Abstract: A power tool is provided including a brushless electric motor, a switching arrangement having motor switches and interposed between the electric motor and a power supply, and a controller configured to control a switching operation of the motor switches for driving the electric motor and enforce a current limit on the current delivered to the electric motor. The controller receives a measure of current passing from the power supply to the switching arrangement and takes corrective action to reduce current delivered to the electric motor if the measured current exceeds the current limit. The controller further receives a signal corresponding to at least one of a type and/or a nominal voltage of the power supply and sets the current limit based on the received signal.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a tool housing, an electric motor disposed inside the tool housing, a power interface facilitating a connection to a power source, a plurality of power components arranged to modulate a supply of power from the power interface to the electric motor, a user-actuated input unit providing an analog signal corresponding to a desired rotational speed of the electric motor, and a control unit is receiving the analog signal from the user-actuated input unit. The control unit includes a controller configured to control a switching operation of the power components based on the analog signal to regulate an amount of electric power being supplied to the electric motor, and an input detection unit configured to generate an ON/OFF signal to turn on the controller based on detection of a prescribed change in the analog signal indicative of an initial actuation of the user-actuation unit.

Abstract: A power tool includes a tool body including a motor having an output member that drives an accessory. A chuck is coupled for rotation with the output member relative to the tool body and configured to retain the accessory. The chuck has a chuck body that defines at least one light pipe formed therethrough. A light source disposed on a light ring coupled to the tool body and includes at least one light. Each at least one light source aligns with each of the at least one light pipe intermittently during rotation of the chuck.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a brushless motor. A power supply interface is arranged to receive at least one of AC power from an AC power supply having a first nominal voltage or DC power from a DC power supply having a second nominal voltage, where the first and second nominal voltages both fall approximately within the operating voltage range of the motor. A motor control circuit is provided including a rectifier circuit converting the AC power to a rectified voltage signal, a power switch circuit having power switches to supply electric power from at least one of the DC power or the rectified voltage signal to the motor, and a controller controlling a switching operation of the power switches to regulate the supply of electric power to the motor at a level corresponding to the operating voltage range of the motor.

Abstract: A power tool includes a tool body including a motor having an output member that drives an accessory. A chuck is coupled for rotation with the output member relative to the tool body and configured to retain the accessory. The chuck has a chuck body that defines at least one light pipe formed therethrough. A light source disposed on a light ring coupled to the tool body and includes at least one light. Each at least one light source aligns with each of the at least one light pipe intermittently during rotation of the chuck.

Abstract: A power tool is provided with a multi-phase brushless motor including a rotor and a stator having stator windings corresponding to at least three phases of the motor. A power switch circuit is provided including high-side and low-side power switches. A power supply interface receives alternating-current (AC) power from an AC power supply or battery direct-current (DC) power from one or more battery packs. A rectifier converts the AC power to a rectified DC voltage on a bus line. A capacitor is disposed across the bus line such that, within each half cycle of the AC power voltage waveform, the power switch circuit draws current from the AC power supply within a first time period and from the capacitor within a second time period, the capacitor having a capacitance value such that the first time period is greater than the second time period.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a brushless motor having a rotor and a stator. A power supply interface is arranged to selectively receive a first power input from a first power supply having a first nominal voltage and a second power input from a second power supply having a second nominal voltage, where the second nominal voltage is less than the first nominal voltage. A motor control circuit is provided including a power switch circuit having a power switches disposed between the power supply interface and the motor, and a controller outputting drive signals to the power switches within each phase of the motor to control power supplied to the brushless motor from the power supplies. Each phase is associated with a conduction band (CB). The controller sets the conduction band for each phase to a first CB value when receiving power from the first power supply and to a second CB value that is less that the first CB value when receiving power from the second power supply.

Abstract: A power adapter for use with a power tool having an electric motor, and configured to supply electric power from an alternating current power supply to the power tool, is provided. The adapter includes a housing and an auxiliary capacitor circuit housed within the housing. The auxiliary capacitor circuit includes an auxiliary capacitor, a switch in series with the auxiliary capacitor, and a switch control circuit. A state of the switch creates either a charging path for the auxiliary capacitor or both the charging path and a discharging path for the auxiliary capacitor, and the switch control circuit is configured to detect voltage associated with the power supply or the power tool and to control state of the switch in accordance with magnitude of the detected voltage.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a brushless electric motor, a switching arrangement having motor switches and interposed between the electric motor and a power supply, and a controller configured to control a switching operation of the motor switches for driving the electric motor and enforce a current limit on the current delivered to the electric motor. The controller receives a measure of current passing from the power supply to the switching arrangement and takes corrective action to reduce current delivered to the electric motor if the measured current exceeds the current limit. The controller is further configured to initiate a protective response if a number of time intervals in which the measured current exceeds the current limit exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including an electric universal motor configured to operate within an operating voltage range of approximately 90V to 132V. A power supply interface is arranged to receive at least one of Alternating Current (AC) power from an AC power supply having a first nominal voltage or Direct Current (DC) power from a DC power supply having a second nominal voltage, where the first and second nominal voltages fall approximately within the operating voltage range of the motor. The power supply interface is configured to output the AC power via an AC power line and the DC power via a DC power line. A motor control circuit supplies electric power from one of the AC power line or the DC power line via a common node to the motor such that the motor brushes are electrically coupled to one of the AC or DC power supplies.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including an electric universal motor. A power supply interface is arranged to receive at least one of Alternating Current (AC) power from an AC power supply having a first nominal voltage higher than the operating voltage of the motor, or Direct Current (DC) power from a DC power supply having a second nominal voltage that falls approximately within the operating voltage range of the motor. The power supply interface outputs the AC power via an AC power line and the DC power via a DC power line. A motor control circuit supplies electric power from one of the AC power line or the DC power line via a common node, and reduces a supply of power from the AC power line to a level corresponding to the operating voltage of the operating voltage range of the motor.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a brushless motor having a rotor and a stator. A power supply interface is arranged to selectively receive a first power input from a first power supply having a first nominal voltage and a second power input from a second power supply having a second nominal voltage, where at least the first nominal voltage does not fall within approximately the operating voltage range of the motor. A motor control circuit is provided including a power switch circuit having power switches that supply electric power from at least one of the first power input or the second power input to the motor, and a controller that controls a switching operation of the power switches to optimize the supply of electric power from the first power input at a level corresponding to the operating voltage range of the motor.

Abstract: Typically, power factor is improved by adding a full power factor correction (PFC) stage between the rectifier and the power converter. This disclosure applies line voltage modulation to the control feedback of an isolated full bridge converter, thereby combining the PFC stage with the isolated power stage and forming a single state isolated power converter.

Abstract: An electronic power apparatus includes a housing, a pair of input power pins and a pair of output power pins, and power components mounted on a power circuit board and electrically connected to the input power pins and the output power pins to modulate a supply of power from the input power pins to the output power pins. A control unit of the electronic power apparatus is disposed at a distance from the power circuit board and substantially parallel to the power circuit board, both the control circuit board and the power circuit board arranged inside the housing. A user-actuated input unit is provided including a variable-speed actuator a first portion of which is at least partially arranged outside the housing to be engageable by a user and a second portion of which is slidably sandwiched between the power circuit board and the control circuit board along an axis substantially parallel to the power circuit board and the control circuit board.

Abstract: A power adapter for use with a power tool having an electric motor, and configured to supply electric power from an alternating current power supply to the power tool, is provided. The adapter includes a housing and an auxiliary capacitor circuit housed within the housing. The auxiliary capacitor circuit includes an auxiliary capacitor, a switch in series with the auxiliary capacitor, and a switch control circuit. A state of the switch creates either a charging path for the auxiliary capacitor or both the charging path and a discharging path for the auxiliary capacitor, and the switch control circuit is configured to detect voltage associated with the power supply or the power tool and to control state of the switch in accordance with magnitude of the detected voltage.

Abstract: Conduction band control schemes are presented for reducing noise and/or lower harmonics in power tools. A controller in the tool is interfaced with a plurality of motor switches and, for each phase, operates to output a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal to one or more of the motor switches to control power supplied to the electric motor. The controller is also configured to monitor a parameter indicative of the load on the motor. In response to detecting a load greater than a threshold, the controller controls power output of the motor by setting conduction band of the motor switches and the advance angle to baseline values predetermined values. In response to detecting a load less than the threshold, the controller reduces at least one of the conduction band and the advance angle to a value less than the baseline values.

Abstract: A power tool is configured to receive power from a power supply. The power tool may include a rectifier that may output a rectified signal to a DC power bus. A switching arrangement may operate to deliver electric power from the DC power bus to an electric motor. A switch path may be electrically coupled in parallel with the rectifier on the DC power bus. The switch path includes an auxiliary capacitor in series with a switch and a state of the switch controls a discharging path for the auxiliary capacitor. A switch control circuit may be configured to detect voltage associated with at least one of the AC power supply or the DC power bus and to control state of the switch in accordance with magnitude of the detected voltage.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including an electric universal motor. A power supply interface is arranged to receive at least one of Alternating Current (AC) power from an AC power supply having a first nominal voltage higher than the operating voltage of the motor, or Direct Current (DC) power from a DC power supply having a second nominal voltage that falls approximately within the operating voltage range of the motor. The power supply interface outputs the AC power via an AC power line and the DC power via a DC power line. A motor control circuit supplies electric power from one of the AC power line or the DC power line via a common node, and reduces a supply of power from the AC power line to a level corresponding to the operating voltage of the operating voltage range of the motor.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including an electric direct-current (DC) motor. A power supply interface is arranged to receive at least one of Alternating Current (AC) power from an AC power supply having a first nominal voltage, or Direct Current (DC) power from a DC power supply having a second nominal voltage. The power supply interface outputs the AC power via an AC power line and the DC power via a DC power line. A motor control circuit supplies electric power from one of the AC power line or the DC power line via a common node.

Abstract: Typically, power factor is improved by adding a full power factor correction (PFC) stage between the rectifier and the power converter. This disclosure applies line voltage modulation to the control feedback of an isolated full bridge converter, thereby combining the PFC stage with the isolated power stage and forming a single state isolated power converter.