Method and apparatus for providing torque limit feedback in a power drill

Abstract

A battery-powered tool indicates to an operator that a torque limit has been reached. The tool comprises a driver circuit for generating motor interface driving signals, a motor interface circuit coupled to a motor to selectively couple power to the motor in accordance with the motor driving signals, a torque limit signal generator for generating a torque limit signal, a motor torque signal generator for generating a torque signal corresponding to a torque generated by the motor, and a microcontroller for comparing the motor torque signal to the torque limit signal and for generating a torque limit indicating signal in response to the torque signal being equal to or greater than the torque limit signal so the driver circuit operates the motor to vibrate to alert an operator that the torque limit has been reached.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.