Abstract: A system is provided including a current sensor arranged to sense current drawn by an electric motor of a powered device through an AC power line from a power supply and provide current data related to the powered device; a monitoring device arranged to receive the current data from the electrical sensor, the monitoring device including a controller processing the current data to obtain performance data associated with the powered device, the performance data relating to load applied to the electric motor; a data communication device communicating with the monitoring device and arranged to receive the performance data associated with the powered device; and a computing device including a graphical user interface, the computer device receiving a user's selection of the powered device from a list of powered devices and presenting the performance data to the user via the graphical user interface in response to the user's selection.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a gear case having a spindle, a motor case connected to a rear end of the gear case along a longitudinal axis; a handle portion extending from a rear end of the motor case along the longitudinal axis; a motor housed inside the motor case; a fan in rotational connection with the motor; at least one air intake arranged at least one of the motor case or the handle portion near the rear end of the motor case; and a power module including power switches for driving the motor and a heat sink. The power module is housed in at least one of the motor case or the handle portion near the rear end of the motor case such that rotation of the fan causes air flow to enter through the air intake and flow near the heat sink and through the motor.

Abstract: A power tool including an electric motor is provided. The tool includes a substantially disc-shaped printed circuit board (PCB), power switches mounted on the PCB; magnetic sensors mounted on the PCB facing the motor; a heat sink in thermal communication with the power switches disposed between the PCB and the electric motor; and a molded casing structurally securing the heat sink relative to the PCB. The molded casing includes a center opening, at least one first opening provided at a first radial distance from the center opening arranged to receive the magnetic sensors therein, and at least one second opening provided at a second radial distance from the center opening arranged to securely receive the heat sink therein.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor includes a stator, a rotor, and motor terminals mounted on the stator. Each motor terminal includes a planar portion extending circumferentially from the end insulator, a wire-receiving member extending from a first end of the planar portion and folded over an outer surface of the planar portion away from the center axis of the stator at an angle of less than 90 degrees, and a tab portion extending from a second end of the planar portion parallel to the center axis of the stator. A circuit board is disposed adjacent the motor including power switches mounted thereon for energizing the stator windings. Slots are formed in the circuit board to align with and securely receive the tab portions of the motor terminals, thus electrically connecting the motor terminals to the power switches.

Abstract: A power tool including an electric motor is provided. The tool includes a substantially disc-shaped printed circuit board (PCB), power switches mounted on the PCB; magnetic sensors mounted on the PCB facing the motor; a heat sink in thermal communication with the power switches disposed between the PCB and the electric motor; and a molded casing structurally securing the heat sink relative to the PCB. The molded casing includes a center opening, at least one first opening provided at a first radial distance from the center opening arranged to receive the magnetic sensors therein, and at least one second opening provided at a second radial distance from the center opening arranged to securely receive the heat sink therein.

Abstract: An electronic module is provided including power switches mounted on a circuit board and configured as an inverter circuit for an electric motor. A sliding member is coupled to an actuator. A power contact switch is provided including a first conductive body, a second conductive body, and a contact switch. The first and second conductive bodies are mounted on a first surface of the circuit board and include pins received through through-holes of the circuit board to make electrical contact with two conductive tracks on a second surface of the circuit board. The contact switch pivotably is secured to the first conductive body and pivotably moveable by the sliding member to make contact with the second conductive body with movement of the actuator. A flyback diode is electrically connected between the first and second conductive track on the second surface of the circuit board parallel to the power contact switch.

Abstract: An electronic module is provided for a power tool having an electric motor. The module includes a module housing having a radial portion and a cylindrical portion extending from the radial portion away from the electric motor and defining an open end, a printed circuit board (PCB) received within the module housing through the open end thereof, power switches mounted on the PCB, and magnetic sensors mounted on the PCB facing the motor substantially equidistantly from a center of the PCB. The module housing includes openings disposed in the radial portion angularly around a center of the module housing to receive the magnetic sensors therein to allow the magnetic sensors to magnetically interface with the electric motor.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, an electric motor disposed within the housing, a power switch circuit disposed between a power supply and the electric motor, a main controller, and a secondary controller. The main controller is arranged to control a switching operation of the power switch circuit to regulate a speed of the motor, and is configured to monitor at least one of a speed or a rotational direction of the electric motor and deactivate the power switch circuit upon detection of fault condition associated the speed or the rotational direction of the electric motor. The secondary controller is configured to monitor at least one of the speed or the rotational direction of the electric motor independently from the main controller and deactivate the power switch circuit upon detection of fault condition associated the speed or the rotational direction of the electric motor.

Abstract: An electronic module for controlling a motor includes a module housing including a bottom surface, walls, and an open face, a printed circuit board (PCB) arranged along a plane within the module housing; a plurality of power terminals; and a plurality of power switches mounted on the PCB to switchably connect a supply of electric power from a power source to the plurality of power terminals. The plurality of power switches includes first portions projecting outside the module housing through one of the walls along a direction substantially parallel to the plane for coupling to a plurality of wires couplable to the motor, and second portions extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane and electrically contacting the PCB.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a gear case having a spindle, a motor case connected to a rear end of the gear case along a longitudinal axis; a handle portion extending from a rear end of the motor case along the longitudinal axis; a motor housed inside the motor case; a fan in rotational connection with the motor; at least one air intake arranged at least one of the motor case or the handle portion near the rear end of the motor case; and a power module including power switches for driving the motor and a heat sink. The power module is housed in at least one of the motor case or the handle portion near the rear end of the motor case such that rotation of the fan causes air flow to enter through the air intake and flow near the heat sink and through the motor.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor includes a stator, a rotor, and motor terminals mounted on the stator. Each motor terminal includes a planar portion extending circumferentially from the end insulator, a wire-receiving member extending from a first end of the planar portion and folded over an outer surface of the planar portion away from the center axis of the stator at an angle of less than 90 degrees, and a tab portion extending from a second end of the planar portion parallel to the center axis of the stator. A circuit board is disposed adjacent the motor including power switches mounted thereon for energizing the stator windings. Slots are formed in the circuit board to align with and securely receive the tab portions of the motor terminals, thus electrically connecting the motor terminals to the power switches.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including an electric motor, a power terminal receiving electric power form a power supply, an actuator, a power switch circuit disposed between the power terminal and the electric motor, and a controller controlling a switching operation of the power switch circuit. A power contact switch is coupled to the actuator and disposed on a first current path to selectively connect the power switch circuit to the power supply. A solid-state load switch disposed on a second current path from the power terminal to the controller is controllable via output of the power contact switch or a self-activating feedback signal from the controller. A solid-state override switch is provided controllable via a self-deactivating feedback signal from the controller and having an output commonly coupled to the output of the power contact switch to turn off the load switch even when the power contact switch is closed.

Abstract: An electronic module is provided for a power tool having an electric motor. The module includes a module housing having a radial portion and a cylindrical portion extending from the radial portion away from the electric motor and defining an open end, a printed circuit board (PCB) received within the module housing through the open end thereof, power switches mounted on the PCB, and magnetic sensors mounted on the PCB facing the motor substantially equidistantly from a center of the PCB. The module housing includes openings disposed in the radial portion angularly around a center of the module housing to receive the magnetic sensors therein to allow the magnetic sensors to magnetically interface with the electric motor.

Abstract: An electronic module is provided for a power tool having an electric motor. The module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first surface and a second surface; first set of power switches mounted on the first surface of the PCB; second set of power switches mounted on the PCB and electrically coupled to the first power switches forming an inverter bridge circuit for driving the electric motor; a first heat sink surface-mounted on the first surface of the PCB and having a planar main body disposed over the first power switches; a module housing arranged to receive the PCB therein; and a second heat sink secured to the module housing in thermal communication with the first heat sink to transfer heat from the first power switches.

Abstract: An electronic module is provided for a power tool having an electric motor. The electronic module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) being substantially disc-shaped; power switches mounted on the PCB forming an inverter bridge circuit for driving the electric motor; a controller mounted on the PCB and configured to control a switching operation of the power switches; positional sensors mounted on the PCB substantially equidistantly from a center of the PCB within the control portion and in communication with the controller to provide positional signals related to a rotational position of the electric motor to the controller; and a module housing arranged to receive the PCB therein. The module housing includes a planar portion in parallel to the PCB and openings disposed in the planar portion angularly around a center of the module housing to receive the positional sensors therein.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a tool housing and a brushless DC (BLDC) motor disposed within the tool housing. The motor includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly having a rotor lamination stack mounted on a rotor shaft to rotate therewith. The power tool also includes a power module for driving the motor, which includes: a printed circuit board, power switches operatively connected to the motor disposed on a first surface of the printed circuit board, positional sensors disposed on a second surface of the printed circuit board around a periphery of a center portion of the printed circuit board, and a heat sink having a substantially planar surface facing the second surface of the printed circuit board and disposed between the motor and the printed circuit board. The heat sink includes a through-hole therein sized to axially expose the positional sensors in the direction of the motor.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, an electric motor disposed within the housing, a power switch circuit disposed between a power supply and the electric motor, a main controller, and a secondary controller. The main controller is arranged to control a switching operation of the power switch circuit to regulate a speed of the motor, and is configured to monitor at least one of a speed or a rotational direction of the electric motor and deactivate the power switch circuit upon detection of fault condition associated the speed or the rotational direction of the electric motor. The secondary controller is configured to monitor at least one of the speed or the rotational direction of the electric motor independently from the main controller and deactivate the power switch circuit upon detection of fault condition associated the speed or the rotational direction of the electric motor.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, an electric motor disposed within the housing, a power switch circuit disposed between a power supply and the electric motor, a main controller, and a redundant controller. The main controller is arranged to control a switching operation of the power switch circuit to regulate a speed of the motor, and is configured to monitor at least one of a speed or a rotational direction of the electric motor and deactivate the power switch circuit upon detection of fault condition associated the speed or the rotational direction of the electric motor. The redundant controller is configured to monitor at least one of the speed or the rotational direction of the electric motor independently from the main controller and deactivate the power switch circuit upon detection of fault condition associated the speed or the rotational direction of the electric motor.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including an electric motor, a power terminal receiving electric power form a power supply, an actuator, a power switch circuit disposed between the power terminal and the electric motor, and a controller controlling a switching operation of the power switch circuit. A power contact switch is coupled to the actuator and disposed on a first current path to selectively connect the power switch circuit to the power supply. A solid-state load switch disposed on a second current path from the power terminal to the controller is controllable via output of the power contact switch or a self-activating feedback signal from the controller. A solid-state override switch is provided controllable via a self-deactivating feedback signal from the controller and having an output commonly coupled to the output of the power contact switch to turn off the load switch even when the power contact switch is closed.

Abstract: An electronic module is provided including power switches mounted on a circuit board and configured as an inverter circuit for an electric motor. A sliding member is coupled to an actuator. A power contact switch is provided including a first conductive body, a second conductive body, and a contact switch. The first and second conductive bodies are mounted on a first surface of the circuit board and include pins received through through-holes of the circuit board to make electrical contact with two conductive tracks on a second surface of the circuit board. The contact switch pivotably is secured to the first conductive body and pivotably moveable by the sliding member to make contact with the second conductive body with movement of the actuator. A flyback diode is electrically connected between the first and second conductive track on the second surface of the circuit board parallel to the power contact switch.