Abstract: An electric grinding tool includes a motor housing coupleable to an electrical power source, a motor configured to receive power from the electrical power source and including an output shaft extending along a motor axis, a handgrip coupled to and coaxial with the motor housing, a tool holder rotatably driven upon rotation of the motor, the tool holder configured to receive a shaft of a grinding accessory, and a light unit coupled to and at least partially recessed in a front end portion of the electric grinding tool. The light unit includes a plurality of lights mounted to an at least partially ring shaped printed circuit board that is received in a support ring, and a cover ring received over the lights.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a tool housing, a brushless DC (BLDC) motor assembly disposed within the tool housing, and a power module including a printed circuit board (PCB) and power switches mounted on the PCB and electrically coupled to the motor assembly. The PCB includes a width that is greater than a diameter of the motor assembly. A mounting bracket is secured to an end of the motor assembly and includes a mating portion arranged to mate with the end of the motor assembly, mount posts extending radially-outwardly from the mating portion, and axial walls extending between outer ends of the mount posts and at least partially housing the power module to support the PCB in a substantially parallel orientation relative to the rear end of the motor assembly.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a tool housing, a brushless DC (BLDC) motor assembly disposed within the tool housing, and a power module including a printed circuit board (PCB) and power switches mounted on the PCB and electrically coupled to the motor assembly. The PCB includes a width that is greater than a diameter of the motor assembly. A mounting bracket is secured to an end of the motor assembly and includes a mating portion arranged to mate with the end of the motor assembly, mount posts extending radially-outwardly from the mating portion, and axial walls extending between outer ends of the mount posts and at least partially housing the power module to support the PCB in a substantially parallel orientation relative to the rear end of the motor assembly.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses provide for technology that includes a motor, a trigger assembly including a trigger member and an elastomer member mechanically coupled to the trigger member and moveable along a movement axis, wherein the elastomer member includes an electrically-conductive non-planar surface, a controller configured to operate the motor, and a circuit board oriented substantially perpendicularly to the movement axis, the circuit board including a plurality of conductive tracks facing the non-planar surface coupled to a resistor divider, and wherein controller is configured to vary a speed of the motor based on a number of the plurality of conductive tracks contacted by the non-planar surface of the elastomer member. The elastomer member may include a non-planar surface having a conductive central region, a conductive peripheral region and an insulative region positioned between the conductive central region and the conductive peripheral region.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, a brushless motor disposed within the housing, a power switch circuit that supplies power from a power source to the brushless motor, and a controller configured to apply a drive signal to the power switch circuit to control the supply of power to the brushless motor. The controller is configured to receive at least one signal associated with a phase current of the motor, detect an angular position of the rotor based on the phase current of the motor within a variable speed range of zero to at least 15,000 rotations-per-minute (RPM), and control the drive signal based on the detected angular position of the rotor to electronically commutate the motor within a torque range of zero to at least 15 newton-meters (N.m.) and a power output of zero to at least 1500 watts.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, a brushless motor disposed within the housing, a power switch circuit that supplies power from a power source to the brushless motor, and a controller configured to apply a drive signal to the power switch circuit to control the supply of power to the brushless motor. The controller is configured to receive at least one signal associated with a phase current of the motor, detect an angular position of the rotor based on the phase current of the motor within a variable speed range of zero to at least 15,000 rotations-per-minute (RPM), and control the drive signal based on the detected angular position of the rotor to electronically commutate the motor within a power output of zero to at least 1500 watts.

Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, an output spindle configured to be driven by the motor, an input switch, and a controller configured to control power being delivered to the motor. The controller is operable in one of: (a) a normal mode where the controller causes continuous electric power to be delivered to the motor during actuation of the input switch in a first range of positions; and (b) a feathering mode where the controller causes discontinuous electric power to be delivered to the motor during actuation of the input switch in a second range of positions that is different from the first range of positions motor to simulate feathering the input switch.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a motor housing having a substantially-cylindrical main body having an open end and a rear end. A brushless DC motor is provided including a stator assembly received through the open end of the motor housing and secured within the main body of the motor housing. A motor control and power module disposed proximate the rear end of the motor housing includes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which power switch and a controller are mounted. A mounting bracket is secured to the motor housing at the rear end to support the module such that the PCB is substantially parallel to the rear end. The mounting bracket includes a mating portion projecting axially to come to contact with the motor housing around the rear end to structurally support the mounting bracket with respect to the motor housing.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, a brushless motor disposed within the housing, a power switch circuit that supplies power from a power source to the brushless motor, and a controller configured to receive at least one signal associated with a phase current of the motor, detect an angular position of the rotor based on the phase current of the motor, and apply a drive signal to the power switch circuit to control a commutation of the motor based on the detected angular position of the rotor. The controller detects an initial sector within which the rotor is located at start-up, apply the drive signal so as to rotate the motor to a parking angle associated with the detected initial sector, and control a commutation sequence to drive the motor beginning at the parking angle.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, a brushless motor disposed within the housing, a power switch circuit that supplies power from a power source to the brushless motor, and a controller configured to receive at least one signal associated with a phase current of the motor, detect an angular position of the rotor based on the phase current of the motor, and apply a drive signal to the power switch circuit to control a commutation of the motor based on the detected angular position of the rotor. If the supply of power to the motor is turned OFF to cause the motor to slow down and is turned back ON while the rotor speed exceeds a speed threshold, the controller electronically brakes the motor for a time interval to measure the phase current of the motor and detects the angular position of the rotor based on the measured phase current.

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 provided including a housing, a brushless motor disposed within the housing, a power switch circuit that supplies power from a power source to the brushless motor, and a controller configured to receive at least one signal associated with a phase current of the motor, detect an angular position of the rotor based on the phase current of the motor, and apply a drive signal to the power switch circuit to control a commutation of the motor based on the detected angular position of the rotor. The controller detects an initial sector within which the rotor is located at start-up, apply the drive signal so as to rotate the motor to a parking angle associated with the detected initial sector, and control a commutation sequence to drive the motor beginning at the parking angle.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, a brushless motor disposed within the housing, a power switch circuit that supplies power from a power source to the brushless motor, and a controller configured to apply a drive signal to the power switch circuit to control the supply of power to the brushless motor. The controller is configured to receive at least one signal associated with a phase current of the motor, detect an angular position of the rotor based on the phase current of the motor within a variable speed range of zero to at least 15,000 rotations-per-minute (RPM), and control the drive signal based on the detected angular position of the rotor to electronically commutate the motor within a torque range of zero to at least 15 newton-meters (N.m.) and a power output of zero to at least 1500 watts.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, a brushless motor disposed within the housing, a power switch circuit that supplies power from a power source to the brushless motor, and a controller configured to receive at least one signal associated with a phase current of the motor, detect an angular position of the rotor based on the phase current of the motor, and apply a drive signal to the power switch circuit to control a commutation of the motor based on the detected angular position of the rotor. If the supply of power to the motor is turned OFF to cause the motor to slow down and is turned back ON while the rotor speed exceeds a speed threshold, the controller electronically brakes the motor for a time interval to measure the phase current of the motor and detects the angular position of the rotor based on the measured phase current.

Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, an output spindle configured to be driven by the motor, an input switch, and a controller configured to control power being delivered to the motor. The controller is operable in one of: (a) a normal mode where the controller causes continuous electric power to be delivered to the motor during actuation of the input switch in a first range of positions; and (b) a feathering mode where the controller causes discontinuous electric power to be delivered to the motor during actuation of the input switch in a second range of positions that is different from the first range of positions motor to simulate feathering the input switch.

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 includes a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, an output spindle configured to be driven by the motor, an input switch, and a controller configured to control power being delivered to the motor. The controller is operable in one of: (a) a normal mode where the controller causes continuous electric power to be delivered to the motor during actuation of the input switch in a first range of positions; and (b) a feathering mode where the controller causes discontinuous electric power to be delivered to the motor during actuation of the input switch in a second range of positions that is different from the first range of positions motor to simulate feathering the input switch.

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 tool housing; at least one battery receptacle accommodated on the tool housing, the battery receptacle being adapted to receive a battery pack having a maximum voltage of at least 60 volts; and a brushless DC (BLDC) motor disposed within the tool housing, the motor including a stator assembly and a rotor assembly rotatably disposed within the stator assembly. A motor control and power module is disposed in close proximity to the motor, including a power switch circuit electrically coupled to the motor and a first controller configured to control a switching operation of the power switch circuit for supply of power from the battery pack to the motor. A battery management control module is disposed in close proximity to the battery receptacle, including a second controller distinct from the first controller, the second controller configured to manage an operation of the battery pack.

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.