Power tool control system

• US 20060076385A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Etter, Mark A., Burkholder, Robert F., Hearn, Melinda J., DeKeyser, Kathy, Phillips, Alan, Weston, Jeffrey, Garcia, Jaime
• Application Number:
  US10/463,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076385A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/2
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/092 Lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 25/06 Measuring, gauging, or adjusting equipment on turning-machines for setting-on, feeding, controlling, or monitoring the cutting tools or work measuring devices or gauges G01B
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 49/00 Measuring or gauging equipment on boring machines for positioning or guiding the drill; Devices for indicating failure of drills during boring; Centering devices for holes to be bored marking-out equipment B25H7/00; measuring devices, gauges G01B
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/002 for the position of the saw blade mounting for swiveling or tilting a circular saw blade B27B5/36; portable power-driven circular saws with adjustment for cutting depth or amount of tilting B27B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/003 Indicating the cutting plane on the workpiece, e.g. by projecting a laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/008 comprising computers
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/24 using optics or electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 49/12 involving optical means
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/0064 Means for adjusting screwing depth
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 7/00 Accessories for nailing or stapling tools, e.g. supports for tools operated by detonation of a cartridge B25C1/18
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 27/02 arranged laterally and parallel with respect to the plane of the saw blade
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 27/06 arranged angularly with respect to the plane of the saw blade, e.g. for mitring devices for mitring wood B27G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/141 With means to monitor and control operation [e.g., self-regulating means]

Abstract

A power tool control system allows a user to operate a power tool through a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with a non-contact measurement and alignment device. The graphical user interface correlates user engageable selectors with a logically related menu of power tool setting options displayed on a display screen in a high quality and easily readable format. The non-contact measurement and alignment device uses one or more lasers to determine power tool settings and establish proper alignment based on user needs. The power tool control system further enables stud detection and visual indication of stud location.

Claims

1. A power tool control system, comprising:

a non-contact measurement and alignment device operative with a power tool for determining power tool settings;

a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the graphical user interface for user operation of said power tool for indicating at least two of a power tool setting; and

a display menu which logically relates folders providing power tool setting options and readouts of current settings.

2. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface provides pictographic display menus.

3. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises selectors, for user operation of said power tool, correlated to a plurality of tabs displayed on the display menu.

4. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device includes a kerf correction.

5. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a touch screen for user operation of said power tool.

6. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is a hand held graphical user interface.

7. A table saw, comprising:

a. a frame coupled with a table, said table having an aperture;

b. a trunion moveably and operatively connected to said frame, said trunion supporting a blade and drive assembly, said blade capable of being operatively extended from said table aperture, said blade being operatively tilted in at least one axis tangent to said table;

c. a fence moveably coupled with said table and generally moveable parallel to said blade;

d. a non-contact measurement and alignment device operative with said table saw, the non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two of a table saw setting;

(i) blade height, (ii) blade angle, and (iii) fence to blade distance; and

e. a graphical-user-interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the graphical-user-interface for user operation of said table saw for indicating at least two of a table saw setting;

(i) blade height, (ii) blade angle, and (iii) fence to blade distance.

8. The table saw of claim 7, wherein said graphical-user-interface includes both text and graphics.

9. The table saw of claim 7, wherein said graphical-user-interface includes multiple pages.

10. The table saw of claim 7, wherein said multiple pages of said graphical-user-interface are logically related in related folders.

11. The table saw of claim 7, wherein said graphical-user-interface includes at least one page illustrating (i) blade height, (ii) blade angle, and (ii) fence to blade distance.

12. A nail gun including a nose casting assembly coupled with a casing housing a nail driving assembly, comprising:

a stud finder detector assembly coupled with the nose casting assembly, the stud finder detector assembly for detecting the presence of a stud behind a first surface;

a laser indication assembly including a laser source for emitting a laser beam communicatively coupled with the stud finder detector assembly, the laser indication assembly for indicating the location of the stud,

wherein the laser beam establishes a visual marker on the first surface indicating the position of the stud.

13. The nail gun of claim 12, wherein the nail gun further includes a user interface communicatively coupled with the stud finder detector assembly and the laser indicator assembly.

14. The nail gun of claim 13, wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface.

15. The nail gun of claim 14, wherein the user interface further comprises at least one of the laser indication assembly and the stud finder detector assembly.

16. The nail gun of claim 12, wherein the visual marker is selected from the group consisting of a point, a cross-hair, a line, a dashed line, and a line-dash-line marker.

17. The nail gun of claim 12, wherein the stud finder detector assembly is coupled with the casing of the nail gun.

18. The nail gun of claim 17, wherein the stud finder detector assembly is pivotally coupled with the casing or the nose casting assembly.

19. The nail gun of claim 12, wherein the laser indication assembly is pivotally coupled with the nose casting assembly, the casing, or the stud finder detector assembly.

20. The nail gun of claim 12, wherein the laser indication assembly includes a plurality of laser sources for emitting a plurality of laser beams.

21. A bevel angle indication assembly for a table saw with a saw blade coupled with a beveling assembly, comprising:

a non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two of a table saw setting;

a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the graphical user interface for user operation of said table saw for indicating a saw blade bevel setting; and

a display menu which logically relates folders providing table saw setting options and readouts of current settings.

22. A saw blade height indication assembly for a table saw with a saw blade coupled with a blade height adjustment assembly, comprising:

a non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two of a table saw setting;

a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the graphical user interface for user operation of said table saw for indicating a saw blade height setting; and

a display menu which logically relates folders providing table saw setting options and readouts of current settings.

23. A bit height indication assembly for a router table with a router bit engaged by a router coupled with a height adjustment assembly, comprising:

a non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two of a router table setting;

a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the graphical user interface for user operation of said router table for indicating a router bit height setting; and

a display menu which logically relates folders providing router table setting options and readouts of current settings.

24. A non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two settings for operation of a power tool, comprising:

a graphical user interface for user operation of said power tool for indicating at least two of a power tool setting;

a touch screen display communicatively coupled with the graphical user interface, the touch screen display for user operation of said graphical user interface; and

a selector assembly operably disposed upon said touch screen display, the selector assembly for logically relating menus of power tool control options.

25. A non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two settings for operation of a power tool, comprising:

a graphical user interface for user operation of said power tool for indicating at least two of a power tool setting;

an adjustable display coupled with the graphical user interface, the adjustable display for presenting the a display screen at various angles,

wherein the display screen may be adjusted to enable visual monitoring by a user.

26. A non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two settings for operation of a power tool, comprising:

a graphical user interface for user operation of said power tool for indicating at least two of a power tool setting;

a wireless networking assembly coupled with the graphical user interface, the wireless networking assembly for establishing a communicative link between the graphical user interface and a second computing system,

wherein the wireless networking assembly enables a user of the non-contact measurement and alignment device to operate the power tool remotely.

27. A graphical user interface for user operation of a power tool coupled with a non-contact measurement and alignment device, comprising:

a housing;

a computing assembly, including a memory coupled with a processor, disposed in the housing, the computing assembly for providing information handling capabilities;

a computer application stored in the memory and accessed by the processor for determining at least two settings for operation of the power tool;

a display screen communicatively coupled with the computing assembly and disposed on the housing, the display screen for indicating at least two of a power tool setting;