IP Library Granted Patent US 11,897,057
Granted Patent B2
US 11,897,057 · App. 17/831,740 · Granted Feb 13, 2024

Intelligent soldering tip

Inventors: Gert Mittmann (Mockmuhl, DE); Bernhard Eigen (Murr, DE); Michael Mohl (Freudental, DE); Ralf Zerweck (Bonnigheim, DE); Dirk Schonau (Nordheim, DE)
Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
B23K3/033B23K3/026B23K3/087
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,897,057
App. No.
17/831,740
Granted
Feb 13, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A soldering tool may include a tool body comprising circuitry configured to interface with a controller, and a tip portion including a tip that is heated to melt solder and a handpiece that is graspable by an operator. The tip portion includes a heater and a sensor disposed in the tip. The tip portion includes a tip memory device disposed at the handpiece. The tip memory device is configured to store parametric data. The tip memory device is configured to exchange data with the controller.

Claims (24)

1. A tip portion for a soldering tool, the tip portion comprising:

a handpiece configured to be graspable by an operator;

a tip extending from a forward end of the handpiece, wherein the tip comprises a heater and a sensor;

electronic components comprising a connection wire and a tip memory device configured to communicate parametric data to control a temperature of the tip;

a plug pin disposed on an opposite side of the handpiece relative to the tip, the plug pin comprising a first electrical connection for power, a second electrical connection for ground, and a third electrical connection for communicating data;

wherein the connection wire connects the sensor to the third electrical connection of the plug pin.

2. The tip portion of claim 1 wherein the tip, the handpiece, and plug pin are disposed on a common lateral axis.

3. The tip portion of claim 1 wherein the handpiece comprises an insulated grip disposed on an external surface of the handpiece.

4. The tip portion of claim 1 , wherein the tip memory device is configured to communicate the parametric data to a controller of a soldering tool to enable the controller to operate the heater based on the parametric data.

5. The tip portion of claim 4 , wherein the tip memory device is configured to communicate the parametric data to the controller via the connection wire and the third electrical connection of the plug pin.

6. The tip portion of claim 1 , wherein the tip memory device is further configured to store and communicate a tip identifier associated with an identity of the tip portion.

7. The tip portion of claim 1 , wherein the parametric data comprises temperature offset data indicating a temperature difference between a sensed temperature at the sensor and a temperature at a distal end of the tip.

8. A tip portion for a soldering tool, the tip portion comprising:

a handpiece that is configured to be graspable by an operator;

a tip comprising a heater and a sensor;

a plug pin disposed on an opposite side of the handpiece relative to the tip, the plug pin configured to electrically connect the tip portion to a soldering tool; and

a tip memory device configured to store parametric data and communicate the parametric data to control a temperature of the tip;

wherein a connection wire of the tip portion, as a single wire interface, connects the sensor to the plug pin, with the tip memory device also being connected to the connection wire;

wherein the heater is connected to the plug pin to power the heater.

9. The tip portion of claim 8 wherein the tip, the handpiece, and plug pin are disposed on a common lateral axis.

10. The tip portion of claim 8 wherein the handpiece comprises an insulated grip disposed on an external surface of the handpiece.

11. The tip portion of claim 8 , wherein the tip memory device is configured to communicate the parametric data to a controller of a soldering tool to enable the controller to operate the heater based on the parametric data.

12. The tip portion of claim 8 , wherein the tip memory device is further configured to store and communicate a tip identifier associated with an identity of the tip portion.

13. The tip portion of claim 8 , wherein the parametric data comprises temperature offset data indicating a temperature difference between a sensed temperature at the sensor and a temperature at a distal end of the tip.

Assignments (7)
NEW SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073377/0567 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NOS. 7444851 AND 11203070 WHICH WERE INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0477 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068791/0141 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT. NO. 11191173 WAS INCORRCTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66631 FRAME: 791. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT. Recorded Jun 25, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 067884/0469 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 3, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067310/0054 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 066631/0791 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2022
From: MITTMANN, GERT; EIGEN, BERNHARD; MOHL, MICHAEL; ZERWECK, RALF; SCHONAU, DIRK
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060096/0238 →