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Electronic clutch for power tool

  • US 9,193,055 B2
  • Filed: 03/13/2013
  • Issued: 11/24/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling operation of a power tool having an electric motor drivably coupled to an output spindle, comprising:

  • receiving, by a controller residing in the power tool, an input indicative of a clutch setting for an electronic clutch, the clutch setting being selectable from a plurality of driver modes and each of the plurality of driver modes specifies a different value of torque at which to interrupt transmission of torque to the output spindle;

    setting, by the controller, the value of a maximum current threshold in accordance with the selected one of the plurality of driver modes;

    determining, by the controller, rotational speed of the electric motor;

    determining, by the controller, an amount of current being delivered to the electric motor;

    comparing, by the controller, the amount of current being delivered to the electric motor to the maximum current threshold; and

    interrupting transmission of torque to the output spindle when the amount of current being delivered to the electric motor exceeds the maximum current threshold and the rotational speed of the electric motor is decreasing.

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