Power tool with optical control

Abstract

An optical control is disclosed which is particularly suitable for application as a switching device, regulating device or sensor device for a power tool. At least two optical waveguides are provided one of which being configured as a transmitting waveguide is coupled to a light source, a second one of which being configured as a receiving waveguide cooperating therewith is coupled to an evaluation circuitry. Both waveguides cooperate with a control element that is movable at least between two positions in which light signals of different magnitude are transmitted from the transmitting waveguide into the receiving waveguide.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A power tool comprising 
 a housing;    a motor received in said housing for driving a tool;    a clamping lever for clamping a tool, said clamping lever being movable between a clamping position and a loose position;    an optical control device for controlling the position of said clamping lever, wherein said optical control device comprises 
 a light source;  
 at least two optical waveguides, at least a first one of which being configured as a transmitting waveguide being coupled to said light source and cooperating with a second one of said optical waveguides, said second optical waveguide being configured as a receiving waveguide;  
 a control element being movable between at least two positions for controlling light input from said transmitting waveguide into said receiving waveguide; and  
 an evaluation circuitry coupled to said receiving waveguide for evaluating the light received by said receiving waveguide.  
   
     
     
         2 . The power tool of  claim 1 , wherein said optical control device is configured as a switch allowing an activation of the motor only when the clamping lever is in the clamping position.  
     
     
         3 . A power tool comprising 
 a housing;    a motor received within said housing for driving a tool;    a mechanical control means movable into at least two positions for controlling the operation of the power tool;    an optical control device being coupled to said mechanical control means for monitoring said mechanical control means to thereby control the operation of the power tool depending on the position of said mechanical control means, wherein said optical control device comprises 
 a light source;  
 at least two optical waveguides, at least a first one of which being configured as a transmitting waveguide being coupled to said light source and cooperating with a second one of said optical waveguides, said second optical waveguide being configured as a receiving waveguide;  
 a control element being movable between at least two positions for controlling light input from said transmitting waveguide into said receiving waveguide; and  
 an evaluation circuitry coupled to said receiving waveguide for evaluating the light received by said receiving waveguide.  
   
     
     
         4 . The power tool of  claim 3 , wherein said mechanical control means is configured as said control element.  
     
     
         5 . A power tool comprising 
 a housing;    a motor received within said housing for driving a tool;    at least one receptacle supported by said housing for receiving a detachable attachment part; and    at least one optical control device for controlling, whether said attachment part is attached to said receptacle or not.    
     
     
         6 . The power tool of  claim 5 , wherein said optical control device comprises 
 a light source;    at least two optical waveguides, at least a first one of which being configured as a transmitting waveguide being coupled to said light source and cooperating with a second one of said optical waveguides, said second optical waveguide being configured as a receiving waveguide;    a control element being movable between at least two positions for controlling light input from said transmitting waveguide into said receiving waveguide; and    an evaluation circuitry coupled to said receiving waveguide for evaluating the light received by said receiving waveguide.    
     
     
         7 . A power tool comprising 
 a housing;    a motor received within said housing for driving a tool;    at least one optical control device for controlling the activation of said motor, wherein said optical control device comprises 
 a light source;  
 at least two optical waveguides, at least a first one of which being configured as a transmitting waveguide being coupled to said light source and cooperating with a second one of said optical waveguides, said second optical waveguide being configured as a receiving waveguide;  
 a control element being movable between at least two positions for controlling light input from said transmitting waveguide into said receiving waveguide; and  
 an evaluation circuitry coupled to said receiving waveguide for evaluating the light received by said receiving waveguide.  
   
     
     
         8 . A power tool having at least one optical control device, said optical control device comprising 
 a light source;    at least two optical waveguides, at least a first one of which being configured as a transmitting waveguide being coupled to said light source and cooperating with a second one of said optical waveguides, said second optical waveguide being configured as a receiving waveguide;    a control element being movable between at least two positions for controlling light input from said transmitting waveguide into said receiving waveguide; and    an evaluation circuitry coupled to said receiving waveguide for evaluating the light received by said receiving waveguide.    
     
     
         9 . The power tool of  claim 8 , further comprising a pistol shaped housing, wherein said control element is activatable by means of a key arranged on said housing.  
     
     
         10 . The power tool of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said optical waveguides is integrated into a wall of said housing.  
     
     
         11 . The power tool of  claim 8 , further comprising a housing, within which said control element is received integrally molded with at least part of said housing by means of two-component-technology.  
     
     
         12 . The power tool of  claim 8 , wherein each of said transmitting and receiving waveguides has an end, wherein said ends of said transmitting and receiving waveguides are both received in a common unit that is protected against dust contamination from the outside.  
     
     
         13 . The power tool of  claim 8 , wherein said transmitting waveguide at a first end thereof is coupled with said light source, wherein said receiving waveguide at a first end thereof is coupled with said evaluation circuitry, and wherein a second end of said transmitting waveguide is arranged at a distance from a second end of said receiving waveguide.  
     
     
         14 . The power tool of  claim 13 , wherein said control element is configured as an elastic form part surrounding said second ends of said optical waveguides.  
     
     
         15 . The power tool of  claim 14 , wherein said elastic form part is configured as a sleeve that is elastically deformable in a region extending between said second ends for blocking any light signals input into said receiving waveguide.  
     
     
         16 . The power tool of  claim 15 , wherein said elastic form part comprises a thickening that is arranged between said second ends and that is elastically deformable.  
     
     
         17 . The power tool of  claim 13 , wherein said second ends of said optical waveguides are aligned with each other for transmitting light from said transmitting waveguide into said receiving, and wherein said control element engages one of said second ends for moving same relative to the other one of said second ends.  
     
     
         18 . The power tool of  claim 13 , wherein said second ends of said optical waveguides are aligned with each other for transmitting light from the transmitting waveguide into the receiving waveguide, and wherein said control element comprises a section that is movable into a space between said second ends.  
     
     
         19 . The power tool of  claim 18 , wherein said control element is configured as a spring element, the movable section of which comprises a light passing opening allowing the passing of light from said transmitting waveguide into said receiving waveguide when being aligned with said second ends.  
     
     
         20 . The power tool of  claim 13 , wherein said control element is covered by an elastic touch pad.  
     
     
         21 . The power tool of  claim 13 , wherein said optical control device is configured as an optically controlled switch.  
     
     
         22 . The power tool of  claim 13 , wherein said optical control device is configured as an optically controlled non-locking key.  
     
     
         23 . The power tool of  claim 13 , wherein said optical waveguides are movable between a position in which said second ends are aligned with each other, and between a position in which said second ends are not aligned with each other.  
     
     
         24 . The power tool of  claim 23 , wherein said control element is configured as a slider which is slidable between an idle position in which said second ends of said optical waveguides are not aligned with each other, and between an operative position in which said second ends are aligned with each other for transmitting light into said receiving waveguide.  
     
     
         25 . The power tool of  claim 24 , wherein said slider is lockable in said operative position and is biased toward said idle position.  
     
     
         26 . The power tool of  claim 23 , wherein one second end of a first one of said optical waveguides is biased into a direction substantially transversely to said first optical waveguide, and wherein said control element is arranged for engaging said one second end for moving same between said positions.  
     
     
         27 . The power tool of  claim 24 , wherein said slider is covered by an elastic touch pad to which it is firmly connected, said elastic touch pad having a material tension which elastically biases said slider into one of said idle and said operative positions.  
     
     
         28 . The power tool of  claim 8 , wherein said transmitting waveguide comprises at least one radial light emitting opening for radial emission of light, said radial light emitting opening cooperating with a light receiving opening of said receiving waveguide.  
     
     
         29 . The power tool of  claim 28 , wherein said transmitting and receiving waveguides are at least partially configured as annular optical waveguides that are held at a distance from each other, and wherein said control element is configured as a switching ring arranged for engaging at least one of said waveguides for moving same with respect to the other one of said waveguides.  
     
     
         30 . The power tool of  claim 29 , wherein said transmitting and receiving waveguides are held within an annular tube at a distance from each other, wherein a transmission of light into the receiving waveguide is impeded in an idle position, and wherein said switching ring is movable relative to the tube into an activated position, in which said tube is deformed to thereby input light from the transmitting waveguide into the receiving waveguide.  
     
     
         31 . The power tool of  claim 8 , wherein said transmitting and the receiving waveguides are at least partially configured as annular optical waveguides that are held at a distance from each other, wherein said control element is configured as a switching ring that allows to input light from the transmitting waveguide into at least one selected region of said receiving waveguide when being in an operative position.  
     
     
         32 . The power tool of  claim 13 , wherein said control element is configured as a rotary slide being coupled with one of said second ends of said optical waveguides for moving same between both positions.  
     
     
         33 . The power tool of  claim 32 , wherein said control element is configured as a switching ring which is rotatable between an idle position and an operative position.  
     
     
         34 . The power tool of  claim 13 , wherein said second ends of said optical waveguides are not aligned with each other, and wherein said control element comprises means for inputting light from said transmitting waveguide into said receiving waveguide, when being in at least one of said at least two positions of said control element.  
     
     
         35 . The power tool of  claim 34 , wherein said means for inputting comprises a deflector for angularly deflecting light.  
     
     
         36 . The power tool of  claim 35 , wherein said deflector comprises at least one reflecting surface.  
     
     
         37 . The power tool of  claim 35 , wherein said deflector comprises a prism.  
     
     
         38 . The power tool of  claim 35 , wherein said deflector cooperates with said second ends for redirecting light from said transmitting waveguide to an optical display.  
     
     
         39 . The power tool of  claim 34 , wherein said control element comprises a rotary slide supporting said means for inputting.  
     
     
         40 . The power tool of  claim 39 , wherein said rotary slide is configured as a switching ring which biased into the direction of an idle position.  
     
     
         41 . The power tool of  claim 40 , wherein said switching ring is elastically biased into a middle idle position.  
     
     
         42 . The power tool of  claim 40 , further comprising a deflector for redirecting light from said transmitting waveguide toward a display surface, when being in said idle position, for optically signaling the idle position.  
     
     
         43 . The power tool of  claim 41 , wherein said switching ring is movable from said idle position in a first direction of rotation into a first operative position in which light from said transmitting waveguide is input into said receiving waveguide, and is movable in a second direction of rotation into a second operative position in which also light from said transmitting waveguide is input into said receiving waveguide.  
     
     
         44 . The power tool of  claim 39 , further comprising a housing having at least one housing opening, wherein said rotary slide comprises an elastic touch pad that is received within said housing opening.  
     
     
         45 . The power tool of  claim 44 , wherein said means for inputting is received on said elastic touch pad.  
     
     
         46 . The power tool of  claim 44 , wherein said touch pad has an elasticity, whereby said control element is biased into one of an idle position and an activated position.  
     
     
         47 . The power tool of  claim 36 , wherein said means for inputting comprises a mirror that is movable into a position for transmitting light from the transmitting waveguide into said receiving waveguide.  
     
     
         48 . The power tool of  claim 47 , wherein said mirror comprises a spring which is clamped at one end thereof and which receives a mirror surface at the other end thereof, the mirror surface being movable against the action of a force excerted by the spring.  
     
     
         49 . The power tool of  claim 8 , wherein said control element is movable continuously between a first position and a second position, wherein more light is input into said receiving waveguide when being in said second position than when being in said first position.  
     
     
         50 . The power tool of  claim 48 , wherein said spring element rests against a touch pad by means of which said spring element is activatable.  
     
     
         51 . An optical control device comprising 
 a light source;    at least two optical waveguides, at least a first one of which being configured as a transmitting waveguide being coupled to said light source and cooperating with a second one of said optical waveguides, said second optical waveguide being configured as a receiving waveguide;    a control element being movable between at least two positions for controlling light input from said transmitting waveguide into said receiving waveguide; and    an evaluation circuitry coupled to said receiving waveguide for evaluating the light received by said receiving waveguide.    
     
     
         52 . An optical control device, comprising 
 a light source;    an optical waveguide coupled to said light source for receiving light therefrom;    a redirecting means for redirecting light emerging from an end of said optical waveguide and for coupling said light back into said end;    a control element for controlling said light being coupled back into said optical waveguide by said redirecting means; and    an evaluation circuitry coupled to said optical waveguide for evaluating the light coupled back into said end by said redirecting means.    
     
     
         53 . The control device of  claim 52 , wherein said control element comprises a redirecting means.  
     
     
         54 . The control device of  claim 52 , wherein said redirecting means comprises at least one reflecting,surface.