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US 2022/0190767 A1Published application
Tool brownout management
AssigneeSnap-on Incorporated
InventorJason S. Genz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motorized hand tool, such as a cordless ratchet wrench, that has a motor, one or more electronic components and/or integrated circuits, and a step-up converter that are housed or disposed in a housing of the tool. The step-up converter is adapted to prevent a voltage of a battery of the tool from dropping below a threshold voltage of a component or integrated circuit when current draw from the battery increases, thus preventing a “brownout” condition.
Claims20
An electric circuit adapted to be disposed in a tool, the electrical circuit comprising:
- a power source;
- a motor electrically coupled to the power source;
- a step-up converter having an input and an output, wherein the input is electrically coupled to the power source;
- and
- an electrical component electrically coupled to the output of the step-up converter, wherein the step-up converter and the electrical component are disposed in a parallel configuration with the motor.
2 more elements
A method of operating a tool, comprising:
- receiving, by a step-up converter, a voltage in from a power source, wherein the step-up converter includes an input coupled to the power source and an output coupled to an electrical component, wherein the step-up converter and the electrical component are disposed in a parallel configuration with a motor;
- increasing, by the step-up converter, the voltage in from the power source to a boosted voltage out when a voltage out of the step-up converter is less than a threshold voltage value, wherein the threshold voltage value is greater than or equal to a minimum operating voltage of the electrical component;
- and
- passing, by the step-up converter, the boosted voltage out to the electrical component.
1 more element
A tool, comprising:
- a drive adapted to apply torque to a work piece;
- a motor operably coupled to the drive;
- a power source electrically coupled to the motor;
- a step-up converter having an input and an output, wherein the input is electrically coupled to the power source;
- and
- an electrical component electrically coupled to the output of the step-up converter, wherein the step-up converter and the electrical component are disposed in a parallel configuration with the motor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.