# US 12,224,697 B2 · Start-up mode for a power tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,697 B2 - Document ID: US12224697B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/044,314 - Filed: 2021-07-22 - Published: 2024-09-19 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-09 - Assignees: Festool GmbH - Applicants: Festool GmbH - Inventors: Tobias Hofmann; Norbert Morgenstern - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224697B2 ## CPC - H02P 1/46: for starting an individual synchronous motor {(H02P27/04 takes precedence)} - H02P 6/21: Open loop start - B24B 23/02: with rotating grinding tools; Accessories therefor - B25F 5/00: Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for - H02P 29/60: Controlling or determining the temperature of the motor or of the drive (H02P29/02 takes precedence) - H02P 6/182: using back-emf in windings - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS - B25F: COMBINATION OR MULTI-PURPOSE TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DETAILS OR COMPONENTS OF PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS NOT PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS PERFORMED AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR {(machines or arrangements of machines for performing specified combinations of different metal-working operations not covered by a single other subclass B23P23/00 and subgroups)} ## Abstract A power tool, in particular a handheld power tool, for example a grinding machine, that includes a tool, an electric motor for driving the tool, and a control unit for actuating the electric motor using a motor current (MI). The control unit has a start-up mode in which the control unit actuates the electric motor in such a way that the electric motor during the start-up mode traverses a rotational speed ramp (DR), at which the rotational speed of the electric motor is increased continuously up to operating rotational speed (ADZ) The control unit is designed to adjust the gradient of the rotational speed ramp (DR) on the basis of an acquired temperature for the start-up mode and/or to adjust the intensity of the motor current (MI) on the basis of the acquired temperature for the start-up mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power tool comprising: a tool, an electric motor for driving the tool, and a control unit for driving the electric motor with a motor current, the control unit having a start-up mode in which the control unit drives the electric motor, so that the electric motor undergoes a rotational speed ramp during the start-up mode, in which during the rotational speed ramp, the rotational speed of the electric motor is increased continuously up to a working rotational speed, the control unit being configured to set one or more of: for the start-up mode, the slope of the rotational speed ramp on a basis of a detected temperature and for the start-up mode, a strength of the motor current on the basis of the detected temperature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to set a higher slope of the rotational speed ramp for a higher detected temperature and to set a lower slope of the rotational speed ramp for a lower detected temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to set the motor current with a lower current strength for a higher detected temperature and to set the motor current with a higher current strength for a lower detected temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to change from the starting mode to a working mode when the working rotational speed is reached and, in the working mode, to carry out the control of the electric motor using a sensorless principle for determining one or more of a present rotor angle and a present rotational speed of the electric motor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to carry out the driving of the electric motor in the start-up mode without one or more of detecting a rotor angle of the electric motor, taking into account the rotor angle of the electric motor, and a rotational speed of the electric motor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power tool according to claim 1, comprising a first temperature sensor for detecting the temperature, the first temperature sensor being spaced apart from the electric motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the power tool is a long-neck sander. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The power tool according to claim 1, comprising a braking device for braking the tool during the start-up mode, the braking effect of the braking device being temperature-dependent, and the control unit being configured to take into account the temperature dependence of the braking device via the setting of one or more of the slope and the current strength. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The power tool according to claim 1, further comprising an operating device via which the start-up mode can be configured. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A system comprising a power tool according to claim 1 and a mobile device via which the start-up mode can be configured. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the power tool is a hand-held power tool. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the power tool is a sander. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The power tool according to claim 6, wherein the power tool has a neck section and the electric motor is arranged on a first side of the neck section and the first temperature sensor is arranged on a second side of the neck section, the second side facing away from the electric motor. ### Claim 14 A method for providing a start-up mode for a power tool comprising a tool and an electric motor for driving the tool, wherein the electric motor undergoes a rotational speed ramp during the start-up mode in which during the rotational speed ramp, the rotational speed of the electric motor is continuously increased up to a working rotational speed, the method comprising the steps: detecting a temperature, for the start-up mode, performing one or more of: setting a slope of the rotational speed ramp based on a detected temperature and setting a current strength of a motor current based on the detected temperature, and providing the start-up mode with the one or more of the set slope of the rotational speed ramp and the set current strength of the motor current. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: at a higher sensed temperature, setting a higher slope of the rotational speed ramp, and at a lower sensed temperature, setting a lower slope of the rotational speed ramp. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: for a higher detected temperature, setting the motor current at a lower current strength; and for a lower detected temperature, setting the motor current at a higher current strength. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of: upon reaching the working rotational speed, changing from the start-up mode to a working mode and, in the working mode, performing the driving of the electric motor using a sensorless principle for determining one or more of a present rotor angle and a present rotational speed of the electric motor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, comprising the step of: performing the driving of the electric motor in the start-up mode without one or more of detecting a rotor angle of the electric motor, considering the rotor angle of the electric motor, and a rotational speed of the electric motor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the temperature is detected with a first temperature sensor spaced from the electric motor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the power tool is a long-neck sander.