Abstract: An impact power tool includes a housing, a motor, a controller, an impact mechanism configured to be driven by the motor, and an output spindle configured to receive rotational impacts from the impact mechanism to rotate the output spindle. The controller is configured to detect a first impact of the rotational impacts or to detect when the motor speed drops below a speed threshold value. The controller is configured to control the motor to have a first non-zero target rotational speed using closed loop control for a predetermined time period after the first impact is detected or when the motor speed dropping below the speed threshold value is detected. The controller is configured to control the motor to have a second non-zero target rotational speed using the closed loop control after the predetermined time period. The first non-zero target rotational speed is less than the second non-zero target rotational speed.

Abstract: An impact power tool includes a housing, a motor, a controller, an impact mechanism configured to be driven by the motor, and an output spindle configured to receive rotational impacts from the impact mechanism to rotate the output spindle. The controller is configured to detect a first impact of the rotational impacts or to detect when the motor speed drops below a speed threshold value. The controller is configured to control the motor to have a first non-zero target rotational speed using closed loop control for a predetermined time period after the first impact is detected or when the motor speed dropping below the speed threshold value is detected. The controller is configured to control the motor to have a second non-zero target rotational speed using the closed loop control after the predetermined time period. The first non-zero target rotational speed is less than the second non-zero target rotational speed.

Abstract: An impact power tool includes a brushless motor, a power switch, an output spindle, and an impact mechanism configured to selectively apply rotational impacts to the output spindle when a torque on the output spindle exceeds a torque threshold. A controller is configured to control power delivery to the motor to selectively cause the motor to operate in a first mode for installing a fastener or in a second mode for removing a fastener. In the first mode, the controller is configured to control the motor with a first conduction band value and a first advance angle value during a first time period until a first parameter is reached, and to control the motor with a second conduction band value and a second advance angle value, at least one of which is greater than the first conduction band value and the first advance angle value, after the first time period.

Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a brushless motor received in the housing, a power switch coupled to the housing and actuatable by a user, a controller configured to control power delivery to the motor in response to actuation of the power switch, and an output spindle configured to rotate when the motor is energized. The controller is configured to maintain an amount of current delivered to the motor to be less than or equal to a current limit by turning off or reducing power to the motor for a time period if the current exceeds the current limit and then restarting power delivery to the motor. The time period is greater than the duration of one full current cycle.

Abstract: An impact power tool includes a housing, a motor, a controller, an output member configured to be rotated when the motor is energized, and an impact mechanism configured to rotationally drive the output member. The impact mechanism is configured to selectively apply rotational impacts to the output member when a torque on the output member exceeds a torque threshold. The controller is configured to control the motor during a first phase of operation with open loop control and a baseline conduction band and advance angle setting when a sensed tool operation parameter is one of above or below a threshold value. The controller is configured to control the motor during a second phase of operation with closed speed loop control and an increased conduction band and advance angle setting when the sensed tool operation parameter is the other of above or below the threshold value.

Abstract: An impact power tool includes a housing, a motor, a controller, an output member configured to be rotated when the motor is energized, and an impact mechanism configured to rotationally drive the output member. The impact mechanism is configured to selectively apply rotational impacts to the output member when a torque on the output member exceeds a torque threshold. The controller is configured to control the motor during a first phase of operation with open loop control and a baseline conduction band and advance angle setting when a sensed tool operation parameter is one of above or below a threshold value. The controller is configured to control the motor during a second phase of operation with closed speed loop control and an increased conduction band and advance angle setting when the sensed tool operation parameter is the other of above or below the threshold value.

Abstract: An impact power tool includes a motor, a controller, and an impact mechanism configured to rotationally drive an output spindle. The controller is configured to control power delivered to the motor, during a third phase of operation after a second phase of operation and starting upon expiration of a predetermined time period. The third phase has one or more of a third non-zero target rotational speed, a third duty cycle setting, a third conduction band setting, or a third advance angle setting. The controller is configured to control power delivered to the motor, during a fourth phase of operation after the third phase upon detection of a reduction in load on the output spindle or cessation of impacting. The fourth phase has one or more of a fourth non-zero target rotational speed, a fourth duty cycle setting, a fourth conduction band setting, or a fourth advance angle setting.

Abstract: A system is provided with a set of removable battery packs and a set of power tools each including a motor, a controller, and a battery receiving portion. For each power tool, the controller is configured to identify a type of battery pack coupled to the battery receiving portion and set a conduction band associated with phases of the motor or an advance angle by which phases of the motor are shifted based on the identified type of the battery pack.

Abstract: A system is provided with a set of removable battery packs and a set of power tools each including a motor, a controller, and a battery receiving portion. For each power tool, the controller is configured to identify a type of battery pack coupled to the battery receiving portion and limit a maximum amount of electric current drawn from the battery pack by the motor based on the identified type of the battery pack. The greater a ratio of an impedance of the motor to an impedance of the battery pack, the less the controller limits the maximum amount of electric current drawn from the battery pack such that for a given battery pack of the set of removable battery packs, the lower the impedance of the motor, the more current the motor draws from the given battery pack.

Abstract: An impact power tool includes a housing, a motor, a controller, an output member configured to be rotated when the motor is energized, and an impact mechanism configured to rotationally drive the output member. The impact mechanism is configured to selectively apply rotational impacts to the output member when a torque on the output member exceeds a torque threshold. The controller is configured to control the motor during a first phase of operation with open loop control and a baseline conduction band and advance angle setting when a sensed tool operation parameter is one of above or below a threshold value. The controller is configured to control the motor during a second phase of operation with closed speed loop control and an increased conduction band and advance angle setting when the sensed tool operation parameter is the other of above or below the threshold value.

Abstract: An impact power tool includes a housing, a motor, a controller, an impact mechanism configured to be driven by the motor, and an output spindle configured to receive rotational impacts from the impact mechanism to rotate the output spindle. The controller is configured to detect a first impact of the rotational impacts or to detect when the motor speed drops below a speed threshold value. The controller is configured to control the motor to have a first non-zero target rotational speed using closed loop control for a predetermined time period after the first impact is detected or when the motor speed dropping below the speed threshold value is detected. The controller is configured to control the motor to have a second non-zero target rotational speed using the closed loop control after the predetermined time period. The first non-zero target rotational speed is less than the second non-zero target rotational speed.

Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a brushless motor received in the housing, a power switch coupled to the housing and actuatable by a user, a controller configured to control power delivery to the motor in response to actuation of the power switch, and an output spindle configured to rotate when the motor is energized. The controller is configured to maintain an amount of current delivered to the motor to be less than or equal to a current limit by turning off or reducing power to the motor for a time period if the current exceeds the current limit and then restarting power delivery to the motor. The time period is greater than the duration of one full current cycle.

Abstract: A system is provided with a set of removable battery packs and a set of power tools each including a motor, a controller, and a battery receiving portion. For each power tool, the controller is configured to identify a type of battery pack coupled to the battery receiving portion and limit a maximum amount of electric current drawn from the battery pack by the motor based on the identified type of the battery pack. The greater a ratio of an impedance of the motor to an impedance of the battery pack, the less the controller limits the maximum amount of electric current drawn from the battery pack such that for a given battery pack of the set of removable battery packs, the lower the impedance of the motor, the more current the motor draws from the given battery pack.

Abstract: A power tool is provided, including a housing; a brushless DC (BLDC) motor arranged within the housing, the motor including a stator and a rotor rotatably disposed within the stator; a power module electrically disposed between the motor and a power supply, the power module including power switches; an actuator engageable by a user; and a control module configured to control a switching operation of the power switches to begin supply power to the motor when the actuator is engaged. The control module monitors engagement and disengagement events of the actuator, and ignores a subsequent engagement of the actuator if at least one of number of actuator engagement events and/or number of actuator disengagement events exceeds a predetermined threshold value within a predetermined time.

Abstract: A power tool is provided, including a housing; a brushless DC (BLDC) motor arranged within the housing, the motor including a stator and a rotor rotatably disposed within the stator; a power module electrically disposed between the motor and a power supply, the power module including power switches; an actuator engageable by a user; and a control module configured to control a switching operation of the power switches to begin supply power to the motor when the actuator is engaged. The control module monitors engagement and disengagement events of the actuator, and ignores a subsequent engagement of the actuator if at least one of number of actuator engagement events and/or number of actuator disengagement events exceeds a predetermined threshold value within a predetermined time.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.