Trigger assembly including a flexible bend sensor

• US 8,047,083 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Corporation (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Qiang J., Forster, Michael Kenneth, Concari, Gabriel Eduardo, Long, Kenneth David, Debelius, Stephen Alan, Brotto, Daniele C., Watson, James B., Puzio, Daniel, Cleanthous, Aris C., Tomayko, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori; Max
• Application Number:
  US12/372,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20100206703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 737/60, 737/77, 738/49, 738/622.1, 738/622.6, 738/623.25
• US Class Current: 73/862.21
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/061 enclosing a continuously variable impedance

Abstract

A flexible sensor is disposed in a power tool. The flexible sensor has an electrical resistance that varies based on a radius of curvature of the flexible sensor. A trigger partially disposed in the power tool, operates to apply a bending force at an engagement point on the flexible sensor to bend the flexible sensor and alter the radius of curvature. A controller outputs an electrical signal to the power tool based on the electrical resistance to control a function of the power tool.

Claims

1. A variable control trigger for a power tool, comprising:

a flexible sensor having an electrical resistance that varies based on a radius of curvature of the flexible sensor; and

a trigger connected to the power tool, the trigger operating to mechanically apply a bending force at an engagement point on the flexible sensor to bend the flexible sensor and alter the radius of curvature.

2. The variable control trigger of claim 1, further comprising:

a second flexible sensor having an electrical resistance that varies based on a radius of curvature of the second flexible sensor, the trigger operating to apply a bending force at an engagement point to bend the second flexible sensor and alter the radius of curvature of the second flexible sensor.

3. The variable control trigger of claim 1, further comprising:

a second flexible sensor having an electrical resistance that varies based on a radius of curvature of the second flexible sensor; and

a second trigger operating to apply a second bending force at an engagement point to bend the second flexible sensor and alter the radius of curvature of the second flexible sensor.

4. The variable control trigger of claim 1, further comprising a pivot, wherein the pivot guides the flexible sensor around the pivot and decreases the radius of curvature.

5. The variable control trigger of claim 4, wherein the pivot is located between the engagement point and an end of the flexible sensor.

6. The variable control trigger of claim 4, wherein the pivot is located at an end of the flexible sensor.

18. The variable control trigger of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to output an electrical signal to the power tool based on the electrical resistance of the flexible sensor to control a function of the power tool.

7. A variable output trigger for a power tool, comprising:

a flexible sensor having a variable electrical resistance based on a bending force applied to the flexible sensor; and

a trigger connected to said power tool operating to mechanically apply the bending force at an engagement point on the flexible sensor.

8. The variable output trigger of claim 7, wherein the engagement point is located at an end of the flexible sensor.

9. The variable output trigger of claim 7, further comprising a pivot that guides the flexible sensor around the pivot and decreases the radius of curvature.

10. The variable output trigger of claim 9, wherein the engagement point is between the pivot and an end of the flexible sensor.

11. The variable output trigger of claim 7, wherein the electrical resistance changes as a radius of curvature of the flexible sensor changes in response to the bending force.

12. The variable output trigger of claim 7, wherein the electrical resistance changes as a deflection of the flexible sensor changes.

13. A variable output trigger for a power tool comprising:

a flexible sensor creating a variable electrical resistance based on a deflection of the flexible sensor at an engagement point; and

a trigger connected to said power tool operating to mechanically apply a bending force to the flexible sensor at the engagement point.

14. A method for operating a variable trigger of a power tool, the variable trigger assembly including a flexible sensor and a trigger, the method comprising:

applying a force to the trigger connected to said power tool operating to engage the flexible sensor and mechanically transfer the force to the flexible sensor at an engagement point to alter a radius of curvature of the flexible sensor; and

varying an electrical resistance of the flexible sensor based on the radius of curvature of the flexible sensor.

15. The method of claim 14, the variable trigger further including a second flexible sensor, further comprising:

varying an electrical resistance of the second flexible sensor based on a radius of curvature of the second flexible sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

applying an increased force to the trigger, wherein the trigger transfers the increased force at an engagement point on the second flexible sensor to alter the radius of curvature of the second flexible sensor.

17. The method of claim 15, the variable trigger further including a second trigger, further comprising:

applying a second force to the second trigger operating engage to the second flexible sensor and transfer the second force to the second flexible sensor at an engagement point on the second flexible sensor to alter the radius of curvature of the second flexible sensor.