Abstract: An ignition system for outdoor power equipment driven by a petrol or gasoline engine may include a safety interlock system, a starter motor, a starter solenoid having an activation coil, and a solenoid monitor. The ignition system may be configured to selectively apply power to start the engine based on application of a start attempt. The safety interlock system may be operable to actuate the starter solenoid via the activation coil to apply current to the starter motor for starting the engine during the start attempt. The solenoid monitor may be configured to determine a status of the activation coil and starter solenoid contacts and provide a fault indication based on the status determined.

Abstract: A battery pack may be configured to power any of a plurality of different outdoor power equipment device types. The battery pack may include one or more rechargeable battery cells configured to power a device to which the battery pack is operably coupled, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may include at least a processor and memory. The processing circuitry may be configured to enable configuration of the device or another device of a same device type as the device based on a set of configuration settings stored in the memory.

Abstract: An ignition system for outdoor power equipment driven by a petrol or gasoline engine may include a safety interlock system, a starter motor, a starter solenoid having an activation coil, and a solenoid monitor. The ignition system may be configured to selectively apply power to start the engine based on application of a start attempt. The safety interlock system may be operable to actuate the starter solenoid via the activation coil to apply current to the starter motor for starting the engine during the start attempt. The solenoid monitor may be configured to determine a status of the activation coil and starter solenoid contacts and provide a fault indication based on the status determined.

Abstract: An RPM module for insertion into outdoor power equipment driven by an engine may include an extraction interface configured to be inserted proximate to the engine to passively extract information indicative of RPM from the engine, an RPM monitor operably coupled to the extraction interface to convert the information indicative of RPM into RPM data, and processing circuitry configured to utilize the RPM data to perform control or monitoring of the engine based on the RPM data.

Abstract: A battery pack may be configured to power any of a plurality of different outdoor power equipment device types. The battery pack may include one or more rechargeable battery cells configured to power a device to which the battery pack is operably coupled, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may include at least a processor and memory. The processing circuitry may be configured to enable configuration of the device or another device of a same device type as the device based on a set of configuration settings stored in the memory.

Abstract: A battery pack may be configured to power any of a plurality of different outdoor power equipment device types. The battery pack may include one or more rechargeable battery cells configured to power a device to which the battery pack is operably coupled, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may include at least a processor and memory. The processing circuitry may be configured to enable configuration of the device or another device of a same device type as the device based on a set of configuration settings stored in the memory.

Abstract: A mower may be specifically recommended for a user based on received data associated with a yard of the user. The method may include providing a computing device for a user, and receiving, using the computing device communicating with a computer over a network, particular parameters about the user's yard. The user's yard parameters may be compared with product parameters of mowers stored on a database associated with a retailer. Using the particular parameters about the user's yard received from the computing device, at least one mower matched with the user's needs. The recommendation of the at least one mower may then be provided to the user.

Abstract: A battery pack may be configured to power any of a plurality of different outdoor power equipment device types. The battery pack may include one or more rechargeable battery cells configured to power a device to which the battery pack is operably coupled, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may include at least a processor and memory. The processing circuitry may be configured to enable configuration of the device or another device of a same device type as the device based on a set of configuration settings stored in the memory.

Abstract: An outdoor power machine apparatus includes a prime mover, such as a combustion engine or an electric motor. The outdoor power machine is operable to carry out machine function, e.g. a material handling function. An electronic controller is connected to a machine function and identifies a specific user and controls the machine function based on the identity of the user. The controller may be configured to permit or deny operation of the machine function based on the user's identity. The controller may be configured to operate the machine function in a desired manner based on the user's identity.

Abstract: A riding lawn mower is provided with an electrical system. The electrical system includes a control module, transceiver modules, and a wiring system. The control module allows for programmably controlling electrical operations of the riding lawn mower. The transceiver modules are operably connected with respective devices of the riding lawn mower so as to communicate data between the respective devices and the control module. The wiring system includes wires that electrically connect the transceiver modules with the control module. The wiring system includes a power wire that provides electrical power to the transceiver modules from the battery; and a data bus including a data wire that transmits data between the control module and the transceiver modules.

Abstract: A mower may be specifically recommended for a user based on received data associated with a yard of the user. The method may include providing a computing device for a user, and receiving, using the computing device communicating with a computer over a network, particular parameters about the user's yard. The user's yard parameters may be compared with product parameters of mowers stored on a database associated with a retailer. Using the particular parameters about the user's yard received from the computing device, at least one mower matched with the user's needs. The recommendation of the at least one mower may then be provided to the user.

Abstract: A yard maintenance device having a working assembly selectively rotatable based on operation of an engine of the device may include a belt drive system. The belt drive system may include at least one driven pulley operably coupled to the working assembly, a drive shaft operably coupled to the engine, a drive belt configured to selectively couple the drive shaft to the at least one driven pulley, a tension adjustment assembly, and a control unit. The tension adjustment assembly may be configured to operably couple to at least one component of the belt drive system to adjust a position thereof to modify tension of the drive belt. The control unit may be configured to provide electronic control of the tension adjustment assembly.

Abstract: A lawn care device may include an engine to selectively power the device, a frame supporting the engine and an operator of the device, and an ignition interface having processing circuitry configured to define a plurality of operating modes. The operating modes may include at least a starting mode in which the ignition interface is usable by the operator to start the engine, and a running mode in which the engine is running. The ignition interface may include code entry keys configured to, responsive to entry of a code via the code entry keys, enable use of the ignition interface to shift from the starting mode to the running mode without a physical starting key.

Abstract: A riding lawn mower is provided with an electrical system. The electrical system includes a control module, transceiver modules, and a wiring system. The control module allows for programmably controlling electrical operations of the riding lawn mower. The transceiver modules are operably connected with respective devices of the riding lawn mower so as to communicate data between the respective devices and the control module. The wiring system comprising wires that electrically connect the transceiver modules with the control module/ The wiring system includes a power wire that provide electrical power to the transceiver modules from the battery; and a data bus comprising a data wire that transmits data between the control module and the transceiver modules.

Abstract: A lawn care device (10) may include a mobility assembly (42,44) configured to facilitate movement of the lawn care device over ground, a cutting deck (40) housing at least one blade, an engine (50) operably coupled to the at least one blade via a rotatable shaft to enable the at least one blade to cut vegetation responsive to rotation of the at least one blade, a control unit (110) configured to be in communication with at least one functional unit of the lawn care device, at least one sensor (142) disposed to monitor the at least one functional unit, a transmitter (144) operably coupled to the sensor to wirelessly transmit a signal from the sensor to the control unit based on operation of the at least one functional unit, and an energy harvester (146) configured to convert energy from a source of origin into electrical energy, the electrical energy being employed for powering the at least one sensor and the transmitter.

Abstract: A riding lawn mower is provided with an electrical system. The electrical system includes a control module, transceiver modules, and a wiring system. The control module allows for programmably controlling electrical operations of the riding lawn mower. The transceiver modules are operably connected with respective devices of the riding lawn mower so as to communicate data between the respective devices and the control module. The wiring system comprising wires that electrically connect the transceiver modules with the control module/The wiring system includes a power wire that provide electrical power to the transceiver modules from the battery; and a data bus comprising a data wire that transmits data between the control module and the transceiver modules.

Abstract: A lawn care device may include a cutting deck housing at least one blade, an engine configured to selectively provide for rotation of the at least one blade responsive to selective coupling of the rotary power of the engine to the at least one blade via a power takeoff (PTO) clutch, and a PTO switch that is operable in two directions to engage or disengage the PTO clutch based on which one of the two directions the PTO switch is moved by a user. The PTO switch may be biased to return to a neutral position after each operation thereof. The PTO switch may be configured to perform at least one additional operational function responsive to sequential operation of the PTO switch in at least one of the two directions.

Abstract: A riding lawn mower is provided with an electrical system. The electrical system includes a control module, transceiver modules, and a wiring system. The control module allows for programmably controlling electrical operations of the riding lawn mower. The transceiver modules are operably connected with respective devices of the riding lawn mower so as to communicate data between the respective devices and the control module. The wiring system comprising wires that electrically connect the transceiver modules with the control module/The wiring system includes a power wire that provide electrical power to the transceiver modules from the battery; and a data bus comprising a data wire that transmits data between the control module and the transceiver modules.

Abstract: A riding lawn mower is provided with an electrical system. The electrical system includes a control module, transceiver modules, and a wiring system. The control module allows for programmably controlling electrical operations of the riding lawn mower. The transceiver modules are operably connected with respective devices of the riding lawn mower so as to communicate data between the respective devices and the control module. The wiring system comprising wires that electrically connect the transceiver modules with the control module/The wiring system includes a power wire that provide electrical power to the transceiver modules from the battery; and a data bus comprising a data wire that transmits data between the control module and the transceiver modules.