Patents by Inventor Michael D. Grove

Michael D. Grove 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).

  • Publication number: 20200006021
    Abstract: An electronic module is provided including a circuit board defining a longitudinal axis and having a first surface and a second surface. A module housing is provided having a bottom surface and side walls extending from the bottom surface to form an open face through which the circuit board is received. Power switches configured as an inverter circuit to drive an electric motor are mounted on the second surface of the circuit board facing the bottom surface of the module housing, and a series of heat sinks are discretely mounted on the first surface of the circuit board facing the open face opposite the power switches. Potting material is disposed in the distance between the circuit board and the bottom surface of the module housing to cover the power switches. Thermal vias are disposed through the circuit board between corresponding ones of the heat sinks and the power switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Joshua M. Lewis, Michael D. Grove
  • Patent number: 10497524
    Abstract: An electronic switch and control module for a power tool having an electric motor is provided. The module includes a printed circuit board (PCB), an encapsulation member forming an enclosed compartment enclosing a portion of a surface of the PCB, and power switches mounted on the surface of the PCB outside the enclosed compartment, where the power switches are electrically configured to switchably connect a supply of electric power from a power source to the electric motor. The module further includes an input unit having at least one electro-mechanical element at least partially disposed within the enclosed component and generating a signal for controlling a switching operation of the plurality of power switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Erik A. Ekstrom, Matthew J. Velderman, Redeat G. Alemu, Michael D. Grove, Alexandros T. Theos, Alpay Hizal
  • Publication number: 20180342928
    Abstract: An electronic module is provided including: a circuit board including conductive pads and a sense pad coupled to an output signal; an actuator having a wiper member accommodating a conductive wiper, the wiper having a first end arranged to slidably engage the sense pad and a second end arranged to slidably engage at least one of the conductive pads; and at least one gap disposed to partition the sense pad into segments along an axial movement path of the conductive wiper, the segments being electrically connected to each other to have the same electric potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Erik A. EKSTROM, Michael D. GROVE, Alpay HIZAL, Alexandros T. Theos
  • Publication number: 20180084646
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Madhur M. PUROHIT, Joshua M. LEWIS, Marcell E. COATES, Michael D. GROVE, Victor A. DORADO
  • Publication number: 20180083510
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Madhur M. PUROHIT, Joshua M. LEWIS, Marcell E. COATES, Michael D. GROVE, Victor A. DORADO
  • Patent number: 9847194
    Abstract: An electronic switch and control module for a power tool having an electric motor is provided. The module includes a module housing including a bottom surface, side walls, and an open face, a printed circuit board (PCB) received from the open face of the module housing and securely disposed within the module housing at a distance from the bottom surface of the module housing; power switches mounted on a top surface of the PCB, and heat sinks discretely arranged and each mounted over a respective one of the plurality of power switches and secured to the top surface of the PCB to transfer heat away from the power switch through the open face of the module housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Erik A. Ekstrom, Matthew J. Velderman, Redeat G. Alemu, Michael D. Grove, Alexandros T. Theos, Alpay Hizal
  • Publication number: 20160181892
    Abstract: A power tool is provided, including a housing; an electric brushless DC motor disposed within the housing; and a control unit disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the motor. The control unit includes a circuit board, a first set of power switches mounted on a first surface of the circuit board, a second set of power switches mounted on a second surface of the circuit board substantially opposite the first set of power switches and electrically coupled to the first set of power switches forming an inverter bridge circuit, power terminals arranged on a side edge of the circuit board and coupled to the output of the inverter bridge, and a heat sink mounted on the first surface of the circuit board covering the first set of power switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Madhur M. Purohit, John B. Fogle, Michael D. Grove
  • Publication number: 20150280515
    Abstract: An electronic switch and control module for a power tool having an electric motor is provided. The module includes a module housing including a bottom surface, side walls, and an open face; a printed circuit board (PCB) fittingly received from the open face of the module housing and securely disposed within the module housing; an encapsulation member arranged to mate with a mating surface of the side walls of the module housing to form an enclosed compartment over a portion of the PCB to enclose at least one electronic or electro-mechanical element mounted on a surface of the PCB; and power switches mounted on the surface of the PCB within an open compartment of the module housing where the encapsulation member does not enclose the surface of the PCB, the power switches being electrically configured to switchably connect a supply of electric power from a power source to the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Erik A. Ekstrom, Matthew J. Velderman, Redeat G. Alemu, Michael D. Grove, Alexandros T. Theos, Alpay Hizal, Victor A. Dorado Reyes
  • Publication number: 20150279592
    Abstract: A directional input unit is provided for a power tool having an electric motor is provided, where the input unit is configured to output a signal indicative of a rotational direction of the electric motor. The input unit includes a forward/reverse actuator having a lever extending from an engagement member and pivotable around a pivot member, the lever having a contact tip, and a biasing member. The biasing member including a lever engaging member engaging the contact tip and having an upper portion and a lower portion with a groove formed at an end common point of the upper and lower portions. A first leg of the biasing member extend downwardly from the upper portion and arranged to be securely received inside an opening of a holder, and a second leg extends upwardly from the lower portion outside the opening between the lever engaging member and the first leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Erik A. Ekstrom, Matthew J. Velderman, Redeat G. Alemu, Michael D. Grove, Alexandros T. Theos, Alpay Hizal, Victor A. Dorado Reyes
  • Publication number: 20150280517
    Abstract: An electronic switch and control module for a power tool having an electric motor is provided. The module includes a module housing including a bottom surface, side walls, and an open face, a printed circuit board (PCB) received from the open face of the module housing and securely disposed within the module housing at a distance from the bottom surface of the module housing; power switches mounted on a top surface of the PCB, and heat sinks discretely arranged and each mounted over a respective one of the plurality of power switches and secured to the top surface of the PCB to transfer heat away from the power switch through the open face of the module housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Erik A. Ekstrom, Matthew J. Velderman, Redeat G. Alemu, Michael D. Grove, Alexandros T. Theos, Alpay Hizal, Victor A. Dorado Reyes
  • Publication number: 20150280516
    Abstract: An electronic switch and control module for a power tool having an electric motor is provided. The module includes a printed circuit board (PCB), an encapsulation member forming an enclosed compartment enclosing a portion of a surface of the PCB, and power switches mounted on the surface of the PCB outside the enclosed compartment, where the power switches are electrically configured to switchably connect a supply of electric power from a power source to the electric motor. The module further includes an input unit having at least one electro-mechanical element at least partially disposed within the enclosed component and generating a signal for controlling a switching operation of the plurality of power switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Erik A. Ekstrom, Matthew J. Velderman, Redeat G. Alemu, Michael D. Grove, Alexandros T. Theos, Alpay Hizal, Victor A. Dorado Reyes
  • Publication number: 20150282337
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a tool housing, an electric motor disposed in the housing, and a variable-speed actuator having a trigger, a sliding member linked to the trigger and moveable in a longitudinal direction, and a compression spring engaging the sliding member and a wall arranged at a distance from the sliding member in the longitudinal direction. A post is disposed on the wall, where an end of the compression spring engaging the wall is disposed around the post to limit a lateral movement of the compression spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Erik A. Ekstrom, Matthew J. Velderman, Redeat G. Alemu, Michael D. Grove, Alexandros T. Theos, Alpay Hizal, Victor A. Dorado Reyes