Table saws having integrated control systems

A power tool having an integrated control system comprising:

• a table including a workpiece supporting surface;
• a cutting instrument extendable above the workpiece supporting surface;
• a carriage located below said table and coupled with said cutting instrument;
• a guard assembly disposed above the workpiece supporting surface for covering at least a portion of said cutting instrument, said guard assembly having a lower end installed in said carriage;
• a motor coupled with said cutting instrument for driving said cutting instrument;
• a power switch moveable in a first direction for starting said motor for driving said cutting instrument;
• said control system including one or more sensors provided on said carriage located below said table for determining if said guard assembly is installed in said carriage, wherein said control system disables said motor if said one or more sensors detect that said guard assembly is not installed in said carriage, wherein said control system includes a bypass switch for bypassing said control system to enable starting said motor with said guard assembly not installed in said carriage, and wherein after said motor is started and is rotating said cutting instrument said control system automatically disables said motor if it determines that the lower end of said guard assembly is not installed in said carriage.

A table saw having an integrated control system comprising:

• a table having a top surface;
• a cutting blade extendable above the top surface of said table;
• a carriage located below said table and coupled with said cutting blade;
• a guard assembly coupled with said table for covering at least a portion of said cutting blade, said guard assembly having a lower end installed in said carriage located below said table, wherein said carriage is tiltable relative to the top surface of said table so that said guard assembly and said carriage tilt together when the lower end of said guard assembly is installed in said carriage;
• a motor coupled with said cutting blade;
• a power switch moveable in a first direction for starting said motor so as to drive said cutting blade;
• said control system being in communication with said guard assembly and including one or more sensors provided on said carriage located below said table for determining if said guard assembly is installed in said carriage, wherein said control system automatically disables said motor if said motor has not yet been started and when said guard assembly is not installed in said carriage, wherein said control system includes a bypass switch having an indicator light for providing an indication of whether said guard assembly is installed in said carriage or not installed in said carriage, and wherein after said motor is started and is rotating said cutting blade said control system automatically disables said motor if it determines that the lower end of said guard assembly is not installed in said carriage.