Abstract:
A method for secure access control to a power tool enables secure access to an embedded computing device in the power tool from a web application in another computer that is connected to the power tool via a USB or other suitable peripheral data connection in a workshop environment. The access control enables authorized parties to perform repair and diagnostic procedures on the power tools based on specific user roles while denying access to unauthorized parties.
Abstract:
A method of operating a power tool identifies motion of an implement in a power tool. The method includes obtaining a plurality of samples of an electrical signal that passes through the implement, identifying a parameter for the plurality of samples corresponding to a variation in values of predetermined groups of samples in the plurality of samples, updating a status for the implement with a first status indicating that the implement is not moving with reference to the identified parameter being less than a predetermined threshold, and updating a status for the implement with a second status indicating that the implement is moving with reference to the identified parameter being greater than the predetermined threshold.
Abstract:
A method for detection of false positive condition that an object is in contact with an implement in a power tool includes sampling an electrical signal received from the implement, identifying in-phase and a quadrature components of the sampled electrical signal, identifying a magnitude of each of the samples with reference to the in-phase component and the quadrature component for the samples, detecting an object approaching the implement with reference to the plurality of samples, identifying a signal-to-noise ratio for the samples, and identifying a false positive condition for the detected object with reference to the identified signal-to-noise ratio for the identified samples.
Abstract:
A power tool includes a sensing circuit mounted on a printed circuit card is electrically connected to a switching power supply that supplies electrical power to the sensing circuit. The sensing circuit is not connected to earth ground to enable detection of an operator approaching a moving implement without the operator necessarily being electrically connected to earth ground.
Abstract:
A method for operating a power tool detects human contact with a non-moving implement of the power tool. The method includes sampling an electrical signal that passes through the non-moving implement, identifying in-phase and quadrature phase components for the sample, identifying a first distance between the components of the sample and a centroid of a cluster of samples corresponding to human contact with the non-moving implement, identifying a second distance between the components of the sample and a second centroid identified for another cluster of samples corresponding to no human contact with the non-moving implement, and identifying human contact with the non-moving implement with reference to the first distance being less than the second distance.
Abstract:
A method for measuring brush wear in a motor of a saw includes generating, with a sensor connected to a brush in a motor of the saw, a first signal corresponding to a level of wear in the brush and identifying, with a controller, a level of wear for the brush with reference to the first signal. The method further includes generating, with the controller and a user interface device, an output requesting replacement of the brush in response to the identified level of wear exceeding a predetermined threshold.
Abstract:
A power tool includes an actuator that moves an implement, an infrared sensor, and a range sensor. A controller in the power tool receives temperature data and range data corresponding to objects in a region proximate to the implement. If an object has a temperature within a predetermined range and is identified as being within a predetermined minimum distance of the moving implement, then the controller deactivates the actuator to halt the implement.
Abstract:
A method of operating a power tool detects human contact with a non-moving implement in the power tool. The method includes generating a series of samples of an electrical signal passing through the non-moving implement, identifying a component for each sample in the series of samples of the electrical signal, identifying a first max-min value corresponding to a first plurality of samples in the series of samples occurring during a first periodic time interval with reference to a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value identified in the components of the first plurality of samples, and identifying human contact with the non-moving implement in response to the first max-min value being greater than a first predetermined threshold.