Power tool interface
AssigneeC.E. Electronics, Inc.
InventorRichard G. Lysaght
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This interface is an apparatus for controlling a power supply delivering power to a DC powered tool. The interface is connected between the DC power supply and the DC tool wherein the interface is configured to read signals from the tool and control the power supplied by allowing the power supply to run, brake, reverse or jog the tool. A microprocessor is connected to the interface programmed to provide a specific power in response to the signals from the tool read by the interface. The interface includes a number of field effect transistors. They are PFET1, PFET2, NFET1, and NFET2.
Claims34
An apparatus for controlling a power supply delivering power to a DC powered tool comprising:
- a DC power driver tool;
- a DC power supply;
- an interface connected between the power supply and the tool wherein the interface is configured to read signals from the tool and control the power supplied by the power supply to run, brake, reverse or jog the tool, wherein the interface includes PFET1, PFET2, NFET1, and NFET2 and;
- a microprocessor connected to the interface programmed to provide a specific power in response to the signal from the tool read by the interface.
An apparatus according to 1 wherein the tool is turned off and allowed to coast to a stop when the run signals are removed.
A method for controlling a power supply delivering power to a DC powered tool comprising the steps of:
- providing a DC power driver tool;
- providing a DC power supply;
- connecting an interface between the power supply and the tool wherein the interface includes PFET1, PFET2, NFET1, and NFET2;
- configuring the interface to read signals from the tool;
- controlling the power supplied by the power supply to run, brake, reverse or jog the tool;
- connecting a microprocessor to the interface;
- and
- programming the microprocessor to provide a specific signals in response to the signals from the tool read by the interface.
An apparatus for controlling a power supply delivering power to a DC powered tool comprising:
- a DC power driver tool;
- a DC power supply;
- an interface connected between the power supply and the tool wherein the interface is configured to read signals from the tool and control the power supplied by the power supply to run, brake, reverse or jog the tool;
- and,
- a microprocessor connected to the interface programmed to provide a specific power in response to the signal from the tool read by the interface;
- wherein the microprocessor is configured to read the run and clutch signals and includes means to report the signals to an external device,
- wherein the external device includes a means for storing a present run time and a maximum run time, is configured to read the run and clutch signals from the microprocessor, and
- is configured to determine if a fastening process is good or bad based on the duration of the run signal and the existence of a clutch signal.
An apparatus for controlling a power supply delivering power to a DC powered tool comprising:
- a DC power driver tool;
- a DC power supply;
- an interface connected between the power supply and the tool wherein the interface is configured to read signals from the tool and control the power supplied by the power supply to run, brake, reverse or jog the tool;
- and,
- a microprocessor connected to the interface programmed to provide a specific power in response to the signal from the tool read by the interface,
- wherein the microprocessor is configured to read the run and clutch signals and includes means to report the signals to an external device;
- and
- wherein the microprocessor is configured to measure the current flowing through the tool by measuring the voltage drop across a high side current sense resistor and is configured to report the current to the external device.
An apparatus for controlling a power supply delivering power to a DC powered tool comprising:
- a DC power driver tool;
- a DC power supply;
- an interface connected between the power supply and the tool wherein the interface is configured to read signals from the tool and control the power supplied by the power supply to run, brake, reverse or jog the tool;
- and,
- a microprocessor connected to the interface programmed to provide a specific power in response to the signal from the tool read by the interface;
- wherein the microprocessor is configured to read the run and clutch signals and includes means to report the signals to an external device;
- and
- wherein the external device is configured to use the current signal to determine that the tool is running by comparing the current signal to a programmable threshold signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.