# US 12,600,016 B2 · Depth and angle sensor attachment for a power tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,600,016 B2 - Document ID: US12600016B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/541,756 - Filed: 2023-12-15 - Published: 2024-04-11 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-07 - Assignees: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation - Applicants: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation - Inventors: Gareth Mueckl; Tauhira Hoossainy; Leo Mikat-Stevens; Logan Blair; Jake McDermott; Jonathon R. Nord; Jared Shurtleff; Joshua Kundinger; John von Helms, Jr.; Nicholas Dobernig; Matthew Post - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600016B2 ## CPC - B25B 21/00: Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; (details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; {for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006}); Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose (machines B23P19/06) - B25B 23/00: Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers (bolt tensioners B25B29/02) - B25F 5/00: Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for - G01B 11/14: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00) - G01B 11/26: for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes - G01S 15/42: Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S15/46) - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING - B25F: COMBINATION OR MULTI-PURPOSE TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DETAILS OR COMPONENTS OF PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS NOT PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS PERFORMED AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR {(machines or arrangements of machines for performing specified combinations of different metal-working operations not covered by a single other subclass B23P23/00 and subgroups)} - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract A power tool including a sensor attachment, a housing, a motor, and a power tool controller. The power tool controller is operable or configured to control power provided to the motor. The sensor attachment is coupled to the power tool's housing and includes a first non-contact sensor and a sensor controller. The sensor controller receives signals from the first non-contact sensor related to distance to a work surface and determines a fastener depth based on the signals from the first non-contact sensor. If the fastener depth is greater than or equal to a desired fastener depth, the sensor controller generates and sends a control signal to the power tool controller. In response, the power tool controller turns off or cuts power to the motor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling a power tool, the power tool including a motor within a power tool housing, a sensor attachment physically coupled to the power tool housing, and a communications interface for wirelessly communicating with a remote device, the method comprising: receiving, at a controller, an input signal from the remote device; determining, using the controller, a desired fastener depth based on the input signal; receiving, at the controller, a sensor signal from a non-contact sensor; determining, using the controller, a depth of a fastener based on the sensor signal received; and generating, using the controller, a control signal when the depth of the fastener is greater than or equal to the desired fastener depth, wherein the control signal is operable to cause power to the motor to be turned off. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, at the controller, a sensor signal from a second non-contact sensor and a sensor signal from a third non-contact sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining, using the controller, the depth of the fastener based on the sensor signals from the non-contact sensor, the second non-contact sensor, and the third non-contact sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining, using the controller, an alignment of the power tool based on the sensor signals from the non-contact sensor, the second non-contact sensor, and the third non-contact sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: determining, using the controller, whether the alignment of the power tool is indicative of a misalignment of the power tool; and generating, using the controller, an output signal operable to provide an indication to a user that the power tool is misaligned. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, at the controller, a sensor signal from a pressure sensor; and determining, using the controller, a state of contact between the fastener and a work surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing, at the controller, the desired fastener depth. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, at the controller, a temperature signal from a temperature sensor; and determining, using the controller, a speed of sound from the temperature signal to determine the depth of the fastener. ### Claim 9 A method of controlling a power tool, the power tool including a motor within a power tool housing and a sensor attachment physically coupled to the power tool housing, the sensor attachment including a non-contact sensor, the method comprising: receiving, at a controller, an input signal wirelessly communicated from a remote user interface; determining, using the controller, a desired fastener depth based on the input signal; receiving, at the controller, a sensor signal from a non-contact sensor of the sensor attachment; determining, using the controller, a depth of a fastener based on the sensor signal received from the non-contact sensor; and generating, using the controller, a control signal when the depth of the fastener is greater than or equal to the desired fastener depth, wherein the control signal is operable to cause power to the motor to be turned off. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving, at the controller, a sensor signal from a second non-contact sensor and a sensor signal from a third non-contact sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining, using the controller, the depth of the fastener based on the sensor signals from the non-contact sensor, the second non-contact sensor, and the third non-contact sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining, using the controller, an alignment of the power tool based on the sensor signals from the non-contact sensor, the second non-contact sensor, and the third non-contact sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining, using the controller, whether the alignment of the power tool is indicative of a misalignment of the power tool; and generating, using the controller, an output signal operable to provide an indication to a user that the power tool is misaligned.