Patents by Inventor Brian C. Sterling
Brian C. Sterling has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10220500Abstract: A method is presented for controlling operation of a power tool having an electric motor drivably coupled to an output spindle. The method includes: receiving an input indicative of a clutch setting for an electronic clutch, where the clutch setting is selectable from a plurality of driver modes; setting the value of a maximum current threshold in accordance with the selected one of the plurality of driver modes; determining rotational speed of the electric motor; determining an amount of current being delivered to the electric motor; comparing the amount of current being delivered to the electric motor to the maximum current threshold; and interrupting transmission of torque to the output spindle when the amount of current being delivered to the electric motor exceeds the maximum current threshold and the rotational speed of the electric motor is decreasing.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2015Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.Inventors: Jongsoo Lim, Brian C. Sterling, Paul S. White, Russell D. Hester
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Patent number: 9722334Abstract: A power tool includes a housing coupled to an electrical power source, a motor contained in the housing, and a motor control circuit that controls output speed of the motor. A light unit is coupled to the housing to illuminate a work surface. A light unit control circuit controls illumination of the light unit. A switch unit is coupled to the housing and selectively operable to control the operation of the motor control circuit and the light unit control circuit. The light unit control circuit includes a timer configured to cause the light unit to illuminate a first brightness level when the switch unit is actuated, and to remain illuminated at the first brightness level for a predetermined time period after the trigger is actuated. The predetermined time period restarts if the switch unit is not deactivated before the end of the predetermined time period.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2011Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Brian C. Sterling, Stephen P. Osborne, Paul S. White, Jeffrey D. Delcamp
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Publication number: 20160031072Abstract: A method is presented for controlling operation of a power tool having an electric motor drivably coupled to an output spindle. The method includes: receiving an input indicative of a clutch setting for an electronic clutch, where the clutch setting is selectable from a plurality of driver modes; setting the value of a maximum current threshold in accordance with the selected one of the plurality of driver modes; determining rotational speed of the electric motor; determining an amount of current being delivered to the electric motor; comparing the amount of current being delivered to the electric motor to the maximum current threshold; and interrupting transmission of torque to the output spindle when the amount of current being delivered to the electric motor exceeds the maximum current threshold and the rotational speed of the electric motor is decreasing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2015Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Jongsoo LIM, Brian C. STERLING, Paul S. WHITE, Russell D. HESTER
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Patent number: 9225275Abstract: A power tool including a motor, light unit, and switch unit for selectively connecting the motor and light unit to a power source. A control module includes a controller coupled to a first electronic switch to control power delivery to the motor based on a position of the switch unit, and to a second electronic switch to control power delivery to the light source based on a position of the switch unit. A timer is configured to keep the light unit illuminated for a predetermined amount of time after the switch unit has been activated or deactivated. The control module also includes a boot circuit with a semiconductor switch that continues to deliver power to the controller and to the light unit when the switch unit is deactivated subsequent to being activated, to enable the light unit to remain illuminated after the switch unit has been deactivated.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.Inventors: Brian C. Sterling, Stephen P. Osborne, Paul S. White, Michael K. Forster, Jason K. Leh
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Publication number: 20130063051Abstract: A power tool including a motor, light unit, and switch unit for selectively connecting the motor and light unit to a power source. A control module includes a controller coupled to a first electronic switch to control power delivery to the motor based on a position of the switch unit, and to a second electronic switch to control power delivery to the light source based on a position of the switch unit. A timer is configured to keep the light unit illuminated for a predetermined amount of time after the switch unit has been activated or deactivated. The control module also includes a boot circuit with a semiconductor switch that continues to deliver power to the controller and to the light unit when the switch unit is deactivated subsequent to being activated, to enable the light unit to remain illuminated after the switch unit has been deactivated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Brian C. Sterling, Stephen P. Osborne, Paul S. White, Jeffrey D. Delcamp, Michael K. Forster, Jason K. Leh
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Publication number: 20110248650Abstract: A power tool includes a housing coupled to an electrical power source, a motor contained in the housing, and a motor control circuit that controls output speed of the motor. A light unit is coupled to the housing to illuminate a work surface. A light unit control circuit controls illumination of the light unit. A switch unit is coupled to the housing and selectively operable to control the operation of the motor control circuit and the light unit control circuit. The light unit control circuit includes a timer configured to cause the light unit to illuminate a first brightness level when the switch unit is actuated, and to remain illuminated at the first brightness level for a predetermined time period after the trigger is actuated. The predetermined time period restarts if the switch unit is not deactivated before the end of the predetermined time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.Inventors: Brian C. Sterling, Stephen P. Osborne, Paul S. White, Jeffrey D. Delcamp
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Patent number: 7221124Abstract: The charger includes a controller, a battery power source having at least two power settings connected to the controller, a power supply connectable to an outside power source, the power supply receiving a current and voltage from the outside power source for providing power to at least one of the controller and the battery power source, and a foldback circuit for switching between two power settings depending upon at least one of the current and voltage received from the outside power source.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2005Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey S. Howard, Nathanael A. Mackley, Vickie J. Mead, Brian C. Sterling, Danh T. Trinh, Robert A. Usselman, Fred S. Watts, Janelle Young
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Patent number: 7112942Abstract: The charger includes a controller, a battery power source having at least two power settings connected to the controller, a power supply connectable to an outside power source, the power supply receiving a current and voltage from the outside power source for providing power to at least one of the controller and the battery power source, and a foldback circuit for switching between two power settings depending upon at least one of the current and voltage received from the outside power source.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2005Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Inventors: Geoffrey S. Howard, Nathanael A. Mackley, Vickie J. Mead, Brian C. Sterling, Danh T. Trinh, Robert A. Usselman, Fred S. Watts, Janelle Young
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Patent number: 6859013Abstract: The charger includes a controller, a battery power source having at least two power settings connected to the controller, a power supply connectable to an outside power source, the power supply receiving a current and voltage from the outside power source for providing power to at least one of the controller and the battery power source, and a foldback circuit for switching between two power settings depending upon at least one of the current and voltage received from the outside power source.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2003Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey S. Howard, Nathanael A. Mackley, Vickie J. Mead, Brian C. Sterling, Danh T. Trinh, Robert A. Usselman, Fred S. Watts, Janelle Young
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Publication number: 20030222621Abstract: The charger includes a controller, a battery power source having at least two power settings connected to the controller, a power supply connectable to an outside power source, the power supply receiving a current and voltage from the outside power source for providing power to at least one of the controller and the battery power source, and a foldback circuit for switching between two power settings depending upon at least one of the current and voltage received from the outside power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventors: Geoffrey S. Howard, Nathanael A. Mackley, Vickie J. Mead, Brian C. Sterling, Danh T. Trinh, Robert A. Usselman, Fred S. Watts, Janelle Young