Power tool having object detection
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorMatthew J. Mergener
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power tool and methods are provided for detecting objects (e.g., flesh or other materials) in the operating path of a power tool's output component (e.g., saw blade or drill bit). An object detection sensor in the power tool generates an output signal indicative of a type of material detected in the operating path of the power tool. A power tool controller receives the object detection sensor output and determines when a material in the operating path of the power tool changes. The controller changes operation of a motor of the power tool (e.g., increasing or decreasing speed or stopping the motor) in response to the detected material change. The object detection sensor may include, for example, an RF sensor, a capacitive sensor, a camera, a conductivity probe, or an ultrasound probe.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
A power tool comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor within the housing;
- a user interface configured to receive a user input and generate a first output signal;
- an output component coupled to the motor, the output component defining an operating path of the power tool;
- an object detection sensor configured to generate a second output signal indicative of an object being proximate to or in the operating path of the power tool;
- and
- a controller connected to the motor and the object detection sensor, the controller including an electronic processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic processor, cause the electronic processor to:
- receive the first output signal from the user interface,
- disable object detection based on the second output signal from the object detection sensor in response to the first output signal from the user interface indicating that object detection should be disabled, and
- enable object detection based on the second output signal from the object detection sensor in response to the first output signal from the user interface indicating that object detection should be enabled.
A method of controlling a power tool, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a user interface, a user input;
- generating, by the user interface, a first output signal based on the user input;
- generating, by an object detection sensor, a second output signal indicative of an object being proximate to or in an operating path of the power tool;
- receiving, at a controller, the first output signal from the user interface and the second output signal from the object detection sensor;
- disabling object detection based on the second output signal from the object detection sensor in response to the first output signal from the user interface indicating that object detection should be disabled;
- and
- enabling object detection based on the second output signal from the object detection sensor in response to the first output signal from the user interface indicating that object detection should be enabled.
A power tool system comprising:
- an external device including:
- a user interface configured to receive a user input;
- and
- a power tool including:
- a housing;
- a motor within the housing;
- an output component coupled to the motor, the output component defining an operating path of the power tool;
- an object detection sensor configured to generate an output signal indicative of an object being proximate to or in the operating path of the power tool;
- a wireless communication controller configured to receive a signal based on the user input;
- and
- a controller connected to the motor and the object detection sensor, the controller including an electronic processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic processor, cause the electronic processor to:
- receive the signal from the external device,
- disable object detection based on the output signal from the object detection sensor in response to the signal from the external device indicating that object detection should be disabled, and
- enable object detection based on the output signal from the object detection sensor in response to the signal from the external device indicating that object detection should be enabled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.