Power tool anti-kickback system with rotational rate sensor
First Claim
1. A method for initiating a protective response in a power tool having a rotary shaft and a rotary motion sensor, comprising:
- arranging the rotational motion sensor at a location in the power tool spatially separated from the rotary shaft and proximate to where a user grasps the tool;
monitoring rotational motion of the rotational motion sensor about a longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft using the rotational motion sensor disposed in the power tool;
determining rotational motion of the rotational motion sensor with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft using a controller disposed in the power tool and based on input from the rotational motion sensor;
initiating a first protective operation based on the rotational motion determined by the controller; and
initiating a second protective operation based on the rotational motion determined by the controller, where the first protective operation is different than the second protective operation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system is provided for use in a power tool. The control system includes: a rotational rate sensor having a resonating mass and a controller electrically connected to the rotational rate sensor. The rotational rate sensor detects lateral displacement of the resonating mass and generates a signal indicative of the detected lateral displacement, such that the lateral displacement is directly proportional to a rotational speed at which the power tool rotates about an axis of the rotary shaft. Based on the generated signal, the controller initiates a protective operation to avoid further undesirable rotation of the power tool. The control scheme employed by the power tool may initiate different protective operations for different tool conditions.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for initiating a protective response in a power tool having a rotary shaft and a rotary motion sensor, comprising:
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arranging the rotational motion sensor at a location in the power tool spatially separated from the rotary shaft and proximate to where a user grasps the tool; monitoring rotational motion of the rotational motion sensor about a longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft using the rotational motion sensor disposed in the power tool; determining rotational motion of the rotational motion sensor with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft using a controller disposed in the power tool and based on input from the rotational motion sensor; initiating a first protective operation based on the rotational motion determined by the controller; and initiating a second protective operation based on the rotational motion determined by the controller, where the first protective operation is different than the second protective operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for initiating a protective response in a power tool having a rotary shaft, comprising:
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monitoring rotational motion of the power tool about a longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft; determining an angular displacement of the power tool about the axis of the rotary shaft; initiating a first protective operation when the angular displacement exceeds a first threshold; and initiating a second protective operation when the angular displacement exceeds a second threshold which is greater than the first threshold, where the first protective operation is different than the second protective operation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification