Variable-speed trigger switch including conductive elastic material

A power tool comprising:

• a housing;
• an electric motor disposed within the housing;
• a trigger mounted on the housing;
• and
• a switch assembly located within the housing and engageable by the trigger, the switch assembly comprising:
• a plunger moveable along a movement axis by the trigger;
• an elastomer member mechanically coupled to the plunger and moveable along the movement axis, wherein the elastomer member includes a plurality of posts of varying heights comprising electrically conductive material;
• and
• a circuit board oriented substantially perpendicularly to the movement axis, the circuit board including a plurality of conductive tracks facing the plurality of posts and electrically coupled to a resistive divider, wherein an actuation of the plunger causes a variable number of contact points between the plurality of conductive tracks and the plurality of posts corresponding to a travel distance of the plunger along the movement axis, and wherein the resistive divider is configured to output a variable voltage signal based on the variable number of contact points.

A power tool comprising:

• a housing;
• an electric motor disposed within the housing;
• a trigger pivotably mounted on the housing around a pivot member located between a first portion and a second portion thereof;
• and
• a switch assembly located within the housing and engageable by the trigger, the switch assembly comprising a first variable-speed switch and a second variable-speed switch interfacing at least one circuit board,
• wherein, when the first portion of the trigger is actuated, the first variable-speed switch is engaged by the trigger and contacts the at least one circuit board along a first movement axis that is substantially perpendicular to the circuit board, and when the second portion of the trigger is actuated, the second variable-speed switch is engaged by the trigger and contacts the at least one circuit board along a second movement distanced from the first movement axis that is substantially perpendicular to the circuit board,
• wherein the switch assembly outputs at least one variable speed signal and at least one of a direction signal or a mode signal associated with the electric motor based on actuation of one of the first variable-speed switch or the second variable-speed switch.