. The tool 200 is provided in the form of a drill. The drill is sensed by the TOF sensor 30, the TOF sensor 30 being connected in signaling terms to the sensor electronics 40. Reference values for typical drill diameters, lengths, types etc. are in turn stored in a lookup table in the sensor electronics 40. On the basis of the sensor signal obtained by the TOF sensor 30, the sensor electronics 40 can then determine that a stone drill with a length of 150 mm and with a diameter of 10 mm is clamped in the tool fitting 80. A maximum speed of the tool fitting of 1000 rpm may be specified for this drill for example by means of the control electronics 50. This maximum speed is a tool-specific operating parameter.

[0022] In the present exemplary embodiment illustrated, the hand-held power tool 100 also has a display 70 for indicating and acknowledging the at least one tool-specific operating parameter. Thus, by way of example, a maximum speed of the tool fitting of 1000 rpm is indicated for the type of drill determined. The user may acknowledge this operating parameter using the display 70, whereupon the control electronics 50 can implement this specification. Alternatively, the user may for example reduce or increase this operating parameter using the display 70, and subsequently acknowledge it.

[0023] According to another aspect of the invention, the use of a TOF sensor 30 for detecting a tool 200 fitted in a tool fitting 80 of an electric hand-held power tool 100 is proposed, the TOF sensor 30 being comprised by the electric hand-held power tool 100.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0024] 30 TOF sensor (time-of-flight sensor) [0025] 31 Transmitter array [0026] 33 Receiver array [0027] 40 Sensor electronics [0028] 50 Control electronics [0029] 70 Display [0030] 80 Tool fitting [0031] 90 Housing [0032] 95 Battery locking foot [0033] 100 Electric hand-held power tool [0034] 200 Tool [0035] 201 Tool tip [0036] MA Central axis [0037] FOV Field of view [0038] RA Axis of rotation [0039] WA Angle