Patents by Inventor Michael K. Forster
Michael K. Forster 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: 8759991Abstract: A portable internal combustion engine and a charging device that generates AC power are supported on a manually movable frame. A coupling mechanism which can include a starter circuit and starting device, or a charging circuit and charging device, or both device couples a battery receptacle terminal block to the internal combustion engine. The battery receptacle can include various features to permit and retain electrical coupling between a battery pack for a cordless power tool. For example, key protrusions and corresponding recesses can be associating with latching projections. Additionally or alternatively, cooperating rails and recesses may be associated with the battery pack and receptacle, respectively. Spring loaded movable clips or resilient flexing clips can be included to act on the battery pack. An electrical cord may also be used to couple receptacle terminals to the coupling mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey P. Grant, Michael K. Forster
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Publication number: 20140036482Abstract: A power tool system includes a tool body with a motor having an output member that drives an accessory. The output member defines an output member axis. An end effector is coupled for rotation with the output member relative to the tool body. The end effector is configured to retain the accessory. A light source is disposed on the end effector. A consumable tool, such as a holesaw, is removably attachable to the end effector, and has an illumination opening configured to be substantially aligned with the light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Inventors: John C. Vanko, Tal Gottesman, Michael K. Forster, Daniel Puzio
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Publication number: 20140000921Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, an output shaft having a tool axis, and a motion sensor that senses motion of the tool housing. A control circuit receives an input signal from the motion sensor, to make a first determination, based on the input signal, whether the tool is being operated in a horizontal mode or a vertical mode. The control circuit makes a second determination, based on the input signal, whether the tool axis is substantially level when the tool is being operated in the horizontal mode or the tool axis is substantially plumb when the tool is being operated in the vertical mode. An indicator receives an output signal from the control circuit that causes the indicator to indicate whether the tool axis is level when being operated in the horizontal mode or plumb when being operated in the vertical mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.Inventors: John C. Vanko, Craig A. Schell, Robert S. Gehret, Michael K. Forster, Tal Gottesman, Sankarshan Murthy, Daniel Puzio, Joerg Zellerhoff, Robert A. Usselman, Scott J. Eshleman, Joao Norona
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Publication number: 20130240229Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Inventors: Michael K. Forster, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Samuel G. Woods, Craig A. Schell, Nathan J. Cruise
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Patent number: 8446120Abstract: A power tool includes a tool housing, an electric motor inside the housing, and a power interface facilitating a connection to a power source. At least four actively-controlled power components are configured as an H-bridge to modulate a supply of power from the power interface to the electric motor. A user-actuated input unit outputs a first signal indicative of a desired power output level to the electric motor and a second signal indicative of a desired direction of current flow to the electric motor. A control unit controls the supply of power to the electric motor using two of said power components with synchronous rectification for pulse-width modulation (PWM) of the supply of power based on the first signal, and to control the direction of current flow to the electric motor using the other two of said power components based on the second signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2012Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Michael K. Forster, Matthew Velderman, John C. Vanko
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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: 20130021783Abstract: A power tool includes a tool body having an output member that drives an accessory. An end effector is coupled for rotation with the output member. A light source is disposed on the end effector. A primary coil assembly is configured on the tool body and mounted concentric to the output member. The primary coil assembly includes a primary coil that is electrically connected to a power source of the power tool. A secondary coil assembly is configured on the end effector and mounted concentric to the output member. The secondary coil assembly includes a secondary coil that is electrically connected to the light source. Current flowing through the primary coil creates a magnetic field that causes current to flow through the secondary winding and power the light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2012Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.Inventors: John C. Vanko, Tal Gottesman, Daniel Puzio, Michael K. Forster, John D. Cox, Joseph P. Kelleher, Stuart Garber, Joerg Zellerhoff, Joao Norona, Robert S. Gehret, Scott Eshleman, Stephen P. Osborne, Brian E. Friedman, Robert A. Usselman, Anatoliy Nosov, Michael C. Doyle
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Patent number: 8316958Abstract: A control scheme is provided for a power tool having a rotary shaft. The control scheme includes: monitoring rotational motion of the tool generally about a longitudinal axis of the shaft; detecting a condition of the tool based on the rotational motion of the tool; and controlling torque imparted to the shaft upon detecting the tool condition, where the torque is inversely related to an angular displacement of the tool about the longitudinal axis of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2006Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Craig A. Schell, Michael K. Forster
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Publication number: 20120293099Abstract: An electronic power apparatus is provided, including a circuit board having a conductive pads and a sense pad coupled to an output signal, and an actuator having a wiper portion accommodating a conductive wiper. The wiper includes a first end arranged to engage the sense pad and a second end arranged to slidably engage at least one of the conductive pads on the circuit board. The conductive pads are arranged in a first row of conductive pads and a second row of conductive pads in parallel with and at a distance to the first row of conductive pads. An alignment of the second row of conductive pads is offset with respect to the first row of conductive pads.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Matthew Velderman, Michael K. Forster
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Publication number: 20120292067Abstract: 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 arranged on a control circuit board disposed at a distance from the power circuit board inside the housing. A user-actuated input unit of the electronic power apparatus includes a variable-speed actuator having a first portion at least partially arranged outside the housing to be engageable by a user and a second portion movably arranged between the power circuit board and the control circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Matthew Velderman, Michael K. Forster, Robert Marcinkowski
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Publication number: 20120292063Abstract: An electronic power apparatus includes a housing, a pair of input power pins, a pair of output power pins, power components arranged to modulate a supply of power from the input power pins to the output power pins, and a user-actuated input unit providing an analog signal indicative of a desired power output level of the output power pins. A control unit of the electronic power apparatus receives the analog signal from the user-actuated input unit. The control unit includes a controller to control a switching operation of the power components based on the analog signal, and an input detection unit to generate an ON/OFF signal to turn on the controller based detection of a prescribed change in the analog signal indicative of an initial actuation of the user-actuation unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Michael K. Forster, Matthew Velderman
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Publication number: 20120292068Abstract: An electronic power apparatus includes a housing, a pair of input power pins and a pair of output power pins mounted on a power circuit board, and power components mounted on the 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 arranged on a control circuit board disposed at a distance from the power circuit board inside the housing. The output power pins project through corresponding through-holes through the control circuit board to an outside part of the housing, the output pins having at least one side protrusion arranged to spatially support the control circuit board with respect to the power circuit board inside the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Matthew Velderman, Michael K. Forster
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Publication number: 20120293103Abstract: A power tool includes a tool housing, an electric motor inside the housing, and a power interface facilitating a connection to a power source. At least four actively-controlled power components are configured as an H-bridge to modulate a supply of power from the power interface to the electric motor. A user-actuated input unit outputs a first signal indicative of a desired power output level to the electric motor and a second signal indicative of a desired direction of current flow to the electric motor. A control unit controls the supply of power to the electric motor using two of said power components with synchronous rectification for pulse-width modulation (PWM) of the supply of power based on the first signal, and to control the direction of current flow to the electric motor using the other two of said power components based on the second signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Michael K. Forster, Matthew Velderman, John C. Vanko
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Patent number: 8188393Abstract: A universal termination system is provided for power tools. The universal termination system includes criteria for each of the main switch platforms that define the number, type, location and orientation of the terminations. That is, the number, type, location and orientation of the terminations in each main switch platform are standardized and the power tools that use that type main switch platform use the main switch platform having the standardized terminations. That is, power tools that use push button switches use the push button switch with the standardized terminations, power tools that use overhang switches use the overhang switch with the standardized terminations, and power tools that use in-line VSR switches use the in-line VSR switch with the standardized terminations. In an aspect of the invention, a right-angle pin terminal is received in one or more sets of the standardized terminations.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2006Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Garrett P. McCormick, Paul J. Wisniewski, Kevin M. Hogan, Eric J. Samuelsen, Peter Zhao, Kachi Ukeje-Eloagu, Michael A. Zemlock, Michael K. Forster
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Publication number: 20110285358Abstract: A portable internal combustion engine and a charging device that generates AC power are supported on a manually movable frame. A coupling mechanism which can include a starter circuit and starting device, or a charging circuit and charging device, or both device couples a battery receptacle terminal block to the internal combustion engine. The battery receptacle can include various features to permit and retain electrical coupling between a battery pack for a cordless power tool. For example, key protrusions and corresponding recesses can be associating with latching projections. Additionally or alternatively, cooperating rails and recesses may be associated with the battery pack and receptacle, respectively. Spring loaded movable clips or resilient flexing clips can be included to act on the battery pack. An electrical cord may also be used to couple receptacle terminals to the coupling mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.Inventors: Jeffrey P. Grant, Michael K. Forster
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Publication number: 20110254472Abstract: A power tool including a motor, an input unit such as a variable-speed trigger switch, and a controller is provided. The controller controls the speed of the motor as a function of the input level indicated by the electrical signal from the input unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: Black and Decker Inc.Inventors: Michael K. Forster, Jason K. Leh, Wing W. Lin
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Publication number: 20110248653Abstract: A method is provided for operating a power tool having a motor powered by a battery. The method includes: delivering power from the battery to the motor in accordance with an operator input; detecting a condition of the power tool indicating a shutdown of the power is imminent; and fading the power delivered from the battery to the motor, in response to the detected condition, through the use of a controller residing in the power tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.Inventors: Daniele C. Brotto, Michael K. Forster, Jason K. Leh, Wing W. Lin
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Patent number: 7989969Abstract: A portable internal combustion engine and a charging device that generates AC power are supported on a manually movable frame. A coupling mechanism which can include a starter circuit and starting device, or a charging circuit and charging device, or both device couples a battery receptacle terminal block to the internal combustion engine. The battery receptacle can include various features to permit and retain electrical coupling between a battery pack for a cordless power tool. For examples, key protrusions and corresponding recesses can be associating with latching projections. Additionally or alternatively, cooperating rails and recesses may be associated with the battery pack and receptacle, respectively. Spring loaded movable clips or resilient flexing clips can be included to act on the battery pack. An electrical cord may also be used to couple receptacle terminals to the coupling mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey P. Grant, Michael K. Forster
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Patent number: 7928673Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of different motors used in a corresponding plurality of power tool applications requiring different operational characteristics. In one implementation a method involves the use of a single universal control module to store a generic, non-application-specific control algorithm. The generic, non-application-specific control algorithm has at least one programmable constant. The programmable constant is selected to transform the generic, non-application-specific control algorithm into an application-specific control algorithm. The programmable constant represents a function parameter relating to a specific functionality of a specific, selected motor used in a specific, selected motor application to implement a phase control over the specific, selected motor.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2009Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Samuel G. Woods, Michael K. Forster, John C. Vanko, Daniele C. Brotto, Brian R. Crowell, Jason K. Leh
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Publication number: 20110058288Abstract: A protective redundancy circuit is provided for a power tool having an electric motor. The protective redundant subsystem is comprised of: a motor switch coupled in series with the motor; a motor control module that controls the switching operation of the motor switch; and a protective control module that monitors switching operation of the motor switch and disables the power tool when the switching operation of the motor switch fails. In the context of an AC powered tool, the switching operation of the motor switch is correlated to and synchronized to the waveform of the AC input signal. During each cycle or half cycle, the motor control module introduces a delay period before closing the motor switch and the protective control module determines the operational status of the motor switch by measuring the voltage across the motor switch during the delay period.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: John C. VANKO, Larry T. Albert, Michael K. Forster, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Jason K. Leh, Garrett P. McCormick, Samuel G. Woods, David R. Beers