Power tool with optical measurement device
AssigneeSears Brands, L.L.C.
InventorsBrian Todd Reese, Cody Lyle Mayer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments of tools with associated optical measurement devices are described. An apparatus may include a tool to be applied to a workpiece, an optical measurement device in a feed path of the tool, and a controller. The optical measurement device may generate displacement measurements indicative of displacement of the workpiece as the workpiece traverses the feed path toward the tool. The controller may generate a measurement of the workpiece based on the plurality of displacement measurements.
Claims18
An apparatus, comprising:
- a tool to be applied to a workpiece;
- an optical measurement device in a feed path of the tool, the optical measurement device configured to generate a plurality of displacement measurements indicative of displacement of the workpiece as the workpiece traverses the feed path toward the tool;
- and
- a controller configured to generate a distance measurement of the workpiece based on the plurality of displacement measurements;
- wherein the distance measurement indicates a distance between an end of the workpiece and a location of the workpiece to which the tool is to be applied;
- and
- wherein the optical measurement device comprises an optical displacement sensor configured to generate a displacement measurement of the plurality of displacement measurements based upon a detected offset between a reference window of pixels in a first image from the plurality of images of the workpiece and a matching window of pixels in a second image from the plurality of images.
An miter assembly, comprising:
- a miter base having a fence against which a workpiece is placed;
- a saw coupled to the miter base;
- an optical displacement sensor configured to generate a plurality of displacement measurements indicative of displacement of the workpiece as the workpiece traverses the fence toward the saw;
- and
- a controller configured to generate a distance measurement of the workpiece based on the plurality of displacement measurements, wherein the distance measurement indicates a distance between an end of the workpiece and a location of the workpiece to which the saw is to be applied;
- wherein the optical displacement sensor is further configured to generate a displacement measurement of the plurality of displacement measurements based upon a detected offset between a reference window of pixels in a first image from the plurality of images and a matching window of pixels in a second image from the plurality of images.
A method of zeroing an optical measurement device of a tool, comprising:
- moving a workpiece along a feed path into position of the tool;
- applying the tool to the workpiece to obtain a mark having a near edge and a far edge representative of a width of the tool;
- moving the workpiece along the feed path away from the tool;
- measuring, with a displacement sensor positioned along the feed path, a distance traveled by the workpiece as the workpiece is moved away from the tool;
- and
- detecting, with an optical sensor positioned along the feed path, the far edge of the mark and recording the associated distance traveled as a zero value;
- wherein said measuring comprises generating a plurality of images of the workpiece as the workpiece is moved away from the tool, and generating a displacement measurement of a plurality of displacement measurements based upon a detected offset between a reference window of pixels in a first image from the plurality of images and a matching window of pixels in a second image from the plurality of images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.