Power tool anti-kickback system with rotational rate sensor

A method for initiating a protective response in a power tool having a motor drivably coupled to a rotary shaft to impart rotary motion thereto, comprising:

• monitoring rotational motion of the power tool about a longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft using a rotational motion sensor disposed in the power tool;
• determining angular displacement of the power tool about the axis of the rotary shaft from a baseline using a controller disposed in the power tool and based on input from the rotational motion sensor;
• initiating a protective operation in the power tool by the controller when a first operating condition of the power tool exceeds a first operating threshold and angular displacement of the power tool falls within a first range of angular displacements;
• and
• initiating a protective operation in the power tool by the controller when a second operating condition of the power tool exceeds a second operating threshold and angular displacement of the power tool falls within a second range of angular displacements, where the second operating condition is different than the first operating condition and the second range of angular displacements is mutually exclusive of the first range of angular displacements.

A method for initiating a protective response in a power tool having a rotary shaft, comprising:

• monitoring rotational motion of the power tool about a longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft using a rotational motion sensor disposed in the power tool;
• computing angular displacement of the power tool about the axis of the rotary shaft from a baseline using a controller disposed in the power tool and based on input from the rotational motion sensor;
• periodically resetting the baseline when angular velocity of the power tool about the axis is less than a velocity threshold;
• initiating a protective operation by the controller when an operating condition of the power tool exceeds a threshold and the angular displacement of the power tool falls within a range of angular displacements;
• and
• initiating a protective operation by the controller when the operating condition of the power tool is less than the threshold but the angular displacement of the power tool exceeds the range of angular displacements.

A method for controlling operation of a power tool having a rotary shaft, comprising:

• monitoring rotational motion of the power tool about a longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft using a rotational motion sensor disposed in the power tool, wherein the rotation motion sensor is further defined as an accelerometer;
• computing angular displacement of the power tool about the axis of the rotary shaft based on input from the rotational motion sensor and using a controller disposed in the power tool;
• and
• driving the rotary shaft at a given rotational speed, where the given rotational speed is set to a non-zero value based on the angular displacement of the power tool.

A method for controlling operation of a power tool having a rotary shaft, comprising:

• monitoring rotational motion of the power tool about a longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft using a rotational motion sensor disposed in the power tool, wherein the rotation motion sensor is further defined as a gyroscope;
• computing angular displacement of the power tool about the axis of the rotary shaft based on input from the rotational motion sensor and using a controller disposed in the power tool;
• and
• driving the rotary shaft at a given rotational speed, where the given rotational speed is set to a non-zero value based on the angular displacement of the power tool.