Power screwdriver having rotary input control
First Claim
1. A method for operating a power tool having an output member, comprising:
- receiving a user input in the form of a rotational motion of the power tool about an axis in a desired rotational direction;
monitoring rotational motion of the power tool about the axis using a rotational motion sensor disposed in the power tool, the axis aligned substantially in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the output member;
determining a direction of the rotational motion about the axis; and
driving the output member in a direction defined by the detected rotational motion of the tool, where the output member is driven by a motor residing in the power tool.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method is provided for operating a power tool. The method includes: monitoring rotational motion of the power tool about an axis using a rotational motion sensor disposed in the power tool; determining a direction of the rotational motion about the axis; and driving the output member in a direction defined by the detected rotational motion of the tool, where the output member is driven by a motor residing in the power tool. Thus, the output member is drive clockwise when the rotational motion of the tool is clockwise about the axis and the output member is drive counter-clockwise when the rotational motion of the tool is counter-clockwise about the axis.
317 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for operating a power tool having an output member, comprising:
-
receiving a user input in the form of a rotational motion of the power tool about an axis in a desired rotational direction; monitoring rotational motion of the power tool about the axis using a rotational motion sensor disposed in the power tool, the axis aligned substantially in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the output member; determining a direction of the rotational motion about the axis; and driving the output member in a direction defined by the detected rotational motion of the tool, where the output member is driven by a motor residing in the power tool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A power tool comprising:
-
a housing; an output member at least partially contained in the housing and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis; a motor contained in the housing and drivably connected to the output member to impart rotary motion thereto; a rotational motion sensor arranged in the housing and operable to detect rotational motion of the housing about the longitudinal axis of the output member; a controller configured in the housing to receive a signal indicative of rotational motion from the rotational motion sensor, the controller operable to determine a direction of the rotation motion of the housing about the axis and drive the motor in the same direction as the rotational motion of the housing; wherein the controller drives the motor in a clockwise motion about the axis when the rotational motion of the housing about the axis is clockwise and drives the motor in a counter-clockwise motion about the axis when the rotational motion of the housing about the axis is counter-clockwise. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A power tool comprising:
-
a housing; a motor contained in the housing; an output member configured at least partially in the housing to rotate about a longitudinal axis and selectively connectable to the motor to impart rotary motion thereto; a reamer tool configured at least partially in the housing to rotate about the axis and selectively connectable to the motor to impart rotary motion thereto; a rotational motion sensor arranged in the housing at a location spatially separated from the output member and operable to detect rotational motion of the housing about the longitudinal axis of the output member; and a controller configured in the housing to receive a signal indicative of rotational motion from the rotational motion sensor, the controller operable to determine a direction of the rotation motion of the housing about the axis and drive the motor in a clockwise motion about the axis when the rotational motion of the housing about the axis is clockwise and drives the motor in a counter-clockwise motion about the axis when the rotational motion of the housing about the axis is counter-clockwise.
-
Specification