Abstract: A router includes a housing and a motor assembly disposed within the housing. The motor assembly includes a driven shaft having a cavity on a first end of the driven shaft. The router includes a collet that is configured to mate into the cavity of the driven shaft with the collet being configured to grip a shank of a router bit. The router includes a gear mechanism that is configured to couple and decouple from a second end of the driven shaft such that a rotation of the gear mechanism when the gear mechanism is coupled to the second end of the driven shaft causes at least one of tightening and loosening of the collet.

Abstract: A router includes a housing and a motor assembly disposed within the housing. The motor assembly includes a driven shaft having a cavity on a first end of the driven shaft. The router includes a collet that is configured to mate into the cavity of the driven shaft with the collet being configured to grip a shank of a router bit. The router includes a gear mechanism that is configured to couple and decouple from a second end of the driven shaft such that a rotation of the gear mechanism when the gear mechanism is coupled to the second end of the driven shaft causes at least one of tightening and loosening of the collet.

Abstract: A router includes a housing and a motor assembly disposed within the housing. The motor assembly includes a driven shaft having a cavity on a first end of the driven shaft. The router includes a collet that is configured to mate into the cavity of the driven shaft with the collet being configured to grip a shank of a router bit. The router includes a gear mechanism that is configured to couple and decouple from a second end of the driven shaft such that a rotation of the gear mechanism when the gear mechanism is coupled to the second end of the driven shaft causes at least one of tightening and loosening of the collet.

Abstract: A router includes a housing and a motor assembly disposed within the housing. The motor assembly includes a driven shaft having a cavity on a first end of the driven shaft. The router includes a collet that is configured to mate into the cavity of the driven shaft with the collet being configured to grip a shank of a router bit. The router includes a gear mechanism that is configured to couple and decouple from a second end of the driven shaft such that a rotation of the gear mechanism when the gear mechanism is coupled to the second end of the driven shaft causes at least one of tightening and loosening of the collet.

Abstract: A router includes a motor assembly that is arranged and configured to hold a router tool and to impart rotation to the router tool and a frame that is fixed in size and that is configured to house the motor assembly.

Abstract: A router includes a motor assembly that is arranged and configured to hold a router tool and to impart rotation to the router tool and a frame that is fixed in size and that is configured to house the motor assembly.

Abstract: A router includes a motor assembly, at least a first rail and at least a first rolling element pair mounted to the motor assembly, where the first rolling element pair engages the first rail. The router may further include a second rail and a second rolling element pair mounted to the motor assembly, where the second rolling element pair engages the second rail.

Abstract: A power tool for operating on a workpiece, the power tool having a housing and a motor disposed within the housing. A controller is connected to the motor and receives user inputs for turning on the motor and a power tool battery pack is connected to the controller and the motor. At least one light is connected to the controller for illuminating the workpiece. The controller can turn on the light in a predetermined pattern to alert the user to a tool condition, such as the charge level being below a predetermined level.

Abstract: An improved method is provided for operating a power tool. The method includes: monitoring rotational motion of the power tool about an axis using a rotational motion sensor disposed in the power tool; determining a direction of the rotational motion about the axis; and driving the output member in a direction defined by the detected rotational motion of the tool, where the output member is driven by a motor residing in the power tool. Thus, the output member is drive clockwise when the rotational motion of the tool is clockwise about the axis and the output member is drive counter-clockwise when the rotational motion of the tool is counter-clockwise about the axis.

Abstract: A method for operating a driving tool, such as a fastening tool, that has a driver, a motor assembly with a motor and an output member, and an electrical power source. The methodology includes transmitting electrical power to the motor to rotate the output member and thereafter adjusting one or more control parameters if a rotational speed of the output member is not within a predetermined operating range.

Abstract: A power tool includes an output shaft configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis, a motor drivably connected to the output shaft to impart rotary motions thereto, and a rotational motion sensor spatially separated from the output shaft and operable to determine the user-imparted rotational motion of the power tool with respect to the longitudinal axis. A controller is electrically connected to the rotational motion sensor and the motor. The controller determines angular velocity of the power tool about the axis, rotational displacement of the power tool about the axis, and/or a direction of the rotational displacement using input from the rotational motion sensor. The controller then controls the motor according to the angular velocity, the rotational displacement, and/or the direction of the rotational displacement.

Abstract: An improved method is provided for operating a power tool. The method includes: monitoring rotational motion of the power tool about an axis using a rotational motion sensor disposed in the power tool; determining a direction of the rotational motion about the axis; and driving the output member in a direction defined by the detected rotational motion of the tool, where the output member is driven by a motor residing in the power tool. Thus, the output member is drive clockwise when the rotational motion of the tool is clockwise about the axis and the output member is drive counter-clockwise when the rotational motion of the tool is counter-clockwise about the axis.

Abstract: A power tool includes an output shaft configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis, a motor drivably connected to the output shaft to impart rotary motions thereto, and a rotational motion sensor spatially separated from the output shaft and operable to determine the user-imparted rotational motion of the power tool with respect to the longitudinal axis. A controller is electrically connected to the rotational motion sensor and the motor. The controller determines angular velocity of the power tool about the axis, rotational displacement of the power tool about the axis, and/or a direction of the rotational displacement using input from the rotational motion sensor. The controller then controls the motor according to the angular velocity, the rotational displacement, and/or the direction of the rotational displacement.

Abstract: A router includes a motor assembly, at least a first rail and at least a first rolling element pair mounted to the motor assembly, where the first rolling element pair engages the first rail. The router may further include a second rail and a second rolling element pair mounted to the motor assembly, where the second rolling element pair engages the second rail.

Abstract: A control system is provided for use in a power tool. The control system includes: a rotational rate sensor having a resonating mass and a controller electrically connected to the rotational rate sensor. The rotational rate sensor detects lateral displacement of the resonating mass and generates a signal indicative of the detected lateral displacement, such that the lateral displacement is directly proportional to a rotational speed at which the power tool rotates about an axis of the rotary shaft. Based on the generated signal, the controller initiates a protective operation to avoid further undesirable rotation of the power tool. The controller may opt to reduce the torque applied to shaft to a non-zero value that enables the operator to regain control of the tool.

Abstract: A power tool for operating on a workpiece, the power tool having a housing and a motor disposed within the housing. A controller is connected to the motor and receives user inputs for turning on the motor and a power tool battery pack is connected to the controller and the motor. At least one light is connected to the controller for illuminating the workpiece. The controller can turn on the light in a predetermined pattern to alert the user to a tool condition, such as the charge level being below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A control system is provided for use in a power tool. The control system includes: a rotational rate sensor having a resonating mass and a controller electrically connected to the rotational rate sensor. The rotational rate sensor detects lateral displacement of the resonating mass and generates a signal indicative of the detected lateral displacement, such that the lateral displacement is directly proportional to a rotational speed at which the power tool rotates about an axis of the rotary shaft. Based on the generated signal, the controller initiates a protective operation to avoid further undesirable rotation of the power tool. The controller may opt to reduce the torque applied to shaft to a non-zero value that enables the operator to regain control of the tool.

Abstract: A control system is provided for use in a power tool. The control system includes: a rotational rate sensor having a resonating mass and a controller electrically connected to the rotational rate sensor. The rotational rate sensor detects lateral displacement of the resonating mass and generates a signal indicative of the detected lateral displacement, such that the lateral displacement is directly proportional to a rotational speed at which the power tool rotates about an axis of the rotary shaft. Based on the generated signal, the controller initiates a protective operation to avoid further undesirable rotation of the power tool. The control scheme employed by the power tool may initiate different protective operations for different tool conditions.

Abstract: A control system is provided for use in a power tool. The control system includes: a rotational rate sensor having a resonating mass and a controller electrically connected to the rotational rate sensor. The rotational rate sensor detects lateral displacement of the resonating mass and generates a signal indicative of the detected lateral displacement, such that the lateral displacement is directly proportional to a rotational speed at which the power tool rotates about an axis of the rotary shaft. Based on the generated signal, the controller initiates a protective operation to avoid further undesirable rotation of the power tool. The controller may opt to reduce the torque applied to shaft to a non-zero value that enables the operator to regain control of the tool.

Abstract: A control system is provided for use in a power tool. The control system includes: a rotational rate sensor having a resonating mass and a controller electrically connected to the rotational rate sensor. The rotational rate sensor detects lateral displacement of the resonating mass and generates a signal indicative of the detected lateral displacement, such that the lateral displacement is directly proportional to a rotational speed at which the power tool rotates about an axis of the rotary shaft. Based on the generated signal, the controller initiates a protective operation to avoid further undesirable rotation of the power tool. The controller may opt to reduce the torque applied to shaft to a non-zero value that enables the operator to regain control of the tool.