Abstract: Embodiments of the subject matter described herein provide an apparatus for use in a pointing device. The apparatus includes an interacting body and a depressible force sensing layer. The rigid interacting body is operable to receive and translate a force provided by a tool. The depressible force sensing layer has an embossed portion that is arranged between the interacting body and a substrate. The embossed portion includes a first surface in contact with a second surface of the interacting body, and a profile of the first surface is substantially same as a profile of the second surface of the interacting body.

Abstract: A power tool system includes a hand-held power tool having a power tool housing accommodating a motor, and a battery pack interface electrically connected to the motor within the power tool housing. A battery pack includes a battery pack housing accommodating at least one battery cell and a power tool interface electrically connected to the at least one battery cell within the battery pack housing. The power tool interface is configured to be physically and electrically connected to and disconnected from the battery pack interface of the power tool. A communicator is attached to or accommodated within the battery pack housing. The communicator is configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device.

Abstract: A communicator in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a connector, a communication circuit, and a communication controller. The connector is electrically coupled to an electric working machine. The communication circuit performs wireless communication. The communication controller cyclically transmits operational information without specifying a recipient via the communication circuit in response to an operating mode of the communication controller being set to an operation-transmission mode. The operational information indicates an operating state of the electric working machine.

Abstract: A method for recharging a battery pack (40; 40?) includes attaching a portable charger (120) to a user, which portable charger comprises or is attached to a self-contained power supply (130, 140) and wherein a first charging port (132, 146) of the portable charger is disposed, e.g., on a belt (144) worn by the user, hanging the battery pack on the belt while the battery pack is physically engaged and in electrical communication with a power tool (10; 10?), and initiating a transfer of power from the charger to the battery pack when the first charging port is at least proximal to a second charging port (85, 148) that is in electrical communication with at least one battery cell (50) of the battery pack. A portable charging system capable of performing this method, as well as an adapter for use in performing this method, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An information setting apparatus in one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a clock information device, an information receiving device, a permission time calculating device, and an information setting device. The permission time calculating device calculates an operation permission time based on current time information stored in the clock information device and on start time information received by the information receiving device. The information setting device sets operation limitation information, including the operation permission time to at least one of a battery pack or an electrically-driven working machine.

Abstract: A communicator in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a connector, a communication circuit, and a communication controller. The connector is electrically coupled to an electric working machine. The communication circuit performs wireless communication. The communication controller cyclically transmits operational information without specifying a recipient via the communication circuit in response to an operating mode of the communication controller being set to an operation-transmission mode. The operational information indicates an operating state of the electric working machine.

Abstract: A power tool system includes a hand-held power tool having a motor or a solenoid that drives a tool, and a first memory that stores at least one pass code. A battery pack is detachably attached to, and supplies current to, the power tool and has a second memory that stores at least one pass code. An electronically-actuatable lock and a first controller are provided in the power tool and/or in the battery pack. The first controller reads the pass codes from the first and second memories when the battery pack is attached to the power tool, directly compares the pass codes from the first memory and the second memory, and causes the first electronically-actuatable lock to prohibit or impair operation of the power tool when the pass codes do not match or otherwise correspond in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A charger for a hand-held power tool includes a power source interface, a charger base and a charging cradle rotatably supported on the charger base. The rotatable charging cradle includes at least two charging output terminals electrically connected to the power source interface. A power tool system includes the charger and the hand-held power tool. A method of charging the power tool system includes contacting charging input terminals of the power tool with the charging output terminals, rotating the charging cradle and the power tool relative to the charging base and supplying charging current to at least one battery cell while the charging cradle and the power tool are allowed to freely swing relative to the charging base.

Abstract: Implementations described herein are directed to depositing a magnetic ink onto a substrate. The magnetic ink is deposited on a portion of a substrate such that the amount of magnetic ink is divided into a plurality of sections where individual sections of the plurality of sections can be spaced at substantially regular intervals. Additionally, individual sections of the plurality of sections can have a common shape. A plurality of substrates having magnetic ink deposited on surfaces of the plurality of substrates as described according to implementations herein can be used to form objects having a number of shapes and structures.

Abstract: A method for recharging a battery pack (40; 40?) includes attaching a portable charger (120) to a user, which portable charger comprises or is attached to a self-contained power supply (130, 140) and wherein a first charging port (132, 146) of the portable charger is disposed, e.g., on a belt (144) worn by the user, hanging the battery pack on the belt while the battery pack is physically engaged and in electrical communication with a power tool (10; 10?), and initiating a transfer of power from the charger to the battery pack when the first charging port is at least proximal to a second charging port (85, 148) that is in electrical communication with at least one battery cell (50) of the battery pack. A portable charging system capable of performing this method, as well as an adapter for use in performing this method, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Implementations described herein are directed to forming objects including one or more layers of a polymeric material that include a magnetic material. The objects can be produced by forming one or more first layers that include a first polymeric material. The one or more first layers can be free of a magnetic material. Additionally, the object can be produced by forming one or more second layers that include a second polymeric material having a magnetic material. For example, the one or more second layers can include a polymeric material embedded with magnetic particles. The one or more first layers and the one or more second layers can be formed by extruding the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material onto a substrate according to a pattern. A magnetizing device can be used to magnetize the magnetic material included in the one or more second layers.

Abstract: A low-profile, small-footprint gel-based pointing device is described herein. The gel-based pointing device described herein includes a gel-based body, a tactile surface affixed to a first side of the gel-based body, and a base surface affixed to a second side of the gel-based body that is opposite the first side. The tactile surface is configured to receive an input from a user and the base surface couples the gel-based body to a sensor surface. In at least one embodiment, the gel-based pointing device described herein further includes a sensor for receiving the gel-based pointing device and a detector for detecting changes in at least one of resistance, capacity, pressure, or lateral or vertical position of the gel-based pointing device.

Abstract: A battery pack of an electric power tool comprises ten lithium-ion cells. The ten lithium-ion cells are connected in series. Each lithium-ion cell has a diameter equal to or less than 18 millimeters, a length equal to or less than 65 millimeters, and an internal resistance equal to or less than 30 milliohms. Because the battery pack has a high voltage in operation and is therefore able to supply large current, the battery pack is preferably configured incapable of being used in a conventional electric power tool that cannot operate under such a large current.

Abstract: A method for recharging a battery pack includes attaching a portable charger to a user, which portable charger includes or is attached to a self-contained power supply and wherein a first charging port of the portable charger is disposed, e.g., on a belt worn by the user, hanging the battery pack on the belt while the battery pack is physically engaged and in electrical communication with a power tool, and initiating a transfer of power from the charger to the battery pack when the first charging port is at least proximal to a second charging port that is in electrical communication with at least one battery cell of the battery pack. A portable charging system capable of performing this method, as well as an adapter for use in performing this method, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A measurement system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a battery pack and at least one type of connected device to which the pack is connected. The pack includes a first detection device detecting a predetermined physical quantity in the pack and having a predetermined measurement range. The connected device includes a second detection device detecting a physical quantity the same as the predetermined physical quantity and having a measurement range different from the range of the first detection device. One of the pack and the connected device includes a receiving device and a measurement processing device that performs a predetermined measurement process by using one of: a detection-value-related information received by the receiving device; and a detection result by one device of the first detection device and the second detection device, the one device being provided in one of the pack and the connected device.

Abstract: An electronic device detects an object in a field of view of a camera and determines a position of a reflection of the object in a reflective surface of the electronic device as viewed from a defined observation point. When the electronic device detects selection input from a user, a control of the electronic device is activated based on an alignment between a location on a reflective surface of the electronic device and the reflection of the object on the reflective surface.

Abstract: A charger for a hand-held power tool includes a power source interface, a charger base and a charging cradle rotatably supported on the charger base. The rotatable charging cradle includes at least two charging output terminals electrically connected to the power source interface. A power tool system includes the charger and the hand-held power tool. A method of charging the power tool system includes contacting charging input terminals of the power tool with the charging output terminals, rotating the charging cradle and the power tool relative to the charging base and supplying charging current to at least one battery cell while the charging cradle and the power tool are allowed to freely swing relative to the charging base.

Abstract: A measurement system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a battery pack and at least one type of connected device to which the pack is connected. The pack includes a first detection device detecting a predetermined physical quantity in the pack and having a predetermined measurement range. The connected device includes a second detection device detecting a physical quantity the same as the predetermined physical quantity and having a measurement range different from the range of the first detection device. One of the pack and the connected device includes a receiving device and a measurement processing device that performs a predetermined measurement process by using one of: a detection-value-related information received by the receiving device; and a detection result by one device of the first detection device and the second detection device, the one device being provided in one of the pack and the connected device.

Abstract: In some examples, techniques are provided for quick haptic feedback, without the use of a controller, which is local to individual, non-actuating keys, such as keys of a thin keyboard or keypad. The haptic feedback may be in the form of a simulated “key-click” feedback for an individual key that is pressed by a user such that the finger used to press the key feels the tactile sensation. The haptic feedback mimics the tactile sensation of a mechanical key (e.g., buckling spring, pop-dome key switch) to give a user the perception that they have actuated a mechanically movable key.

Abstract: An adapter for a power tool powered by a detachable battery pack includes a connector for directly connecting the adapter only to the power tool in a detachable manner, a controller, at least one memory and/or storage device in communication with the controller, and at least one communication port configured to transmit electrical communications from the adapter controller to a controller located in the power tool and vice versa. The adapter is further configured such that, when a battery pack, which also includes a controller, is connected to the power tool, a communication path is established from the battery pack controller to the adapter controller via the power tool controller.