Patents by Inventor Louis R. Slamka
Louis R. Slamka 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: 11940095Abstract: Power tools with conductive couplings used with active injury mitigation technology are disclosed. Conductive couplings are particularly relevant to table saws, hand-held circular saws, track saws, miter saws, and band saws with active injury mitigation technology. Conductive couplings provide a mechanism through which an electrical signal can be coupled or imparted to a blade, and then monitored for changes indicative of human contact with the blade. An exemplary conductive coupling includes a brush that establishes an electrical connection with a moving part of a power tool, and the brush maintains contact with the moving part of the power tool during at least 40 hours of cumulative time when the motor is spinning the arbor and blade without an interruption in the electrical connection sufficient to trigger the reaction system. A conductive coupling may be two-sided compliant. A conductive coupling may connect to a motor shaft to minimize electrical noise.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: SawStop Holding LLCInventors: Stephen F. Gass, John P. Nenadic, Louis R. Slamka
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Publication number: 20230405860Abstract: Control systems for power tools such as table saws, miter saws, band saws, hand-held circular saws, jointers, shapers, routers, up-cut saws and other machinery are disclosed. The control systems are particularly relevant to power tools equipped with active injury mitigation technology, and to a set, collection, family, series, group or suite of different types of power tools.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2021Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: SawStop Holding LLCInventors: Louis R. Slamka, Keith P. Hebert
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Publication number: 20230256640Abstract: Control systems to control the operation of a power tool are disclosed. The disclosed control systems are particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to power tools with active injury mitigation technology, and to table saws with active injury mitigation technology, such as jobsite and benchtop table saws. The improved systems, for example, control the supply of power to a motor, enhance reliability, provide redundant safety features, and help to prevent the motor from starting unexpectedly.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2021Publication date: August 17, 2023Applicant: SawStop Holding LLCInventors: Louis R. Slamka, Jeremy C. Espinosa, Tyler S. Howell, Paul H. Stasiewicz, Brian M. Unger
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Publication number: 20220042648Abstract: Power tools with conductive couplings used with active injury mitigation technology are disclosed. Conductive couplings are particularly relevant to table saws, hand-held circular saws, track saws, miter saws, and band saws with active injury mitigation technology. Conductive couplings provide a mechanism through which an electrical signal can be coupled or imparted to a blade, and then monitored for changes indicative of human contact with the blade. An exemplary conductive coupling includes a brush that establishes an electrical connection with a moving part of a power tool, and the brush maintains contact with the moving part of the power tool during at least 40 hours of cumulative time when the motor is spinning the arbor and blade without an interruption in the electrical connection sufficient to trigger the reaction system. A conductive coupling may be two-sided compliant. A conductive coupling may connect to a motor shaft to minimize electrical noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Applicant: SawStop Holding LLCInventors: Stephen F. Gass, John P. Nenadic, Louis R. Slamka
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Patent number: 11098849Abstract: Power tools with conductive couplings used with active injury mitigation technology are disclosed. Conductive couplings are particularly relevant to table saws, hand-held circular saws, track saws, miter saws, and band saws with active injury mitigation technology. Conductive couplings provide a mechanism through which an electrical signal can be coupled or imparted to a blade, and then monitored for changes indicative of human contact with the blade. An exemplary conductive coupling includes a brush that establishes an electrical connection with a moving part of a power tool, and the brush maintains contact with the moving part of the power tool during at least 40 hours of cumulative time when the motor is spinning the arbor and blade without an interruption in the electrical connection sufficient to trigger the reaction system. A conductive coupling may be two-sided compliant. A conductive coupling may connect to a motor shaft to minimize electrical noise.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: SawStop Holding LLCInventors: Stephen F. Gass, John P. Nenadic, Louis R. Slamka
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Patent number: 10864651Abstract: Control systems are disclosed for power tools such as table saws, miter saws, band saws, hand-held circular saws, jointers, shapers, routers, and up-cut saws. The control systems include systems to turn power tools on and off, and to control the supply of power to motors. The systems to turn power tools on and off may include dual switches that must be operated together to turn a power tool on. The systems to provide power to motors may include dual relays in series implemented with methods to minimize arcing and welding of the relays. The systems described herein may be implemented in power tools equipped with active injury mitigation technology.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: SawStop Holding LLCInventors: Stephen F. Gass, Louis R. Slamka
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Publication number: 20200108522Abstract: Control systems are disclosed for power tools such as table saws, miter saws, band saws, hand-held circular saws, jointers, shapers, routers, and up-cut saws. The control systems include systems to turn power tools on and off, and to control the supply of power to motors. The systems to turn power tools on and off may include dual switches that must be operated together to turn a power tool on. The systems to provide power to motors may include dual relays in series implemented with methods to minimize arcing and welding of the relays. The systems described herein may be implemented in power tools equipped with active injury mitigation technology.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Applicant: SawStop Holding LLCInventors: Stephen F. Gass, Louis R. Slamka
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Patent number: 10442107Abstract: Control systems are disclosed for power tools such as table saws, miter saws, band saws, hand-held circular saws, jointers, shapers, routers, and up-cut saws. The control systems include systems to turn power tools on and off, and to control the supply of power to motors. The systems to turn power tools on and off may include dual switches that must be operated together to turn a power tool on. The systems to provide power to motors may include dual relays in series implemented with methods to minimize arcing and welding of the relays. The systems described herein may be implemented in power tools equipped with active injury mitigation technology.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: SawStop Holding LLCInventors: Stephen F. Gass, Louis R. Slamka
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Publication number: 20190293235Abstract: Power tools with conductive couplings used with active injury mitigation technology are disclosed. Conductive couplings are particularly relevant to table saws, hand-held circular saws, track saws, miter saws, and band saws with active injury mitigation technology. Conductive couplings provide a mechanism through which an electrical signal can be coupled or imparted to a blade, and then monitored for changes indicative of human contact with the blade. An exemplary conductive coupling includes a brush that establishes an electrical connection with a moving part of a power tool, and the brush maintains contact with the moving part of the power tool during at least 40 hours of cumulative time when the motor is spinning the arbor and blade without an interruption in the electrical connection sufficient to trigger the reaction system. A conductive coupling may be two-sided compliant. A conductive coupling may connect to a motor shaft to minimize electrical noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2017Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: SawStop Holding LLCInventors: Stephen F Gass, John P. Nenadic, Louis R. Slamka
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Publication number: 20150165641Abstract: Control systems are disclosed for power tools such as table saws, miter saws, band saws, hand-held circular saws, jointers, shapers, routers, and up-cut saws. The control systems include systems to turn power tools on and off, and to control the supply of power to motors. The systems to turn power tools on and off may include dual switches that must be operated together to turn a power tool on. The systems to provide power to motors may include dual relays in series implemented with methods to minimize arcing and welding of the relays. The systems described herein may be implemented in power tools equipped with active injury mitigation technology.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: SD3, LLCInventors: Stephen F. Gass, Louis R. Slamka
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Patent number: 8469067Abstract: Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. The methods and woodworking equipment may include predictive blade stop algorithms that prevent unnecessary activations of a safety brake during coast down of a blade and continued protection in the event a main power switch is turned off.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: SD3, LLCInventors: Stephen F. Gass, Louis R. Slamka
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Publication number: 20120024427Abstract: Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. The methods and woodworking equipment may include predictive blade stop algorithms that prevent unnecessary activations of a safety brake during coast down of a blade and continued protection in the event a main power switch is turned off.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, Louis R. Slamka
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Patent number: 7971613Abstract: Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. The methods and woodworking equipment may include predictive blade stop algorithms that prevent unnecessary activations of a safety brake during coast down of a blade and continued protection in the event a main power switch is turned off.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: SD3, LLCInventors: Stephen F. Gass, Louis R. Slamka
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Publication number: 20090236012Abstract: Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. The methods and woodworking equipment may include predictive blade stop algorithms that prevent unnecessary activations of a safety brake during coast down of a blade and continued protection in the event a main power switch is turned off.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2008Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, Louis R. Slamka