Electronic switching module for a power tool

• US 9,406,457 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2012
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Velderman, Matthew, Forster, Michael K., Marcinkowski, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Tecco, Andrew M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pathak, Praachi M
• Application Number:
  US13/476,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20120292067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 173/18, 173/20, 173/217
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/001 Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like specially adapted for rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/063 enclosing a reversing switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/52 connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/718 Contact members provided on the PCB without an insulating housing contacts for abutting H01R12/714
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/145 Hand-held machine tool
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/08 with pulse width modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/14 Electronic commutators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/04 by means of a H-bridge circuit

Abstract

An electronic power apparatus includes a housing, a pair of input power pins and a pair of output power pins, and power components mounted on a power circuit board and electrically connected to the input power pins and the output power pins to modulate a supply of power from the input power pins to the output power pins. A control unit of the electronic power apparatus is arranged on a control circuit board disposed at a distance from the power circuit board inside the housing. A user-actuated input unit of the electronic power apparatus includes a variable-speed actuator having a first portion at least partially arranged outside the housing to be engageable by a user and a second portion movably arranged between the power circuit board and the control circuit board.

Claims

1. An electronic power apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a pair of input power pins and a pair of output power pins;

a control unit arranged on a control circuit board inside the housing; and

a user-actuated input unit including a variable-speed actuator a first portion of which is at least partially arranged outside the housing to be engageable by a user and a second portion of which comprises a wiper portion supporting a conductive wiper, the wiper portion being movably arranged on the control circuit board, wherein the control unit is arranged on a first side of the control circuit board and a sense pad is arranged on a second side of the control circuit board facing the second portion of the user-actuated input unit and engaging the conductive wiper, the sense pad providing an analog signal to the control unit corresponding to an actuation of the variable-speed actuator.

2. The electronic power apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of power components mounted on a power circuit board and electrically connected to the input power pins and the output power pins to modulate a supply of power from the input power pins to the output power pins, the power circuit board being disposed at a distance from the control circuit board inside the housing.

3. The electronic power apparatus of claim 2, wherein the user-actuated input unit further comprises a forward/reverse actuator arranged adjacent the power circuit board to make or break contact with corresponding forward/reverse conductive pads on the second side of the control circuit board.

4. The electronic power apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of first conductive pads arranged on the second side of the control circuit board and respectively coupled to a plurality of resistors arranged in series with a power input, wherein the conductive wiper electrically connects the sense pad to the plurality of first conductive pads when the variable-speed actuator is pressed, the sense pad supplying a variable-voltage from the power input and through at least one of the plurality of resistors to the control unit.

5. The electronic power apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a second conductive pad arranged between the plurality of first conductive pads and the sense pad and coupled to a second power input, wherein the conductive wiper electrically connects the sense pad to the second conductive pad when the variable-speed actuator is depressed.

6. A power tool comprising:

a tool housing;

an electric motor inside the tool housing;

a power interface facilitating a connection to a power source; and

a control unit arranged on a control circuit board inside the housing; and

a user-actuated input unit including a variable-speed actuator a first portion of which is at least partially arranged outside the housing to be engageable by a user and a second portion of which comprises a wiper portion supporting a conductive wiper, the wiper portion being movably arranged on the control circuit board, wherein the control unit is arranged on a first side of the control circuit board and a sense pad is arranged on a second side of the control circuit board facing the second portion of the user-actuated input unit and engaging the conductive wiper, the sense pad providing an analog signal to the control unit corresponding to an actuation of the variable-speed actuator.

7. The power tool of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of power components mounted on a power circuit board and electrically connected to the power interface and the electric motor to modulate a supply of power from the power interface to the electric motor, the power circuit board being disposed at a distance from the control circuit board.

8. The power tool of claim 7, wherein the user-actuated input unit further comprises a forward/reverse actuator arranged adjacent the power circuit board to make or break contact with corresponding forward/reverse conductive pads on the second side of the control circuit board.

9. The power tool of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of first conductive pads arranged on the second side of the control circuit board and respectively coupled to a plurality of resistors arranged in series with a power input, wherein the conductive wiper electrically connects the sense pad to the plurality of first conductive pads when the variable-speed actuator is pressed, the sense pad supplying a variable-voltage from the power input and through at least one of the plurality of resistors to the control unit.

10. The power tool of claim 9, further comprising a second conductive pad arranged between the plurality of first conductive pads and the sense pad and coupled to a second power input, wherein the conductive wiper electrically connects the sense pad to the second conductive pad when the variable-speed actuator is depressed.