EP1455319B1 - Electric hand tool with antitheft system and method for its operation - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electric hand tool device with an electronic control system and a wireless and contactless addressable transceiver and a memory device on which an authorization code is deposited, wherein an operation lock state and an operation release state are distinguishable, and with an external battery-powered transmitter housed in a separate portable device / receiving means.

An electric hand tool device with such a theft protection device is described for example in the unpublished patent application 102 38 710.9 of the applicant. There it is proposed to design an anti-theft device for electric hand tool devices in such a way that the device can deliberately be "opened" or "closed" by a user. A user thus puts the electric hand tool device into an operating release state or into an operating lock state by actuating the separately carried additional device. If the electric hand tool is stolen in the locked state, so it remains indefinitely usable for the thief. This is to be counteracted with the present invention. It should therefore be made unattractive as a result of the theft of just "open" released for operation devices.

There are other electric hand tool devices with theft protection devices widely known. So is according to DE 44 29 206 C2 proposed an anti-theft device, in each case after insertion of a freshly charged battery or after plugging in the power connector of the electric power tool in the power outlet runs a test routine that checks the presence of a meanwhile constantly to be sent code signal.

If no code signal is received within a certain period of time, the machine is placed in the operating lock state. However, if the correct code signal is received, the machine will remain in an operating release state until the power plug is unplugged or reinserted, or the battery is replaced or deflated. So it will be after DE 44 29 206 C2 Attempts to make the theft unattractive by the fact that the operating release state remains when removing the electric hand tool device from Codesignalsender only a limited time, ie at the longest until the next battery change.

Such a trained electric hand tool device is not generic to one, since the mentioned codesignalsender is not housed in an external, separately carried device, but according to this document stationary, for example, should be provided in a tool hall. In this way it should be achieved that the electric hand tool device can only be taken at an acceptable workplace in use. Furthermore, the mentioned device proves to be disadvantageous, as for a proper functioning, the code signal must be quasi constantly sent out in the direction of the power tool. At the very least, the code signal must be displayed during a restart after a battery change or plugging in the power plug over a relatively long period of time to be sent out. The code signal transmitter must be supplied with energy. It must therefore be either connected to a battery charger, so that at least always after removal of a battery from the charger for a long time the code signal is emitted, or the code transmitter must be permanently connected to a power supply. In any case, it would not be possible to provide the Codesignalsender in an external, separately portable device, since the required power supply for practical reasons could not be guaranteed with conventional batteries. On the basis of the DE 44 29 206 C2 Known concept would be the formation of the code signal transmitter as an external portable device, especially in the size of a key fob, not suitable due to short battery life.
Furthermore, it is off DE 100 29 138 A1 an electric hand tool device with a theft protection on transponder basis known. In this case, the electric hand tool device has a transmitting / receiving device. Its control electronics always endeavor to assume an operational blocking state in which the device can not be operated. If a user wants to operate the device, he needs a transponder. On the machine side, an electromagnetic Field sent, the z. B. accommodated in a bracelet transponder with energy, so that it emits an authorization code signal, which in turn is received by the transmitting / receiving device of the electric power tool. However, the transponder must be in the immediate vicinity of the electric hand tool, since otherwise it can not absorb the energy required to transmit an authorization code signal. If the authorization code signal emitted by the transponder coincides with the authorization code stored in the storage device of the electric power tool, the device is placed in an operating release state and can be operated. The above-described query is then carried out batchwise. Only as long as this communication identifies an authorized user, the electric hand tool device remains operational.

This electric hand tool device is not generic insofar as a transponder is not a battery-powered transmitting / receiving device. Instead, a transponder extracts the energy required for functioning from the electromagnetic field acting on it. Therefore, it is also imperative that the transponder is placed in the immediate vicinity of the electric power tool to a Enable the device. As soon as a user moves away for a short time, the device switches back to the operating lock state, which can prove annoying in practice.

The present invention has for its object to make the theft of electrical hand tool devices even less attractive than is the case so far, the handling of the devices should be as little as possible affected in practice. Authorization code signal transmitters that identify an authorized user should be usable for as long as possible without maintenance.

The above aspects of the invention are achieved by an electric hand tool of the type described above, which is characterized in that the external transmitting / receiving device of the power tool is designed so that it is constantly in readiness to receive, but only on request sends that the control electronics and the transmitting / receiving device of the handheld power tool are designed such that, starting from the operating release state of the handheld power tool at one or more predetermined times or in the presence of predetermined or predefinable conditions an authorization code signal request is sent to the external transceiver that the external transceiver is then activated in a transmission mode and sends an authorization code signal to the transceiver of the handheld device and then the transmission mode is again automatically deactivated, that after evaluation of the received authorization code signal and a comparison with the stored in the storage device authorization code, the power tool either in the operating release state remains or is placed in the operating lock state.

The fact that the transmitting / receiving device is designed so that it is always in readiness to receive, but only sends on request, ensures that the energy required for their operation can be minimized. A long maintenance-free operating time of the external transmitting / receiving device is therefore guaranteed. Furthermore, the external transceiver can be accommodated in a largely miniaturized external and separately transportable device, for example the size of a key fob.

It is also ensured in the electric hand tool device according to the invention, however, that an unauthorized stealing is largely unattractive, since the device starting from the Operational state is transferred either at a certain time or in the presence of certain conditions in the operating lock state, when no associated with the stored authorization code authorization code signal is received. The authorized user does not have to deliberately "lock off" the handheld power tool by pressing a key on the authorization code transmitter, but this takes place without the user having to do anything.

However, a significant advantage of the invention is to be seen in the fact that the authorization code transmitter does not have to send continuously or in very short time intervals, but only "on request" of the electric hand tool device. This can be achieved with a standard small battery a very long service life. The code signal transmitter therefore neither has to be installed stationary, nor permanently connected to a strong power source, and can be largely miniaturized.

It would be conceivable, for example, for a first authorization code signal request to be provided only after a predetermined or preferably predeterminable relatively long period of time of several hours up to a whole working day or even longer. On In this way, the energy source in the separately entrained device (code signal transmitter) can be spared.

It would also be conceivable and advantageous if, in a further development of the invention, the predetermined condition for the emission of an authorization code signal request is the insertion of a new battery into the electric hand tool or the insertion of a power plug into the electric hand tool.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the condition for the transmission of an authorization code signal request is that a switch trigger of the hand tool with which the hand tool is operated properly after changing the battery or after plugging in the power plug or after switching to the operating release state once was pressed, d. H. The authorization of the user is checked immediately with the first actuation of the electric hand tool device.

According to a further alternative embodiment, the condition for emitting an authorization code signal request is that the switch trigger of the handheld power tool after changing the battery or after plugging in the power plug or was pressed n times after switching to the operation release state, where n is a predetermined or specifiable integer. In this way, it can be predetermined or specified that the next following authorization code signal request is not sent out after a certain time interval but after a predetermined or specifiable operating scope.

In order to enable the electric hand tool device in the operating release state, and to be able to work with it, it is conceivable that this can be done automatically when inserting a new battery or when plugging in the power plug or in any other way. Meanwhile, it proves to be particularly advantageous if the hand tool is designed so that it only by pressing the separately entrained device by a user and thereby caused sending an enable signal from the external transceiver to the device's internal transmitting / receiving device from the operating lock state the operation release state is feasible. As a result, the anti-theft device can not be tricked by frequent battery change or unplugging / plugging in the connector or the like, but it is always necessary that an authorized user by means of the entrained external device an enable signal to the transmitting / receiving device of Hand tool device emits, which enable signal also transmits an authorization code. Only when this authorization code matches the authorization code stored in the electric power tool, the device is switched to an operation enabling state. In this way, only the authorized user and wearer of the code transmitter can release the electric hand tool device. If the hand tool is designed so that authorization code signal requests are transmitted only after a specified time or after a defined frequency of the switch operation, the user can also (temporarily) move away without the hand tool being locked. By appropriately setting the time or the frequency of the switch operation to the next authorization code signal request by the electric hand tool device, all of these can be set individually according to the circumstances or appropriate requirements. Thus, it may just be desirable for the device to remain on in the presence of the authorized user or for only a brief removal of the authorized user, but locked in the event of prolonged absence. In that case, the hand tool would be designed to have the authorization code signal request after relatively short time intervals every ten minutes, so that if the authorized user is absent for a long time, when the user leaves the range of the transceiver, the device is switched off.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a generic electric hand tool device having the features of the preamble of claim 1. The method according to the invention comprises the features of claim 6.

Figur 1

ein Elektrohandwerkzeuggerät mit einem externen Steuergerät;

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung der Komponenten der Geräte nach Figur 1

Figur 3

eine Draufsicht auf das externe Steuergerät.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the appended claims and the drawings and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawing shows:

FIG. 1

an electric hand tool device with an external control device;

FIG. 2

a schematic representation of the components of the device according to FIG. 1

FIG. 3

a plan view of the external control device.

FIG. 1 1 shows an electric hand tool device 2 and an external auxiliary or control device 4 with which the operating state of the electric hand tool device 2 can be changed between an operation blocking state and an operating release state. The auxiliary or control device 4 is an authorization code signal transmitter.

The electric hand tool device comprises a processor-controlled control electronics 8 acting on a motor control 6 and a transmitting / receiving device 10 as well as a memory device 12 in which an authorization code is stored. The device-internal transmission / reception device 10 can be addressed wirelessly and without contact via an interface 14 by the external auxiliary or control device 4.

The electronic control unit 8 is designed so that it can put the electric hand tool 2 after receiving a release signal from the auxiliary or control unit 4 in an operation release state. It is also possible to design the controller in such a way that the handheld power tool can be permanently put into an operating blocking state upon receipt of a blocking signal.

The external device 4 comprises a battery-operated transmitting / receiving device 16, which is supplied with electrical voltage by a coin-cell battery 17, and a control circuit 18 for the transmitting / receiving device 16. Also in the external device 4, an authorization code is stored in a memory 19, which can also be changed in a manner to be described in more detail. If this authorization code, which can also be transmitted in digitized form to the transmitting / receiving device of the handheld power tool 2 in transmission mode, agrees with the authorization code stored there in the memory device 12 of the electric hand tool device 2, an enable signal can be sent to the handheld power tool 2 or its control electronics transmitted and processed in the appropriate manner. It proves to be advantageous if a release of the electric hand tool device is possible only by a deliberate operation of the external device 4 (authorization code signal transmitter) by an authorized person, although this does not necessarily have to be so. For example, it would be conceivable that the device automatically releases itself when a battery change, when plugging in a power plug or at the first switch operation.

The authorization code signal transmitter, which is embodied in the form of the largely miniaturized external portable device 4, is for the for the most part in a "sleep state" in which it is ready to receive but can not transmit. The external transceiver 16 is thus ready to receive; however, it can only send on request. This state requires very little energy, so that the battery 19 is spared and a long life can be achieved.

The electric hand tool 2 is normally in the operation release state which, as mentioned above, has been turned on, for example, and preferably by conscious operation of the external device.

According to the invention, the electric hand tool device 2 should now remain in the operating release state, ie for unimpeded startup (also by unauthorized persons) are available, and the external authorization code signal transmitter in the external device 4 should remain in its low-consumption "sleep state" until the Hand tool 2 emits an authorization code signal request to the external transceiver 16 and in the sequence an authorization code signal from the external device 4 to the Hand tool 2 is sent and processed there. As a result of the processing, the hand tool 2 remains in the operation release state, or it is switched to the operation lock state.

The transmission of an authorization code signal request can be carried out, for example, once or several times after predetermined or predefinable time intervals, or an authorization code signal request can be made dependent on the existence of predetermined or specifiable conditions. If such a condition exists, the device-internal transmission / reception device 10 sends out a "code request" to the external device 4. Receives the external transceiver 16 this "code request", it is switched to the transmission mode and the controller 18 of the external device 4 causes the transmission of an authorization code signal via the external transceiver 16 to the electric power tool 2. This code signal is in the device internal Transceiver received, evaluated and compared with the stored authorization code. If the code is correct, the machine remains in the released state. If the code is not correct or if the electric hand tool device does not receive a response to its authorization code signal request, the device is put in the operating blocking state. Further operation is not possible.

It proves to be advantageous if a certain period of time is provided during which the electric hand tool device waits for the receipt of the (correct) authorization code signal after the transmission of the authorization code signal request.

• Beispielsweise wäre es denkbar, dass stets nach dem Verbinden des Netzanschlusskabels mit einer Netzsteckdose oder nach dem Auswechseln eines Akkus eine solche Berechtigungscodesignal-Anfrage ausgesandt wird. Wohlgemerkt ist es durchaus möglich und vorteilhaft, dass das Elektrohandwerkzeuggerät auch über einen Akkuwechsel oder eine Abtrennung vom Elektrizitätsnetz in seinem Betriebsfreigabezustand verbleibt!
• Es wäre denkbar, dass nach einem Verbinden des Netzsteckers bzw. nach einem Austauschen des Akkus nach der ersten Betätigung des Schalterdrückers eine Berechtigungscodesignal-Anforderung ausgesandt wird (es erweist sich als vorteilhaft, wenn dabei der Elektromotor des Handwerkzeuggeräts noch nicht anläuft, da hierdurch eine Funkverbindung gestört werden könnte).
• Ebenso wäre es denkbar und vorteilhaft, wenn erst nach einer bestimmten Anzahl von insbesondere zwei bis fünf Betätigungen des Schalterdrückers eine Berechtigungscodesignal-Anforderung ausgesandt wird. Es könnte hier auch eine sehr große Anzahl von Betätigungen des Schalterdrückers vorgesehen werden. Auf diese Weise könnte nach der Freischaltung des Geräts eine bestimmte Anzahl von Arbeitsvorgängen ausgeführt werden, für die das Gerät dann quasi freigeschaltet ist, auch wenn es unbefugtermaßen entwendet wird.

For the conditions at which the electric hand tool device should start or send out the authorization code signal request, there are various advantageous possibilities:

• For example, it would be conceivable that such an authorization code signal request is always sent after connecting the power cord to a power outlet or after replacing a battery. Mind you, it is quite possible and advantageous that the electric hand tool device also remains over a battery change or disconnection from the electricity grid in its operating release state!
• It would be conceivable that after a connection of the power plug or after a replacement of the battery after the first actuation of the switch trigger an authorization code signal request is sent out (It proves to be advantageous if it still does not start the electric motor of the power tool, since this could interfere with a radio link).
• It would also be conceivable and advantageous if only after a certain number of particular two to five operations of the switch trigger an authorization code signal request is sent. It could also be provided here a very large number of operations of the switch trigger. In this way, a certain number of operations could be performed after the activation of the device, for which the device is then virtually unlocked, even if it is stolen without authorization.

For each hand-held power tool 2 so there is a provided with the corresponding same authorization code external control unit 4, or there may be several control units 4, for example, within an assembly team to release or, if this should be additionally desired, for permanent locking, for example after completion of Assembly process, can be used.

Thus, it proves to be advantageous if the external device has, for example, light-emitting diodes 18, 20 which in particular indicate in color an operating blocking state or operating release state. Furthermore, it proves to be particularly user-friendly, if the external device 4 has two mechanical actuation elements in the form of buttons 22, 24, wherein the one to actuate for issuing a blocking signal or the other to issue a release signal once.
Furthermore, according to FIG. 3 an input device 26 is provided for inputting the authorization code. For this purpose, the external device 4 could have a plurality of input elements 28, for example in the form of rotatable rollers, which can be adjusted by the user, for example with a screwdriver or other pointed object corresponding to a combination lock in different positions. For example, with three rollers each having ten different positions, 10 ³ different lock codes would be selectable. The input device 26 in the case shown by a wegschwenkbaren cover 30 overlapped.

When an electric hand tool device is supplied by the manufacturer, the device is ready for operation at delivery, ie in the operating release state, and its control electronics and storage device are in programming mode. This means that the user can now individually enter a desired authorization code. For this purpose, the external device 4 can be used. By simultaneously pressing the two buttons 22, 24 and holding for a few seconds, a work signal is sent to the electric hand tool 2, which transmits the set on the device 4 authorization code to the transmitting /empfangseinrich-device 10 of the power tool, so that there in the memory device. 2 can be stored. By pressing one or the other of the buttons 22, 24, this new authorization code is then permanently stored and leave the programming mode. For confirmation, an acknowledgment signal is sent to the external transceiver 16 and, for example, a long beep can be generated or corresponding optical signals can be output. Thus, the authorization code of the external device 4 is stored on the hand tool as an authorized lock code.

In order to change the stored authorization code, again by simultaneously pressing the buttons 22, 24 can be switched to the programming mode. However, this only works if the authorization codes of the related external device 4 and that of the hand tool 2 match. Do not vote does not change to the programming mode.

Claims (6)

1. Electric handheld power tool (2), comprising control electronics (8), a transmission/receiving means (10) which can be activated without wires or contacts, and a memory means (12) on which is saved an authorisation code, it being possible to differentiate between an operation-blocking state and an operation-enabling state, and comprising an external, battery-powered transmission/receiving means (16) which is disposed in a separate portable device (4), characterised in that the external transmission/receiving means (16) is configured in such a way as always to be receive ready but to transmit only on request, in that the control electronics (8) and the transmission/receiving means (10) of the hand tool (2) are configured in such a way that starting from the operation-enabling state of the hand tool, at one or more predetermined moments or when pre-specified or pre-specifiable conditions exist, an authorisation code signal request is transmitted to the external transmission/receiving means (16), and in that thereupon, the external transmission/receiving means (16) can be placed in a transmission operating mode and transmits an authorisation code signal to the transmission/receiving means (10) of the hand tool (2) and subsequently the transmission operating mode can be deactivated automatically, and in that after the received authorisation code signal is evaluated and compared with the authorisation code saved in the memory means (12), the hand tool either remains in the operation-enabling state or is placed in the operation-blocking state.
2. Electric handheld power tool according to claim 1, characterised in that a pre-specified condition for the transmission of an authorisation code signal request is a new battery being inserted into the hand tool (2) or a power plug of the hand tool being plugged in.
3. Electric handheld power tool according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that a pre-specified condition for the transmission of an authorisation code signal request involves a push switch of the hand tool being pressed once after the battery is changed or after the power plug is plugged in or after the change into the operation-enabling state.
4. Electric handheld power tool according to claim 3, characterised in that a condition for the transmission of an authorisation code signal request involves the push switch of the hand tool being pressed n times, where n is a pre-specified or pre-specifiable whole number, after the battery is changed or after the power plug is plugged in or after the change into the operation-enabling state.
5. Electric handheld power tool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is possible to pass from the operation-blocking state into the operation-enabling state only if a user actuates the separately carried device (4), causing a release signal to be transmitted from the external transmission/receiving means (16) to the transmission/receiving means (10) within the device.
6. Method for operating an electric handheld power tool (2), comprising control electronics (8), a transmission/receiving means (10) which can be activated without wires or contact, and a memory means (12) on which an authorisation code is saved, it being possible to differentiate between an operation-blocking state and an operation-enabling state, and comprising an external, battery-powered transmission/receiving means (16) which is disposed in a separate portable device (4), characterised in that the external transmission/receiving means (16) is always kept receive ready, but transmission is performed only on request, in that starting from the operation-enabling state of the hand tool, at one or more predetermined moments or when pre-specified or pre-specifiable conditions exist, an authorisation code signal request is transmitted to the external transmission/receiving means (16), and in that thereupon, the external transmission/receiving means (16) is placed in a transmission operating mode and an authorisation code signal is transmitted back to the transmission/receiving means (10) of the hand tool (2) and subsequently the transmission operating mode is deactivated automatically, and in that the received authorisation code signal is compared with the authorisation code saved in the memory means (12), and in that after an evaluation of the comparison, the hand tool (2) either remains in the operation-enabling state or is placed in the operation-blocking state.

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