Optical Display Device Unit for Use in an External Application Unit

Abstract

An optical indicating device unit includes at least one first housing, a mechanical interface, and a data interface. The at least one first housing includes at least one illumination device and/or at least one optical device, wherein the at least one illumination device and/or the at least one optical indicating device is configured to visually indicate information. The mechanical interface is configured to connect the at least one first housing to a second housing. The data interface is configured to transmit information to the at least one illumination device and/or the at least one optical indicating device.

Claims

1. An optical indicating device unit comprising: at least one first housing including at least one illumination device and/or at least one optical indicating device, wherein the at least one illumination device and/or the at least one optical indicating device is designed configured to visually indicate information; a mechanical interface configured to connect the at least one first housing to a second housing; and a data interface configured to transmit information to the at least one illumination device and/or to the at least one optical indicating device.

2. The optical indicating device unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second housing is disposed on a hand-held power tool.

3. The optical indicating device unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the optical indicating device unit is configured to separably connect to a plurality of external application units; and the hand-held power tool is an external application unit of the plurality of external application units.

4. The optical indicating device unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second housing is configured to accommodate an external electronic unit.

5. The optical indicating device unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination device includes at least one light source and/or at least one light conductor.

6. The optical indicating device unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at last one light conductor is configured as a bar.

7. The optical indicating device unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the light source includes at least one LED.

8. The optical indicating device unit as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: at least one second electronic unit configured to integrate a plurality of further functions.

9. A hand-held power tool comprising: a power tool housing; an external electronic unit configured to provide an optical parameter; and an optical indicating device unit including: at least one device housing having at least one illumination device and/or at least one optical indicating device, wherein the at least one illumination device and/or the at least one optical indicating device is configured to visually indicate information; a mechanical interface configured to connect separably the at least one device housing to the power tool housing; and a data interface configured to transmit information to at least one of (i) the at least one illumination device and (ii) the at least one optical indicating device, and the data interface configured to transmit the optical parameter.

10. The hand-held power tool as claimed in claim 9, wherein the hand-held power tool is configured as a random-orbit sander, an angle grinder, an orbital or delta sander, an oscillating multitool, or a router.

Description

Drawings

[0032] The drawings show exemplary embodiments of an optical indicating device unit according to the invention, and the external application units according to the invention, each having an optical indicating device unit.

[0033] There are shown in:

[0034] FIG. 1 a first embodiment of an optical indicating device unit according to the invention, in three perspectives, with an external application unit according to the invention, in a schematic representation,

[0035] FIG. 2 a second embodiment of the optical indicating device unit according to the invention, in a schematic representation,

[0036] FIG. 3 a first external application unit according to the invention, with an optical indicating device unit, in a schematic representation,

[0037] FIG. 4 a second external application unit according to the invention, with an optical indicating device unit, in a schematic representation,

[0038] FIG. 4a the second external application unit according to the invention, with an optical indicating device unit, in a schematic representation,

[0039] FIG. 5 a third external application unit according to the invention, with an optical indicating device unit, in a schematic representation,

[0040] FIG. 6 a fourth external application unit according to the invention, with an optical indicating device unit, in a schematic representation,

[0041] FIG. 7 a fifth external application unit according to the invention, with an optical indicating device unit, in a schematic representation.

DESCRIPTION

[0042] Components that are the same in the differing exemplary embodiments are denoted by the same references.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an optical indicating device unit 10 in three perspectives. The optical indicating device unit 10 is designed, in particular, to be connected to an external application unit 12. The optical indicating device unit 10 has a first housing 14. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, there is an illumination device 15 disposed on the first housing 14. The illumination device 15 is designed to visually indicate information by emission of visible light. In particular, an environment, in particular a work region, is illuminated.

[0044] The illumination device 15 may realize the following indications:

[0045] Light, in particular having the following indications [0046] a change in the light color [0047] a change in the light intensity [0048] light pulses of differing length [0049] light pulses of differing brightness [0050] running light, with change in the running direction of the light [0051] light pulses, varying in pulse frequency and/or brightness

[0052] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, there is an optical indicating device 16 disposed on the first housing 14. The optical indicating device 16 is designed to visually indicate information by means of a digital indication, a display or the like. A display visualizes information such as images or characters. The display of the optical indicating device 16 shows information relating to parameters, such as a rotational speed, a temperature, a mode indication, or the like.

[0053] Furthermore, it is conceivable for the illumination device 15 and/or the optical indicating device 16 to be realized as a projection device, which project information into an environment, in particular into a work environment.

[0054] In the embodiment according to the invention, the optical indicating device 10 has a mechanical interface 20 for connecting the first housing 14 to a second housing 22. The mechanical interface 18 produces a mechanically solid, but separable, connection of the two housings 14, 22.

[0055] The optical indicating device unit 10 comprises a data interface 24. The data interface 24 transmits information, provided by an external electronic unit 26, to the illumination device 15 and/or to the optical indicating device 16. This information is visualized in the form of visible light or a digital indication.

[0056] The second housing 22 is disposed on an external application unit 12. In the exemplary embodiment (FIG. 1, FIG. 3), the external application unit 12 is a hand-held power tool 100. The optical indicating device unit 10 can thus be attached to hand-held power tools 100 of various types. The advantage consists in that the optical indicating device unit 10 can be attached to any of a variety of external application units 24, and can thus be used in a flexible manner.

[0057] Via the mechanical interface 20, the first housing 14 is solid with the second housing 22, but is connected so as to be manually separable, without the use of a tool or by means of a suitable tool. The optical indicating device unit 10 can thus be connected, in particular separably connected, to a variety of external application units 24.

[0058] This renders possible a modular structure of a power tool. The term “modular structure” is to be understood here to mean a structure, in particular, according to a modular design principle. This means that the optical indicating device unit 10 can be assembled with a multiplicity of differing external application units 24. This modular structure renders possible simple and inexpensive assembly.

[0059] The second housing 22 accommodates the external electronic unit 26. The external electronic unit 26 consists of at least the following components: [0060] electronics components that supply current to an electric-motor drive [0061] at least one open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit [0062] electronic components that generate the optical data

[0063] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the illumination device 15 comprises a light conductor 30. The light conductor 30 is a transparent element that transports data, or optical information, in the form of light. In FIG. 1, the light conductor 30 is realized as a light bar.

[0064] A multiplicity of LEDs serve as a light source. The LEDs may be mounted on a circuit-board conductor by through-holemounting. However, the LEDs may also be realized as SMD LEDs. The light emitted by the light source may have differing colors. The light emitted by the light source may vary in brightness. The light emitted by the light source may be a flashing light that periodically changes in brightness.

[0065] The optical indicating device unit 10 has a second electronic unit 40. The second electronic unit is designed to integrate further functions. Thus, the second electronic 40 may comprise a sensor means, a communication means, a data processing means, a storage means, an energy means, an identification means, or the like.

[0066] Thus, at least the following functions may be integrated: [0067] measurement of characteristic quantities [0068] conversion of the characteristic quantities into sensor signals [0069] indication of characteristic quantities and/or parameters [0070] sending, receiving, exchanging and/or storing visual information and/or electronic data [0071] open-loop and/or closed-loop control of parameters

[0072] The optical indicating device unit 10 has a communication module 50. The communication module is preferably realized as a wireless communication module. The communication module in this case may be realized as a WLAN communication module, as a Bluetooth communication module, as a radio communication module, as an RFID communication module, as an NFC communication module, as an infrared communication module, as a mobile telephony communication module, or the like. Advantageously, the communication module is designed for bidirectional data transmission. In an alternative design, the communication module is realized as a wired communication module, such as, for example, as a LAN communication module, as a USB communication module, or the like.

[0073] The optical indicating device unit 10 has a sensor module 60. The sensor module 60 is equipped with one or more sensors. The sensors are designed to sense a characteristic quantity that is to be determined, and convert it into a sensor signal, or a plurality of sensor signals.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows an external application unit 12 realized as a hand-held power tool 100. In the exemplary embodiment, the hand-held power tool 100 is realized as a random-orbit sander 100a. The second housing 22 comprises a motor housing part 122. Adjoining the motor housing part 122 there is a handle region 150. The handle region 150 is realized as a handle, or serves an operator of the random-orbit sander as a handle. The term “handle” is to be understood to mean a structural part around which at least one hand of the operator can be placed in order to guide the hand-held power tool 100. Disposed in the second housing 22 there is an electric-motor drive, not represented in greater detail.

[0075] An optical indicating device unit 10 is disposed on the motor housing part 122. The motor housing part 122 in this case has its maximum diameter. The illumination device 15 is disposed along the housing circumference, at the maximum diameter. The illumination device 15 is designed to illuminate a work environment 124. To illuminate in this case is to be understood to mean to “light up” or to “light up in combination with a transmission of information”. The optical illumination device 15 may be connected to the motor housing part 122 by adhesive bonding, latching, clamping, clipping, or the like.

[0076] The hand-held power tool 100 comprises an external electronic unit 26, which is designed, at least, to provide an optical parameter. The optical parameter is transmitted via the data interface 24 of the optical indicating device unit 10.

[0077] Furthermore, the optical indicating device unit 10 may comprise a sensor means, a communication means, a data processing means, a storage means, an energy means, an identification means, or the like.

[0078] Thus, at least the following functions may be integrated: [0079] measurement of characteristic quantities [0080] conversion of the characteristic quantities into sensor signals [0081] indication of characteristic quantities and/or parameters [0082] sending, receiving, exchanging and/or storing visual information and/or electronic data [0083] open-loop and/or closed-loop control of parameters

[0084] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3, the hand-held power tool 100 is realized as a random-orbit sander 100a.

[0085] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4, the hand-held power tool 100 is realized as an angle grinder 100b1. The angle grinder 100b in this case is realized as a mains-operated appliance.

[0086] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4a, the hand-held power tool 100 is realized as an angle grinder 100b. The angle grinder 100b2 in this case is realized as a battery-operated hand-held power tool.

[0087] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 5, the hand-held power tool 100 is realized as an orbital sander 100c.

[0088] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6, the hand-held power tool 100 is realized as an oscillating multitool 100d.

[0089] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 5, the hand-held power tool 100 is realized as a router 100e.

[0090] It is also conceivable, however, for the hand-held power tool to be realized as a straight grinder, as an electric scraper, as a jigsaw, as a circular saw, as a riveter, as a hammer drill or percussion hammer, as a drill, as a screwdriver or as an impact wrench, or the like.