IP Library Granted Patent US 9,665,080
Granted Patent B2
US 9,665,080 · App. 14/366,038 · Granted May 30, 2017

Method for communicating data between a control system of a power tool and a computing device

Inventors: Mikael Larsson (Jönköping, SE); Björn Lundblad (Jönköping, SE); Johan Assargård (Jönköping, SE); Henrik Eklund (Tenhult, SE)
Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
G05B15/02H04L12/12H04L12/40013H04L12/40039H04L2012/4026Y02B60/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,665,080
App. No.
14/366,038
Granted
May 30, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Arrangement and methods for communicating data between a control system ( 100 ) of a power tool ( 10 ) and a computing device ( 20 ). The arrangement ( 1 ) comprises a control system ( 100 ) with a plurality of electronic control units, ECUs ( 110, 120 ), a computing device ( 20 ), and a connecting unit ( 30 ) comprising a data connection ( 32 ). The plurality of ECUs ( 110, 120 ) are connected to a common bus of the control system ( 100 ). Each of the plurality of ECUs ( 110, 120 ) has a passive service mode ( 201 ) and an active service mode ( 202 ). The computing device is operable of transmitting a wake-up communication signal to the plurality of ECUs ( 110, 120 ), which wake-up communication signal comprises an ID of a selected ECU ( 110, 120 ) out of the plurality of ECUs ( 110, 120 ). The selected ECU ( 110, 120 ) is operable to switch from the passive service mode ( 201 ) to the active service mode ( 202 ) as a response to detecting its ID in the wake-up communication signal, so as to allow communication of data between the selected ECU ( 110, 120 ) and the computing device ( 20 ) via the data connection.

Claims (29)

1. An arrangement for communicating data between a control system of a power tool and a computing device, the arrangement comprising:

a control system of the power tool, the control system comprising at least one electronic control unit, ECU,

a computing device provided externally of the power tool,

a connecting unit interconnecting the computing device and the control system, the connecting unit comprising a data connection,

wherein the at least one ECU has a passive service mode and an active service mode,

wherein an allowed power consumption is significantly lower in the passive service mode than in the active service mode,

wherein the computing device is operable to transmit a wake-up communication signal to the at least one ECU when the at least one ECU is in the passive service mode, the wake-up communication signal comprising an ID of a selected ECU out of the at least one ECU,

wherein the selected ECU is operable to switch from the passive service mode to the active service mode as a response to detecting its ID in the wake-up communication signal, so as to allow communication of data between the selected ECU and the computing device via the data connection,

wherein the at least one ECU enters a transitional start-up mode in response to detection of a voltage supply and wherein the computing device is operable to trigger each of the at least one ECU to switch from the transitional start-up mode to the passive service mode by transmitting a passive service mode initiating signal via the data connection.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the power tool lacks an internal power supply when the power tool is in a non-operating mode.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting unit comprises a voltage supply connection, and wherein the computing device is operable to supply power to the at least one ECU via the voltage supply connection when the power tool is in a non-operating mode.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one ECU has an operating mode, and wherein each of the at least one ECU is configured to switch from the transitional start-up mode to the operating mode in the absence of the passive service mode initiating signal.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the data connection is a single wire connection.

6. An arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the power tool is provided with an internal combustion engine.

7. An arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein one of the at least one ECU is an electronic carburetor control system.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein one of the at least one ECU is a combustion engine ignition control unit.

9. A method for communicating data between a control system of a power tool and a computing device provided externally of the power tool, wherein the power tool is provided with an internal combustion engine and wherein the power tool lacks internal power supply when the combustion engine is in a non-operating mode, wherein the control system comprises at least one electronic control unit, ECU, wherein the at least one ECU has a passive service mode and an active service mode, wherein an allowed power consumption is significantly lower in the passive service mode than in the active service mode, the method comprising:

transmitting a wake-up communication signal from the computing device to the at least one ECU when each of the at least one ECUs is in the passive service mode, wherein the wake-up communication signal comprises an ID of a selected ECU out of the at least one ECU, in the selected ECU, switching to the active service mode in response to detection of the ID in the wake-up communication signal, and communicating data between the selected ECU and the computing device,

wherein each of the at least one ECU has a transitional start-up mode the method further comprising:

interconnecting the computing device and the control system via a connecting unit comprising a voltage supply connection and a data connection;

supplying power to the at least one ECU from the computing device,

for the at least one ECU, entering the transitional start-up mode in response to detection of a voltage supply,

transmitting a passive service mode initiating signal from the computing device to the at least one ECU,

in the at least one ECU, entering the passive service mode, in response to receiving the passive service mode initiating signal.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the power tool has a stop button switch for stopping the internal combustion engine and a cable arrangement for connecting the stop button switch and the at least one ECU, wherein the cable arrangement includes a stop button connector and a power tool connector, and wherein the method comprising the initial steps of

disconnecting the power tool connector from the stop button connector, and

connecting the power tool connector to a service tool connector of a service tool assembly.

11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein each of the at least one ECU has an operating mode, the method furthermore comprising:

in the at least one ECU switching from the transitional start-up mode to the operating mode in the absence of passive service mode initiating signal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2014
From: LARSSON, MIKAEL; LUNDBLAD, BJORN; ASSARGARD, JOHAN; EKLUND, HENRIK
To: HUSQVARNA AB
Reel/Frame 033118/0490 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140324194A1 · Oct 30, 2014