Power tool control system

• US 20060106482A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chang Yue Industrial Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chang Yue Industrial Corporation
• Inventors: Etter, Mark A., Weston, Jeffrey D., Garcia, Jaime E., Burkholder, Robert F., Hearn, Melinda J., DeKeyser, Kathy, Phillips, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/180
• 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 59/008 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: 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 83/7705 Adjustable angular relationship
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/849 With signal, scale, or indicator

Abstract

A power tool control system includes a non-contact measurement and alignment device operative with the power tool and enabled to establish various readings, such as power tool settings. A graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device enables user control over and display of the readings from the non-contact measurement and alignment device.

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 non-contact measurement and alignment device is integrated with the power tool.

3. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device further comprises a laser source.

4. The power tool control system of claim 3, wherein the laser source is a laser light indicia and reading assembly.

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

6. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device is a modular non-contact measurement and alignment device.

7. The power tool control system of claim 1, further comprising a computing system communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device and the graphical user interface.

8. A bevel indication assembly, comprising:

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

an indicator operationally engaged by the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the indicator for indicating a beveled angle setting,

wherein the operational engagement of the non-contact measurement and alignment device with the indicator provides a visual marker of the beveled angle setting.

9. The bevel indication assembly of claim 8, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device is integrated with the power tool.

10. The bevel indication assembly of claim 8, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device further comprises a laser source.

11. The bevel indication assembly of claim 10, wherein the laser source is a laser light indicia and reading assembly.

12. The bevel indication assembly of claim 8, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device includes a kerf correction.

13. The bevel indication assembly of claim 8, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device is a modular non-contact measurement and alignment device.

14. The bevel indication assembly of claim 8, further comprising a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device.

15. The bevel indication assembly of claim 8, further comprising a computing system communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device and the graphical user interface.

16. A bevel indication assembly, comprising:

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

an indicator operationally engaged by the integrated non-contact measurement and alignment device, the indicator for indicating a beveled angle setting, wherein the operational engagement of the non-contact measurement and alignment device with the indicator provides a visual marker of the beveled angle setting.

17. The bevel indication assembly of claim 16, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device further comprises a laser source.

18. The bevel indication assembly of claim 17, wherein the laser source is a laser light indicia and reading assembly.

19. The bevel indication assembly of claim 16, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device includes a kerf correction.

20. The bevel indication assembly of claim 16, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device is a modular non-contact measurement and alignment device.

21. The bevel indication assembly of claim 16, further comprising a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device.

22. The bevel indication assembly of claim 16, further comprising a computing system communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device and the graphical user interface.

23. A table saw assembly, comprising:

a frame coupled with a table, the table having an aperture;

a bevel adjustment assembly coupled with the table and a saw assembly including a saw blade, the bevel adjustment assembly for establishing a beveled angle setting for the saw blade which extends through the aperture;

a bevel indication assembly coupled with the bevel adjustment assembly, the bevel indication assembly further comprising,

a non-contact measurement and alignment device operative with the bevel adjustment assembly for determining saw blade settings; and

an indicator operationally engaged by the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the indicator for indicating the beveled angle setting of the saw blade,

wherein the bevel indication assembly provides a visual marker indicating the beveled angle setting of the saw blade.

24. The table saw assembly of claim 23, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device is integrated with the table.

25. The table saw assembly of claim 23, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device further comprises a laser source.

26. The table saw assembly of claim 25, wherein the laser source is a laser light indicia and reading assembly.

27. The table saw assembly of claim 23, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device includes a kerf correction.

28. The table saw assembly of claim 23, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device is a modular non-contact measurement and alignment device.

29. The table saw assembly of claim 23, further comprising a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device.

30. The table saw assembly of claim 23, further comprising a computing system communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device and the graphical user interface.