US 12,074,432 B2
Kickback control methods for a power tool including a force sensor
Maxwell L. Merget, Whitefish Bay, WI (US); and Jessie L Bernitt, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Assigned to Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed by MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed on Jun. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/328,348.
Application 18/328,348 is a continuation of application No. 17/194,722, filed on Mar. 8, 2021, granted, now 11,705,721.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/987,515, filed on Mar. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0318284 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. H02H 7/26 (2006.01); B25F 5/00 (2006.01); H02H 1/00 (2006.01); H02J 13/00 (2006.01); H02K 7/00 (2006.01); H02K 7/14 (2006.01); H02K 11/215 (2016.01); B25D 17/24 (2006.01)
CPC H02H 7/26 (2013.01) [B25F 5/001 (2013.01); H02H 1/0007 (2013.01); H02K 7/003 (2013.01); H02K 7/145 (2013.01); H02K 11/215 (2016.01); B25D 17/24 (2013.01); B25D 2250/095 (2013.01); H02J 13/00002 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power tool comprising:
a housing having a nose portion, a handle portion, and a battery pack interface;
a fastener magazine coupled to the housing and configured to receive a fastener;
a fastener firing portion disposed in the housing configured to fire the fastener located in the fastener magazine;
a trigger configured to receive user input to cause the fastener firing portion to fire the fastener;
a grip sensor supported by the housing and configured to generate a grip signal, wherein the grip signal represents a user grip on the handle portion;
a surface sensor disposed on the portion of the housing, the surface sensor configured to generate a surface sensor signal when the surface sensor is pressed against a surface;
an electronic processor connected to the grip sensor and the surface sensor and configured to:
determine, based on the grip signal, whether the user is holding the handle portion,
determine, based on the surface sensor signal, whether the power tool is pressed against a surface based on the surface sensor signal, and
control, in response to the trigger receiving user input, in response to determining, based on the grip signal, that the user holding the handle portion, and in response to determining, based on the surface sensor signal, that the power tool is being pressed against a surface, the fastener firing portion to fire the fastener.