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OPERATING MODE INDICATOR FOR A POWER TOOL

  • US 20140284070A1
  • Filed: 06/06/2014
  • Published: 09/25/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A portable, hand held power tool, comprising:

  • a housing defining a top surface and a mounting portion for coupling a battery pack thereto;

    an electric motor disposed in the housing and drivably connected to an output spindle to impart rotary motion thereto;

    a power switch that is operable by a person to regulate electric power delivered to the electric motor;

    a current sensor disposed in the housing and configured to measure current being delivered to the electric motor;

    a drill mode selection component supported by the housing and configured to be illuminated, where the drill mode selection component is operable by a person to set an operating mode of the tool to a drill mode;

    a drive mode selection component supported by the housing and configured to be illuminated, where the drive mode selection component is operable by a person to set an operating mode of the tool to a drive mode;

    a controller configured to receive the operating mode selection from one of the drill mode selection component and the drive mode selection component and store the operating mode selection in a memory, wherein the controller operates, in response to detecting actuation of the power switch or coupled of a battery pack to the housing, to illuminate one of the drill mode selection component and the drive mode selection component in accordance with the operating mode selection stored in the memory,wherein the controller further operates, when the operating mode selection is set to drive mode, to monitor rate of change of the current measures and interrupt torque to the output spindle in response to the rate of change of current measures exceeding a rate change threshold and, when the operating mode selection is set to drill mode, ignore torque applied to the output spindle.

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