Abstract: A system and method for charging battery packs is provided. The system may include a charging pad comprising a power supply, a charging pad surface, and a microcontroller unit. The power supply may provide charging power. The charging pad surface may include a first charging region and a second charging region. The microcontroller unit may control delivery of charging power to the first charging region and the second charging region such that a device placed on the first charging region is given a higher charging priority than a device placed on the second charging region.

Abstract: A lawn mowing apparatus may include sensors that are fastened to both its mower deck and its chassis. The sensors may sense a position of the mower deck in relation to the chassis. The sensed position of the mower deck may be presented to the operator via a dashboard display of the lawn tractor or transmitted via a wireless signal to another device. Based on such sensed position, an operator of the lawn tractor may manually adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable operating range. In some embodiments, servomotors may adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable range.

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.

Abstract: Various tape measures and devices for stabilizing and securing such tape measures during use are described. Some tape measures may include a tang that extends from a back side of the tape measure. The extended tang may secure the tape measure to the object being measured. The tang may further provide lateral stabilization. Some tape measures may include a horizontal reel that lowers the center of gravity and increases stability of the tape measure. Further tape measures may incorporate extendable stabilizers that increase an effective width of the tape measure and thus its lateral stability during use.

Abstract: Various battery packs are presented for use with twenty volt (20 V) power tools. In some embodiments, one or more lithium-ion battery cells of the battery packs are received by a handle of the power tool.

Abstract: A system and method for charging battery packs is provided. The system and method provides constellation/dots style conductive charging having multiple terminal constellations for one or both of providing redundancy in the case of dirty or non-working contacts and providing a voltage/amperage divide for handling higher voltage and/or increased capacity battery packs.

Abstract: A multi-mode air compressor pressure switch is disclosed. A first mode of operation of the switch has a first range that includes a first cut-out pressure and a first cut-in pressure. A second mode of operation of the switch has a second range that includes a second cut-out pressure and a second cut-in pressure. The second range is smaller than the first range. The second mode of operation adds compressor output over the first mode of operation to extend operable time of a tool that is connected to a compressor that is controlled by the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: A redundant actuation lock apparatus includes an interface, an electronic mechanism, and a manual mechanism. The interface manipulates lock bar(s) into a locked/unlocked position. The electronic mechanism includes an actuator and power drive. The actuator is disengageably coupled to and drives the interface. The power drive is coupled to and drives the actuator in response to a control signal. The manual mechanism includes a key input and an output. The key input receives and rotates with a mechanical key. The output disengageably couples to the interface and rotates with the mechanical key. The actuator is engaged with and the output is disengaged from the interface in an electronic mode, while the actuator is disengaged from and the output is engaged with the interface in a manual mode.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a lawn mowing apparatus are described. Such apparatus may include sensors that are fastened to both its mower deck and its chassis. The sensors may sense a position of the mower deck in relation to the chassis. The sensed position of the mower deck may be presented to the operator via a dashboard display of the lawn tractor or transmitted via a wireless signal to another device. Based on such sensed position, an operator of the lawn tractor may manually adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable operating range. In some embodiments, servomotors may used to adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable range.

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.

Abstract: Various embodiments of power tool and method of operating same are described. The power tool may include a first position sensor, a second position sensor, a third position sensor, and a controller. The first, second, and third position sensors may each generate a signal indicative of a distance between the respective position sensor and a workpiece. The controller may determine one or more angles of the power tool with respect to the workpiece based on the first, second, and third signal and present an indication as to whether the one or more angles are within a predetermined range. The controller may further obtain a depth measurement based on the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal and generate, based on the obtained depth measurement, one or more control signals that control operation of the power tool.

Abstract: Various tape measures and devices for stabilizing and securing such tape measures during use are described. Some tape measures may include a tang that extends from a back side of the tape measure. The extended tang may secure the tape measure to the object being measured. The tang may further provide lateral stabilization. Some tape measures may include a horizontal reel that lowers the center of gravity and increases stability of the tape measure. Further tape measures may incorporate extendable stabilizers that increase an effective width of the tape measure and thus its lateral stability during use.

Abstract: Various embodiments of tape measures having a horizontally mounted reel are described. Some tape measures include a plurality of guide members that twist and guide a measuring tape blade as the measuring tape blade is uncoiled from the reel and extended through a slot in the tape measure casing. In some embodiment, the plurality of members include a bottom guide member between the reel and a bottom wall of the casing, a side guide member between the reel and a side wall of casing, and a variable-diameter guide member between the bottom roller and the side roller. In some embodiment, the variable-diameter roller is formed from the reel and a coiled portion the measuring tape blade.