Patents by Inventor Mitchell A. Ellena

Mitchell A. Ellena 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).

  • Patent number: 11919135
    Abstract: Power tools described herein include a tool output, a motor driving the tool output, a battery pack interface, a power switching network coupled between the battery pack interface and the motor, and a controller coupled to the power switching network to control operation of the motor. The controller is configured to operate the motor at a no-load speed at startup and detect a load state of the power tool. The load state indicates whether the power tool is in a loaded state or an unloaded state. The controller is also configured to incrementally ramp up a speed of the motor from the no-load speed to a selected speed when the power tool is in the loaded state and incrementally ramp down the speed of the motor from the selected speed to the no-load speed when the power tool is in the unloaded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Panetta, Carter H. Ypma, Arik A. Miller, Mitchell A. Ellena
  • Publication number: 20230381938
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing an electronic clutch in a powered fastener driver. One fastener driver includes a motor, a trigger, a position sensor, a speed sensor, and a controller. The position sensor is configured to sense a position of the lifting assembly. The speed sensor is configured to sense a speed of the motor. The controller is configured to provide power to the motor. The controller is configured to receive speed signals from the speed sensor indicative of the speed of the motor, and determine whether the speed of the motor has dropped by a speed drop threshold within a first period of time. The controller is configured to activate an electronic clutch to electronically brake the motor for a second period of time. In response to the second period of time having passed, the controller is configured to provide power to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Arik A. Miller, Jonathon N. Gasteiner, Mitchell A. Ellena, Austin Gaspar, Robert Keys
  • Publication number: 20230378853
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing having a motor housing portion and a handle portion. A motor having a motor axis is positioned within the motor housing portion. The power tool further includes a first printed circuit board positioned within the motor housing portion. The first printed circuit board intersects the motor axis. The power tool also includes a second printed circuit board positioned within the motor housing. The second printed circuit board intersects the motor axis. The second printed circuit board includes a conductive high impedance trace that is configured to interrupt electric power to the motor in response to a current that exceeds a current limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Lokeshwaran Rajendran, Ryan A. Khatib, Noah P. Seiler, Mitchell A. Ellena, Daniel J. Tomcheck, Jack J. Glennon
  • Publication number: 20230264332
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a housing, a nosepiece extending from the housing, a driver blade movable within the nosepiece between a ready position and a driven position the driver blade comprising a plurality of drive teeth on a first side of the driver blade and a plurality of locking projections on a second side of the driver blade, a piston coupled to the driver blade for movement therewith, a driver cylinder within which the piston is movable, a storage chamber cylinder containing pressurized gas therein and in fluid communication with the driver cylinder, a first end of the driver cylinder being affixed to a corresponding first end of the storage chamber cylinder, and a latch actuator assembly adjacent the driver blade, wherein the latch actuator assembly includes a latch to engage one of the plurality of locking projections to prevent the driver blade from moving toward the driven position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Ivan N. Zozulya, Travis W. Leathrum, Troy C. Thorson, Michael B. Koeppel, Bradley S. Houskamp, Lokeshwaran Rajendran, Mitchell A. Ellena, David C. Graf, Caleb M. Schober
  • Publication number: 20220001525
    Abstract: Power tools described herein include a tool output, a motor driving the tool output, a battery pack interface, a power switching network coupled between the battery pack interface and the motor, and a controller coupled to the power switching network to control operation of the motor. The controller is configured to operate the motor at a no-load speed at startup and detect a load state of the power tool. The load state indicates whether the power tool is in a loaded state or an unloaded state. The controller is also configured to incrementally ramp up a speed of the motor from the no-load speed to a selected speed when the power tool is in the loaded state and incrementally ramp down the speed of the motor from the selected speed to the no-load speed when the power tool is in the unloaded state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Michael J. Panetta, Carter H. Ypma, Arik A. Miller, Mitchell A. Ellena
  • Publication number: 20200114500
    Abstract: A gas spring-powered fastener driver includes a cylinder, a moveable piston positioned within the cylinder, and a driver blade attached to the piston and movable therewith between a top-dead-center (TDC) position and a driven or bottom-dead-center (BDC) position. The driver blade defines a driving axis. The driver blade includes a body having a first side and an opposite, second side with the driving axis passing therebetween. A plurality of teeth extends from the first side of the body. A plurality of projections extends from the second side of the body. The body, the teeth, and the projections are bisected by a common plane. A lifter is operable to move the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position, and is engageable with the teeth. A latch assembly is movable between a latched state, and a released state. The latch assembly is configured to engage with the projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: David Bierdeman, Andrew R. Wyler, Nicholas A. Albers, Mitchell Ellena