Electronic braking in a power tool

A method for braking a motor in a battery pack powered power tool, the battery pack powered power tool including a motor, a power switching network, a power source, and an electronic processor in communication with the power switching network, the method comprising:

• activating a pulse width modulation signal having an initial duty cycle value;
• receiving an indication to stop the motor during operation of the motor;
• determining a deceleration of the motor;
• determining whether the deceleration of the motor exceeds a motor deceleration threshold;
• increasing the initial duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal when the deceleration of the motor is less than the motor deceleration threshold;
• and
• decreasing the initial duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal when the deceleration of the motor is greater than the motor deceleration threshold.

A power tool comprising:

• a motor;
• a power switching network;
• and
• an electronic processor in communication with the power switching network, the electronic processor configured to:
• activate a pulse width modulation signal having an initial duty cycle value,
• receive an indication to stop the motor during operation of the motor,
• determine a deceleration of the motor,
• determine whether the deceleration of the motor exceeds a motor deceleration threshold, and
• decrease the initial duty cycle value to a second duty cycle value when the deceleration of the motor is greater than the motor deceleration threshold,
• wherein the initial duty cycle value is based on a forward speed at which the motor was operating before receiving the indication to stop the motor.

A power tool comprising:

• a motor;
• a power switching network;
• and
• an electronic processor in communication with the power switching network, the electronic processor configured to:
• activate a pulse width modulation signal having an initial duty cycle value,
• receive an indication to stop the motor during operation of the motor,
• determine a deceleration of the motor,
• determine whether the deceleration of the motor exceeds a motor deceleration threshold, and
• decrease the initial duty cycle value to a second duty cycle value when the deceleration of the motor is greater than the motor deceleration threshold,
• wherein the motor deceleration threshold corresponds to a ratio of maximum speed of the motor over a target brake time.