U.S. patent application number 17/562296 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-21 for method for obtaining information for operating an accumulator, method for obtaining periods of time for charging different accumulators, and electric gardening and/or forestry apparatus system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Tommy ROITSCH, Simon TRINKLE.
Application Number | 20220118598 17/562296 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220118598 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ROITSCH; Tommy ; et
al. |
April 21, 2022 |
Method for Obtaining Information for Operating an Accumulator,
Method for Obtaining Periods of Time for Charging Different
Accumulators, and Electric Gardening and/or Forestry Apparatus
System
Abstract
A method is provided for obtaining information for operating an
accumulator, and for obtaining periods of time for charging
different accumulators using the method. An electrical gardening
and/or forestry apparatus system with at least one accumulator for
carrying out such a method is provided.
Inventors: |
ROITSCH; Tommy; (Waiblingen,
DE) ; TRINKLE; Simon; (Kaisersbach, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG |
Waiblingen |
|
DE |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/562296 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16003787 |
Jun 8, 2018 |
11245269 |
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17562296 |
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International
Class: |
B25F 5/02 20060101
B25F005/02; A01G 3/053 20060101 A01G003/053; H02J 7/00 20060101
H02J007/00; A01G 20/43 20180101 A01G020/43; H01M 10/48 20060101
H01M010/48; H01M 10/44 20060101 H01M010/44 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 9, 2017 |
EP |
17175383.3 |
Claims
1. A method for obtaining information for operating an accumulator,
wherein the accumulator is configured to supply drive energy to an
electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus, the
method comprising the steps of: a) obtaining an employment of the
electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus, b)
obtaining an energy demand of the gardening and/or forestry
apparatus from the obtained employment, c) obtaining an energy
content of the accumulator, d) comparing the obtained energy demand
to the obtained energy content, and e) obtaining and outputting the
information for operating the accumulator based on the comparison,
wherein step e) comprises: obtaining a quantity of energy for
charging the accumulator to meet the obtained energy demand, and
obtaining and outputting the information for operating the
accumulator based on the obtained quantity of energy, the
information for operating the accumulator including a period of
time for charging of the accumulator.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the employment of the
electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus has a
surface area, a length and/or a number of cuts of an object to be
treated.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein step a) comprises:
moving a position determination device for determining position
coordinates along the object to be treated and determining position
coordinates using the position determination device during the
movement, and obtaining the surface area, the length and/or the
number of cuts of the object to be treated based on the determined
position coordinates.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step e) the
information is outputted using optics, acoustics and/or
haptics.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein step c) comprises:
measuring an electric property of the accumulator and/or an
electric property for charging the accumulator.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
h) identifying an energy consumption of the electrically powered
gardening and/or forestry apparatus for the employment, and during
a next carrying out of the method, in step b) obtaining the energy
demand of the gardening and/or forestry apparatus from the obtained
employment based on the identified energy consumption.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps
of: f) charging the accumulator, and g) outputting of further
information, if the energy content of the accumulator is sufficient
to satisfy the energy demand.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the accumulator is
configured to supply drive energy to different electrically powered
gardening and/or forestry apparatus, wherein the method further
comprises the step of: obtaining employments of the different
electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus and
outputting information for operating the accumulator for the
obtained employments.
9. An electrical gardening and/or forestry apparatus system,
comprising: at least one electrically powered gardening and/or
forestry apparatus, and at least one accumulator, wherein the
accumulator is configured to supply drive energy to the gardening
and/or forestry apparatus, wherein the electrical gardening and/or
forestry apparatus system is configured to: a) obtain an employment
of the electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus, b)
obtain an energy demand of the gardening and/or forestry apparatus
from the obtained employment, c) obtain an energy content of the
accumulator, d) compare the obtained energy demand to the obtained
energy content, and e) obtain and output information for operating
the accumulator based on the comparison, including being configured
to: obtain a quantity of energy for charging the accumulator to
meet the obtained energy demand, and obtain and output the
information for operating the accumulator based on the obtained
quantity of energy, the information for operating the accumulator
including a period of time for charging of the accumulator.
10. The electrical gardening and/or forestry apparatus system
according to claim 9, wherein the electrical gardening and/or
forestry apparatus system includes at least one charger, wherein
the charger is configured to charge the at least one
accumulator.
11. The electrical gardening and/or forestry apparatus system
according to claim 9, wherein the electrical gardening and/or
forestry apparatus system includes a mobile determination device,
wherein the mobile determination device is configured to obtain the
employment of the at least one electrically powered gardening
and/or forestry apparatus, to obtain the energy demand of the
gardening and/or forestry apparatus from the obtained employment,
to compare the obtained energy demand to the obtained energy
content of the at least one accumulator, and to obtain and output
the information for operating the accumulator based on the
comparison.
12. The electrical gardening and/or forestry apparatus system
according to claim 9, wherein the at least one electrically powered
gardening and/or forestry apparatus is one of: a saw, a pole
pruner, a clearing saw or a brush cutter, a hedge pruner or hedge
shears, a hedge trimmer, a blower apparatus, a leaf blower, a
lopper, a cutoff grinder, a sweeper apparatus, a sweeper roller, a
sweeper brush, a lawn mower, a dethatcher and/or a grass
trimmer.
13. A method for obtaining information for operating an
accumulator, wherein the accumulator is configured to supply drive
energy to an electrically powered gardening and/or forestry
apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: a) obtaining an
employment of the electrically powered gardening and/or forestry
apparatus, b) obtaining an energy demand of the gardening and/or
forestry apparatus from the obtained employment, c) obtaining an
energy content of the accumulator, d) comparing the obtained energy
demand to the obtained energy content, and e) obtaining and
outputting the information for operating the accumulator based on
the comparison, wherein the accumulator is an exchangeable
accumulator.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
16/003,787, filed Jun. 8, 2018, which claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119 from European Patent Application No. 17 175
383.3, filed Jun. 9, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is herein
expressly incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a method for obtaining information
for operating an accumulator, a method for obtaining periods of
time for charging different accumulators using such a method, and
an electric gardening and/or forestry apparatus system with at
least one accumulator for carrying out such a method.
[0003] A method for obtaining information for operating an
accumulator and an electric gardening and/or forestry apparatus
system with an accumulator are known.
[0004] The invention is based on the problem of making available a
method for obtaining information for operating an accumulator which
has improved properties, in particular more functionalities.
Furthermore, the invention is based on the problem of making
available a method for obtaining time periods for charging
different accumulators using such a method, and an electric
gardening and/or forestry apparatus system with at least one
accumulator for carrying out such a method.
[0005] The invention solves this problem by providing methods and
systems in accordance with claimed embodiments of the invention.
Advantageous developments and/or refinements of the invention are
described and claimed herein.
[0006] The method according to the invention is configured to
obtain, in particular automatically, information for operating, in
particular for charging, an accumulator. The accumulator is
configured to supply, in particular electrical, drive energy to an
electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus. The
method comprises the steps: a) obtaining or predefining an, in
particular specific, employment of the electrically powered
gardening and/or forestry apparatus, b) obtaining or determining
an, in particular specific, energy demand of the gardening and/or
forestry apparatus from the obtained employment, c) obtaining or
determining an energy content of the accumulator, d) comparing the
obtained energy demand to the obtained energy content, and e)
obtaining or determining and outputting the, in particular
specific, information for operating, in particular for charging,
the accumulator based on the comparison.
[0007] The method can permit a user of the electrically powered
gardening and/or forestry apparatus to make decisions, in
particular specific decisions, with respect to the accumulator, the
gardening and/or forestry apparatus and/or the employment.
[0008] A rechargeable accumulator for electrical energy on an
electrochemical basis can be referred to as an accumulator. In
particular, the step a) can comprise: selecting the employment from
a stored number of employments. The energy content of the
accumulator can be referred to as the residual energy or state of
charge. It may be the case that in order to cover the energy demand
of the gardening and/or forestry apparatus for the employment, the
accumulator does not need to be completely charged and/or have been
completely charged. It may be sufficient for the accumulator to be,
in particular, in only a partially charged state and/or to be only
partially charged. In particular, if the energy demand is equal to
or less than the energy content, this can be output.
[0009] The step b) can be carried out simultaneously with the step
a) or chronologically after it. The step c) can be carried out
simultaneously with the steps/the step a) and/or b), or
chronologically after or before the latter. The step d) can be
carried out simultaneously with the steps/the step b) and/or c) or
chronologically after the latter. The step e) can be carried out
simultaneously with the step d) or chronologically after it.
[0010] In one development of the invention, the employment of the
electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus has a
surface area, a length and/or a number of cuts of an object to be
treated, in particular a specific object. This can permit
relatively simple obtaining of the employment. The object can have
a piece of ground, in particular a piece of unsealed ground, a
green area, in particular a meadow, a lawn and/or a bed with
flowers or other plants, a number of bushes or shrubs, a hedge
and/or a number of trees. Additionally or alternatively, the
employment can have an, in particular anticipated, apparatus
running time.
[0011] In one refinement of the invention, the step a) comprises:
moving, in particular moving automatically, or guiding a position
determination device for determining position coordinates along the
object to be treated; determining position coordinates using the
position determination device during the movement; obtaining the
surface area, the length and/or the number of cuts of the object to
be treated based on the determined position coordinates. This can
permit the employment to be obtained in a particularly simple way.
In particular, the position determining device can have a satellite
position determining receiver, a local positioning system device,
an inertia position determination device and/or an odometry
position determination device. Additionally or alternatively,
position coordinates can be determined in another way. In
particular, position coordinates can be determined and/or selected
from a database, such as, for example, the Internet. It is also
additionally or alternatively possible for at least one image of
the object to be captured and/or at least one image which has been
captured of the object to be selected, in particular by the user.
The surface area, the length and/or the number of cuts can be
determined based on the captured image. In particular, position
coordinates can be determined based on the captured image. It is
also additionally or alternatively possible for the surface area,
the length and/or the number of cuts to be predefined, in
particular by the user.
[0012] In one development of the invention, step e) comprises:
obtaining or determining an, in particular specific, quantity of
energy for charging the accumulator to meet the obtained energy
demand, in particular if the energy demand is greater than the
energy content, in particular based on the comparison; obtaining or
determining and outputting the, in particular specific, information
for operating, in particular for charging, the accumulator based on
the obtained quantity of energy. The quantity of energy for
charging the accumulator does not need to be equal to the
difference between the energy content and the energy demand. The
quantity of energy can be greater than the difference, in
particular owing to a charging efficiency level which is less than
or worse than 100 percent. The quantity of energy for charging the
accumulator can be equal to zero, in particular if the energy
demand is equal to or less than the energy content. In particular,
when the information is obtained, an operating limit of the
accumulator for the charging process and/or an operating limit of a
charger or loader for charging the accumulator can be taken into
account, in particular if the energy demand is greater than the
energy content.
[0013] In one development of the invention, the information has a
period of time for the charging of the accumulator. This can permit
the user to detect how long he has to wait for the accumulator or
for its charging. The period of time can be output with precision
to the second, to the minute or in time periods, in particular in
the form of at maximum 5 minutes, at minimum 5 minutes and/or at
maximum 15 minutes, at minimum 15 minutes and/or at maximum 30
minutes, at minimum 30 minutes and/or at maximum 1 hour, at minimum
1 hour and/or at maximum 2 hours and at minimum 2 hours. The period
of time for the charging of the accumulator can be equal to zero,
in particular if the energy demand is equal to or less than the
energy content. In particular, the period of time can be obtained
from the quantity of energy, provided that it is obtained by taking
into account charging of the accumulator. In particular, an
operating limit of the accumulator for the charging and/or an
operating limit of the charger, if present, can be taken into
account in the charging of the accumulator. Various chargers such
as a standard charger or a quick charger can take different amounts
of time to charge the accumulator. The method can be referred to as
a charging period time prediction.
[0014] In one development of the invention, in step e) the
information is output using optics, acoustics and/or haptics. This
can permit the user to perceive the information relatively well. In
particular, the optical outputting can comprise displaying. The
haptic outputting can comprise a vibration.
[0015] In one development of the invention, step c) comprises:
measuring, in particular automatically measuring, an electric
property of the accumulator and/or an electric property for
charging the accumulator. In particular, the electric property or
properties can comprise a voltage, in particular a quiescent
voltage in the state of rest, and/or a current. The measurement can
be carried out by means of the gardening and/or forestry apparatus
and/or the charger for charging the accumulator, when present. In
particular, the gardening and/or forestry apparatus can have the
charger, or the charger can be integrated into the gardening and/or
forestry apparatus. Additionally or alternatively, the measurement
can be carried out using the accumulator itself or a measuring
device which is permanently installed with the accumulator. It is
also additionally or alternatively possible for the energy content
of the accumulator to be obtained by obtaining a preceding
apparatus running time and/or charging time since a previous
complete charging of the accumulator and/or a capacity of the
accumulator. In other words, the energy content can also be tracked
during operation by means of Wh integration or Coulomb
counting.
[0016] In one development of the invention, the method comprises
the step: h) identifying, in particular automatically identifying,
an energy consumption of the electrically powered gardening and/or
forestry apparatus for the obtained employment, in particular
during the employment. When the method is next carried out in step
b), obtaining the, in particular next, energy demand of the
gardening and/or forestry apparatus from the obtained, in
particular next, employment based on the identified energy
consumption, in particular for the preceding employment. This can
permit relatively more precise, in particular user-specific and/or
object-specific, obtaining of the energy demand, and therefore
relatively more precise obtaining of the information. In
particular, the energy consumption can be dependent on a method of
working of the user of the gardening and/or forestry apparatus
and/or on the object. The energy consumption can be obtained, like
the energy content, by measuring and/or obtaining an apparatus
running time, as described above. Additionally and/or
alternatively, the employment can be identified. Before a first
employment, the energy demand can be obtained based on a works-side
basic value.
[0017] In one development of the invention, the method comprises
the steps: f) charging the accumulator, and g) outputting further
information if the energy content of the accumulator is sufficient
to satisfy the energy demand. This can permit the user to perceive
that he can start the employment. The step f) can be carried out
simultaneously with the steps/step a), b), c), d) and/or e), or
chronologically after or before said step or steps. The step g) can
be carried out simultaneously with the steps/the step b), c), d),
e) and/or f) or chronologically after said step or steps. In
particular, during the charging the steps/the step c), d) and/or e)
can be carried out or repeated, in particular multiple times.
[0018] In one development of the invention, the accumulator is
configured to supply drive energy to different electrically powered
gardening and/or forestry apparatuses. The method comprises the
step: obtaining employments of the different electrically powered
gardening and/or forestry apparatuses. Outputting information for
operating, in particular for charging, the accumulator for the
employments. This can permit the user to decide which employment he
would like to carry out or with which gardening and/or forestry
apparatus he would like to work and/or in which sequence he would
like to carry out the employments. The gardening and/or forestry
apparatuses can be suitable for the same employment and/or for the
same object. In particular, the gardening and/or forestry
apparatuses may be identical in design. The accumulator can be
embodied as an exchangeable accumulator. The gardening and/or
forestry apparatuses can each be configured for the exchangeable or
detachable accommodation of the accumulator, in particular for
destruction-free and/or tool-free accommodation.
[0019] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for, in
particular automatically, obtaining periods of time for charging
different accumulators. The various accumulators are each
configured to supply drive energy to the electrically powered
gardening and/or forestry apparatus. The method according to the
invention comprises the steps: obtaining a respective period of
time for charging a respective accumulator according to the method
described above, in particular in order to achieve the energy
content in order to satisfy the energy demand for the employment of
the electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus.
Comparing the periods of time of various accumulators. Obtaining
the accumulator which has the shortest period of time for charging.
Outputting the accumulator which has the shortest period of time
for charging. This can permit the user to decide which accumulator
he would like to use and/or which accumulator he would like to
charge, in particular if only one charger is available.
Alternatively, a plurality of chargers can be available. The
various accumulators can be respectively compatible with individual
chargers or a plurality of chargers, in particular can be charged
using said chargers. It can be possible for one accumulator to have
a shorter period of time than the other accumulator even though the
quantity of energy to be charged for said one accumulator can be
greater than that of the other accumulator. In particular, if the
one accumulator can or may be charged with a higher power level
than the other accumulator. In particular, the one accumulator may
be compatible with a quick charger and the other accumulator can be
compatible, in particular only compatible, with a standard charger.
The periods of time can be obtained for various accumulator-charger
pairs. The pair with the shortest period of time can be output. The
accumulators can be identical in design. Additionally or
alternatively, the various accumulators can have various maximum
capacities. The accumulators can each be embodied as exchangeable
accumulators. The gardening and/or forestry apparatus can be
configured to accommodate, in particular at least, one of the
accumulators in an exchangeable fashion. The shortest period of
time can optionally be output.
[0020] In one development of the invention, the various
accumulators are each configured to supply drive energy to various
electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatuses. The
method has the steps: obtaining employments of the various
electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatuses.
Obtaining a respective period of time for charging a respective
accumulator for the employments. Obtaining total periods of time
for charging the different accumulators for different
accumulator-apparatus pairs based on the periods of time. Comparing
the various total periods of time of the various
accumulator-apparatus pairs. Obtaining the accumulator-apparatus
pair which has the shortest total period of time for charging.
Outputting the accumulator-apparatus pair which has the shortest
total period of time for charging. This can make possible a
situation in which the user or a plurality of users has/have to
wait a relatively short time for the accumulators. In particular,
the various accumulators can be assigned to the various gardening
and/or forestry apparatuses for the various accumulator-apparatus
pairs. A multiplicity of the accumulators can correspond to a
multiplicity of the gardening and/or forestry apparatuses, and can
be greater and/or less than said multiplicity. In particular, the
total periods of time can be obtained by summing the periods of
time. The shortest total period of time can optionally be output.
Additionally or alternatively, the periods of time for the various
accumulator-apparatus pairs can be compared, in particular
simultaneously or chronologically after the periods of time have
been obtained. The accumulator-apparatus pair which has the
shortest period of time for charging can be obtained, and this
accumulator-apparatus pair can be output. In other words, the
accumulator-apparatus pair for which a maximum period of time is
shortest can be obtained. The resulting total period of time does
not need to be the shortest total period of time. It is also
additionally or alternatively possible for the periods of time
and/or the total periods of time for various accumulator-charger
pairs to be obtained and said accumulator-charger pairs can be
compared and/or output. These can be referred to as different
accumulator-apparatus charger pairs.
[0021] Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric gardening
and/or forestry apparatus system. The electric gardening and/or
forestry apparatus system according to the invention has the at
least one electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus
and the at least one accumulator. The accumulator is configured to
supply drive energy to the gardening and/or forestry apparatus. The
electric gardening and/or forestry apparatus is configured to carry
out the method described above. The gardening and/or forestry
apparatus system can permit the same advantages as the method
described above. In particular, the gardening and/or forestry
apparatus can have an electric motor which can be configured to be
supplied with drive energy by the accumulator. The gardening and/or
forestry apparatus can be configured to carry out individual steps
or all the steps of the method described above. Additionally or
alternatively, the accumulator can be configured to carry out
individual steps or all the steps of the method described above, in
particular to obtain its energy content.
[0022] In one development of the invention, the electric gardening
and/or forestry apparatus system has at least one charger. The
charger is configured to charge the at least one accumulator. In
particular, the charger can be configured to obtain the energy
content of the accumulator and/or to obtain other steps of the
method described above.
[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the electric gardening
and/or forestry apparatus system has a mobile or portable
determination device or identification device. The mobile
determination device is configured to obtain the employment of the
at least one electrically powered gardening and/or forestry
apparatus. Furthermore, the determination device is configured to
obtain the energy demand of the gardening and/or forestry apparatus
from the obtained employment. Moreover, the determination device is
configured to compare the obtained energy demand with the obtained
energy content of the at least one accumulator. Furthermore, the
determination device is configured to obtain and output the
information for operating, in particular for charging, the
accumulator based on the comparison. This can permit the user to
carry out the method easily. In particular, the determination
device can be different from the gardening and/or forestry
apparatus, the accumulator and/or the charger, if they are present.
The determination device can have or be a smartphone and/or a
tablet. In particular, the determination device can be configured
to obtain the quantity of energy for charging the accumulator in
order to achieve the energy demand. In addition, the determination
device can be configured to obtain and output the information for
operating, in particular for charging, the accumulator based on the
obtained quantity of energy.
[0024] In one development of the invention, the at least one
electrically powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus has a saw,
a pole pruner, a clearing saw or a brush cutter, a hedge pruner or
hedge shears, a hedge trimmer, a blower apparatus, a leaf blower, a
lopper, a cutoff grinder, a sweeper apparatus, a sweeper roller, a
sweeper brush, a lawn mower, a dethatcher and/or a grass
trimmer.
[0025] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method according to
the invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an electrically powered
gardening and/or forestry apparatus and of an accumulator of an
electric gardening and/or forestry apparatus system according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a further electrically
powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus and of a further
accumulator of the electric gardening and/or forestry apparatus
system.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a charger and of a further
accumulator of the electric gardening and/or forestry apparatus
system.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a mobile determination
device of the electric gardening and/or forestry apparatus
system.
[0031] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of an object which is to be treated
using the electric gardening and/or forestry apparatus system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a method according to an embodiment of the
invention for obtaining information Info for operating, in
particular for charging, an accumulator 30', 30'', 30''', as can be
seen in FIGS. 2 to 4. The accumulator 30', 30'', 30''' is
configured to supply the electrical drive energy to an electrically
powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20a, 20b. The method
comprises the steps: a) obtaining an employment of the electrically
powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20a, 20b. b) obtaining
an energy demand EB of the gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20a,
20b from the obtained employment. c) obtaining an energy content EI
of the accumulator 30', 30'', 30'''. d) comparing the obtained
energy demand EB with the obtained energy content EI. e) obtaining
and outputting the information Info for operating, in particular
for charging, the accumulator 30', 30'', 30''' based on the
comparison.
[0033] The method therefore permits a user of the gardening and/or
forestry apparatus 20a, 20b to make decisions relating to the
accumulator 30', 30'', 30''', the gardening and/or forestry
apparatus 20a, 20b and/or the employment.
[0034] FIGS. 2 to 5 show an electric gardening and/or forestry
apparatus system 10. The gardening and/or forestry apparatus system
10 has the at least one electrically powered gardening and/or
forestry apparatus 20a, 20b. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the
gardening and/or forestry apparatus system 10 has two gardening
and/or forestry apparatuses 20a, 20b, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and
3. In alternative exemplary embodiments, the gardening and/or
forestry apparatus system can have just a single gardening and/or
forestry apparatus or more than two gardening and/or forestry
apparatuses. The gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20a shown in
FIG. 2 has a hedge pruner or hedge shears or is a hedge pruner or
hedge shears. The gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20b shown in
FIG. 3 has a leaf blower or is a leaf blower. Furthermore, the
gardening and/or forestry apparatus system 10 has the at least one
accumulator 30', 30'', 30'''. In the exemplary embodiment shown,
the gardening and/or forestry apparatus system 10 has three
accumulators 30', 30'', 30'''. In alternative exemplary
embodiments, the gardening and/or forestry apparatus system can
have just a single accumulator, two accumulators or more than three
accumulators. The various accumulators 30', 30'', 30''' are each
configured to supply drive energy to the at least one electrically
powered gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20a, 20b. In
particular, the accumulators 30', 30'', 30''' are identical in
design. In detail, the accumulators 30', 30'', 30''' are each
embodied as an exchangeable accumulator. The gardening and/or
forestry apparatuses 20a, 20b are each configured to accommodate
one of the accumulators 30', 30'', 30''' in an exchangeable
fashion. In other words: the gardening and/or forestry apparatuses
20a, 20b each have an accumulator shaft 21 for accommodating one of
the accumulators 30', 30'', 30'''. In alternative exemplary
embodiments, the accumulator can be permanently installed in the
gardening and/or forestry apparatus. In other words, the
accumulator can be detached from the gardening and/or forestry
apparatus, in particular only, using a tool. The electric gardening
and/or forestry apparatus system 10 is configured to carry out the
method described above.
[0035] Furthermore, the electric gardening and/or forestry
apparatus system 10 has at least one charger 40. In the exemplary
embodiment shown, the gardening and/or forestry apparatus system 10
has just a single charger 40. In alternative exemplary embodiments,
the gardening and/or forestry apparatus system can have more than
one charger. The charger 40 is configured to charge the at least
one accumulator 30', 30'', 30'''. In detail, the charger 40 is
configured to accommodate one of the accumulators 30', 30'', 30'''
in an exchangeable fashion. In other words: the charger 40 has an
accumulator shaft 31 for accommodating one of the accumulators 30',
30'', 30'''.
[0036] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the at least one
gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20a, 20b is configured to
obtain the energy content EI of the accumulator 30', 30'', 30'''
which is accommodated or inserted therein. The charger 40 is
configured to obtain the energy content EI of the accumulator 30'''
which is accommodated or inserted therein. In alternative exemplary
embodiments, it may be sufficient when either the gardening and/or
forestry apparatus or the charger can be configured to obtain the
energy content of the accumulator. It is also additionally or
alternatively possible for the accumulator itself to be configured
to obtain its energy content. In other words, the electric
gardening and/or forestry apparatus system can have a measuring
device, wherein the measuring device can be configured to obtain
the energy content of the accumulator and can, in particular, be
permanently installed with the accumulator.
[0037] Furthermore, the electric gardening and/or forestry
apparatus system 10 has a mobile determination device 50, as can be
seen in FIG. 5. The mobile determination device 50 is configured to
obtain the employment of the at least one electrically powered
gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20a, 20b. Furthermore, the
determination device 50 is configured to obtain the energy demand
EB of the gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20a, 20b from the
obtained employment. Moreover, the determination device 50 is
configured to compare the obtained energy demand EB with the
obtained energy content EI of the at least one accumulator 30',
30'', 30'''. Furthermore, the determination device 50 is configured
to obtain and output the information Info for operating, in
particular for charging, the accumulator 30', 30'', 30''' based on
the comparison. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the
determination device 50 is a smartphone with a touchscreen 51.
[0038] In detail, the at least one gardening and/or forestry
apparatus 20a, 20b has a device transmission unit, in particular in
the form of an antenna. Furthermore, the charger 40 has a charge
transmission unit 32, in particular in the form of an antenna.
Moreover, the determination device 50 has a determination
transmission unit 52, in particular in the form of an antenna. The
device transmission unit 22 and the determination transmission unit
52 are configured to interact with one another and to transmit the
obtained energy content EI of the accumulator 30', 30'', 30''', in
particular in a wireless fashion. The charge transmission unit 32
and the determination transmission unit 52 are configured to
interact with one another and to transmit the obtained energy
content EI of the accumulator 30', in particular in a wireless
fashion. In alternative exemplary embodiments, the accumulator
itself can have an accumulator transmission unit, in particular in
the form of an antenna. The accumulator transmission unit and the
determination transmission unit can be configured to interact with
one another and to transmit the obtained energy content of the
accumulator, in particular in a wireless fashion. Basically or
generally, a respective transmission unit can have a radio
interface.
[0039] In addition, the electric gardening and/or forestry
apparatus system 10 has a position determination device 60 in the
form of a satellite position determination receiver for determining
position coordinates x, y along an object 100, 101 to be treated.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the determination device 50 has
the position determination device 60, or the position determination
device 60 is integrated into the determination device 50. In
alternative exemplary embodiments, the position determination
device does not need to be integrated into the determination
device. In particular, the at least one gardening and/or forestry
apparatus can have the position determination device.
[0040] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the employment of the
gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20a which is shown in FIG. 2 in
the form of the hedge pruner or hedge shears has an, in particular
specific, length L of the object 101 in the form of a hedge, as can
be seen in FIG. 6. The employment of the gardening and/or forestry
apparatus 20b in the form of the leaf blower, as shown in FIG. 3,
has an, in particular specific, surface area A of the object 100 in
the form of a piece of ground with leaves.
[0041] In detail, step a) comprises: moving the position
determination device 60 for determining position coordinates x, y
along the, in particular at least one, object 100, 101 to be
treated. Determining position coordinates x, y by means of the
position determination device 60 during the movement. Obtaining the
surface area A of the object 100 and the length L of the object 101
based on the determined position coordinates x, y. In the exemplary
embodiment shown, the surface area A and the length L can be
obtained together by moving the position determination device 60
along the object 101 in the form of the hedge. In particular, the
method can comprise the step: storing the at least one obtained
employment. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the determination
device 50 has a memory unit (not illustrated) for storing the at
least one obtained employment.
[0042] In the exemplary embodiment shown, step e) comprises:
obtaining a quantity of energy EM for charging the accumulator 30',
30'', 30''' to meet the obtained energy demand EB. Obtaining and
outputting the information Info for operating, in particular for
charging, the accumulator 30', 30'', 30''' based on the obtained
quantity of energy EM.
[0043] The determination device 50 is configured to obtain the
quantity of energy EM for charging the accumulator 30', 30'', 30'''
to meet the energy demand EB. In addition, the determination device
50 is configured to obtain and output the information Info for
operating, in particular for charging, the accumulator 30', 30'',
30''' based on the obtained quantity of energy EM.
[0044] Furthermore, the information Info comprises a period of time
T for charging the at least one accumulator 30', 30'', 30'''.
[0045] In step e) the information Info or the period of time T is
output or displayed using optics, in particular using the
determination device 50 in the form of the smartphone with the
touchscreen, as can be seen in FIG. 5.
[0046] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the method is carried out
automatically. In particular, the carrying out can be triggered by
means of the determination device 50. In step a), the employments
of the various gardening and/or forestry apparatuses 20a, 20b are
obtained, as described above. In step b), the energy demands EB for
the various employments are obtained. In step c), the energy
contents EI of the various accumulators 30', 30'', 30''' are
obtained. In detail, step c) comprises: measuring an electric
property of each of the accumulators 30', 30'', 30''' and/or an
electric property for charging each of the accumulators 30', 30'',
30'''. In step d) the various energy demands EB are compared with
the obtained energy contents EI, in particular for various
accumulator-apparatus pairs. In step e) the information Info for
operating a respective accumulator 30', 30'', 30''', in particular
in the form of respective periods of time T for charging such an
accumulator 30', 30'', 30''', is obtained based on the comparison,
in particular for the various accumulator-apparatus pairs. In
detail, step e) comprises: obtaining various quantities of energy
EM for charging the various accumulators 30', 30'', 30''' to meet
the obtained energy demands EB, in particular for the various
accumulator-apparatus pairs. Obtaining the information Info for
operating a respective accumulator 30', 30'', 30''', in particular
in the form of respective periods of time T for charging such an
accumulator 30', 30'', 30''', based on the obtained quantities of
energy EM, in particular for the various accumulator-apparatus
pairs. Moreover, the respective periods of time T of the various
accumulators 30', 30'', 30''' are compared. Furthermore, the
accumulator 30', 30'', 30''' which has the shortest period of time
T for charging is obtained and output. In addition, in step e) the
information Info in the form of periods of time T for charging the
accumulator 30', 30'', 30''' with the shortest period of time T for
the employments is output.
[0047] Each energy demand EB here is greater than each energy
content EI. However, the energy content EI of the accumulator 30'''
is the greatest. Furthermore, the energy demand EB of the gardening
and/or forestry apparatus 20a in the form of the hedge pruner or
hedge shears is the smallest. As a result, the period of time T for
charging the accumulator 30''' for the employment of the gardening
and/or forestry apparatus 20a is shortest, 10 minutes here. The
accumulator 30''' is output in the form of a user-readable
designation, for example of three crosses, and the information Info
or the period of time T are output by means of the determination
device 50. Furthermore, the information Info or the period of time
T for charging the accumulator 30''' for the employment of the
gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20b, twenty minutes here, is
output. This permits the user to decide that he would firstly like
to implement the employment of the gardening and/or forestry
apparatus 20a in the form of the hedge pruner or hedge shears and
he would like to charge the accumulator 30''' for this
employment.
[0048] Furthermore, the method comprises the steps: f) charging the
accumulator 30', 30'', 30''', and g) outputting further information
Info' if the energy content EI of the accumulator 30', 30'', 30'''
is sufficient to meet the energy demand EB. In the exemplary
embodiment shown, the accumulator 30''' does not need to be charged
completely for the employment of the gardening and/or forestry
apparatus 20a in the form of the hedge pruner or hedge shears.
[0049] When the accumulator 30''' is sufficiently charged, it can
be removed from the charger 40 and inserted into the gardening
and/or forestry apparatus 20a instead of the accumulator 30'. The
user can then start the employment, in particular he can cut the
object 101 in the form of the hedge with the gardening and/or
forestry apparatus 20a.
[0050] Furthermore, the method comprises the step: h) identifying
an energy consumption EV of the electrically powered gardening
and/or forestry apparatus 20a, 20b for the obtained employment, in
particular during the employment. When the method is next carried
out in step b) obtaining the next energy demand EB of the gardening
and/or forestry apparatus 20a, 20b from the obtained, in particular
next, employment based on the identified energy consumption EV, in
particular for the preceding employment.
[0051] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the length L of the
object 101 in the form of the hedge is obtained, but not its depth.
This would have been able to be predefined by the user during the
determination of the employment. However, in a first employment the
energy demand EB was obtained based on a works-side basic value, in
particular for the depth of the hedge. After the energy consumption
EV has been identified for the employment, when the method is next
carried out in step b) the energy demand EB for the next, in
particular same, employment can be obtained relatively more
precisely. In particular, the identified energy consumption EV for
the employment can be stored in the memory unit of the
determination device 50 and/or the determination device 50 can be
configured for this purpose.
[0052] In addition, the method comprises the step of outputting,
and/or the gardening and/or forestry apparatus system 10 is
configured to output, a residual employment, in particular a
residual running time, a residual area and/or a residual length. In
other words: for how much apparatus running time, for what area
and/or for what length can the gardening and/or forestry apparatus
20a, 20b still be used with the accumulator 30', 30'', 30''', or
for how much apparatus running time, for what area and/or for what
length will the energy content EI of the accumulator still last. In
alternative exemplary embodiments, the method can comprise the step
of outputting, and/or the gardening and/or forestry apparatus
system can be configured to output, a residual employment, in
particular a residual number of cuts.
[0053] If the accumulator 30''' is removed from the charger 40 for
the employment of the gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20a in
the form of the hedge pruner or hedge shears, the charger 40 is
free to charge one of the accumulators 30', 30'' for the employment
of the gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20b in the form of the
leaf blower. The method comprises the steps: obtaining a respective
period of time T for charging a respective accumulator 30', 30''
according to the method described above. Comparing the periods of
time T of the various accumulators 30', 30''. Obtaining and
outputting the accumulator 30', 30'' which has the shortest period
of time T for charging.
[0054] The energy content EI of the accumulator 30'' with the
designation of, for example, two crosses is greater here than the
energy content EI of the accumulator 30' with the designation of,
for example, one cross. As a result, the period of time T for
charging the accumulator 30'' is shorter than the period of time T
for charging the accumulator 30'. This is output. This permits the
user to decide that he would like to charge the accumulator 30''
for the employment of the gardening and/or forestry apparatus 20b
in the form of the leaf blower with the charger 40. The period of
time T for charging the accumulator 30'' is 30 minutes here.
[0055] Furthermore, the method comprises the steps: obtaining total
periods of time Tges for charging the various accumulators 30',
30'', 30''' for various accumulator-apparatus pairs based on the
periods of time T; comparing the various total periods of time Tges
of the various accumulator-apparatus pairs; obtaining and
outputting the accumulator-apparatus pair which has the shortest
overall period of time Tges for charging. In addition, the shortest
total period of time Tges for charging is output. Here, the total
period of time Tges is the sum of the periods of time T, in detail
10 minutes+30 minutes=40 minutes.
[0056] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the accumulators 30',
30'', 30''' are identical in design. In alternative exemplary
embodiments, the accumulators can be of different designs or can or
may be charged with different power levels. Furthermore, in the
exemplary embodiment shown, the gardening and/or forestry apparatus
system 10 has just a single charger 40. In alternative exemplary
embodiments, the gardening and/or forestry apparatus system can
have more than one charger. One charger can be a standard charger
and another charger can be a quick charger. The various
accumulators can each be compatible with individual chargers or
with a plurality of the chargers. Various accumulator-charger pairs
can give rise to different periods of time and/or total periods of
time. An optimum pairing can be obtained.
[0057] As becomes clear from the exemplary embodiments which are
shown and explained above, the invention makes available an
advantageous method for obtaining information for operating, in
particular for charging, an accumulator, which has improved
properties, in particular more functionalities. In particular, the
method can permit a user of an electrically powered gardening
and/or forestry apparatus to make decisions about the accumulator,
the gardening and/or forestry apparatus and/or an employment.
Furthermore, the invention is based on a method for obtaining
periods of time for charging various accumulators using such a
method, and an electric gardening and/or forestry apparatus system
with at least one accumulator for carrying out such a method.
[0058] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to
illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since
modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit
and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the
art, the invention should be construed to include everything within
the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *