Control and protection methodologies for a motor control module
First Claim
1. A power tool, comprising:
- a tool motor drivably coupled to a rotary shaft,an electronic clutch interfaced with the tool motor;
a microcontroller configured to detect a fault condition in the power tool and initiate a protective action via the electronic clutch to remove or reduce power to the tool motor in response to the detected fault condition; and
a mechanical clutch disposed between the tool motor and the rotary shaft that operates independently from the microcontroller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A motor control module designed to control operation of a plurality of different motors in a plurality of different tools a power tool uses an electronic clutch in the module in conjunction with a mechanical clutch in the tool to protect the tool against an overload event. The module is adapted to implement methods to provide aural and/or tactile feedback to a tool user as a warning of an impending or current fault condition in the tool. The module can prevent power from inadvertently turning on either after an overload event has cleared with the tool plugged in and its power switch on, or after plugging in the tool within the power switch on. The control module is adapted to provide torque control for the power tool, to estimate tool motor temperature and to inform a tool user when a servicing need in the tool is required.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A power tool, comprising:
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a tool motor drivably coupled to a rotary shaft, an electronic clutch interfaced with the tool motor; a microcontroller configured to detect a fault condition in the power tool and initiate a protective action via the electronic clutch to remove or reduce power to the tool motor in response to the detected fault condition; and a mechanical clutch disposed between the tool motor and the rotary shaft that operates independently from the microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a corded power tool having an on/off power switch and a control module, the control module including a microcontroller for controlling power to a tool motor via a triac, a method of preventing the corded power tool from inadvertently turning on either after an overload event has cleared with the tool plugged in and power switch on, or after plugging in the tool with the power switch on, the method comprising:
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performing a series of voltage checks at different phase positions in each line cycle of an AC waveform supplied to the tool to detect the presence of voltage across the triac, and preventing the triac from firing until a voltage check indicates that there is no voltage in a given line cycle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification