A power tool includes an output shaft configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis, a motor drivably connected to the output shaft to impart rotary motions thereto, and a rotational motion sensor spatially separated from the output shaft and operable to determine the user-imparted rotational motion of the power tool with respect to the longitudinal axis. A controller is electrically connected to the rotational motion sensor and the motor. The controller determines angular velocity of the power tool about the axis, rotational displacement of the power tool about the axis, and/or a direction of the rotational displacement using input from the rotational motion sensor. The controller then controls the motor according to the angular velocity, the rotational displacement, and/or the direction of the rotational displacement.

Power screwdriver having rotary input control

A handheld surgical device includes a multi-position throttle, rotatably attached to the body of the device, to allow for ambidextrous positioning of a motor speed control lever. The motor speed control lever may interact with a speed control sensor in the body of the device capable of detecting the actuation level of the motor speed control lever in any one of two or more positions.

Method and device for ergonomically and ambidextrously operable surgical device

A power tool includes a housing, a motor, an output member driven by the motor, and a reaming attachment coupled to the output member. The reaming attachment has a front end portion selectively driven in rotation by the output member to drive a fastener into a workpiece, and a reaming portion selectively driven in rotation by the output member to remove material from an end surface of a conduit. A rotational motion sensor in the housing is operable to detect rotational motion of the housing about an axis. A controller receives a signal indicative of rotational motion from the sensor, determines a direction of the rotational motion of the housing, and drives the motor in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotational motion of the housing.

Power tool having rotary input control

Systems and methods for providing broadband internet access to mobile platforms such as vehicles, aircraft, and portable devices, using a network of one or more entities such as drones/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In one embodiment, the drone communication system comprises an antenna sub-system, a radio sub-system and a data switching sub-system. The mobile platforms comprise antenna and radio sub-systems to communicate with the drones, detect changes in the mobile platforms azimuth and elevation changes, and adjust the mobile platform's antenna beam to compensate for the orientation changes to optimally point toward the drones. The exemplary mobile platform further comprises methods to detect the need for handoff to a different drone and to carry out the handoff. A mechanism to improve coverage to mobile platforms that may see obstruction on their path to the drone network is also disclosed, as are apparatus and methods for cost efficiently providing reliable internet access to portable devices.

Broadband access to mobile platforms using drone/uav background

A control system is provided for use in a power tool The control system includes: a rotational rate sensor having a resonating mass and a controller electrically connected to the rotational rate sensor The rotational rate sensor detects lateral displacement of the resonating mass and generates a signal indicative of the detected lateral displacement, such that the lateral displacement is directly proportional to a rotational speed at which the power tool rotates about an axis of the rotary shaft Based on the generated signal, the controller initiates a protective operation to avoid further undesirable rotation of the power tool The controller may opt to reduce the torque applied to shaft to a non-zero value that enables the operator to regain control of the tool

Power tool anti-kickback system with rotational rate sensor

A radar system for discriminating between sources of radar interference and targets of interest. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting radar signals into a region, a receiver for receiving return signals of the radar signals returned from within the region, and a processor for processing the return signals to discriminate between return signals returned from a first object and return signals returned from a second object where the return signals from the second object comprise both zero and non-zero Doppler components and interfere with the return signals from the first object. The radar system is operable for discriminating between the return signals when the return signals are received at a distance from the second object which is less than a proximity limit based on the geometry of the object.

Radar system and method

A handwheel-operated device comprising a fixed body, a handwheel and a moveable body, the handwheel being rotatable relative to the fixed body and the moveable body moveable relative to the fixed body, and the device further comprising a first motor operable to actuate the moveable body, first sensor means responsive to the rotation of the handwheel and first control means operable in conjunction with the first sensor means to cause the first motor to rotate upon an angular displacement and/or angular velocity of the handwheel.

Handwheel-operated device

Cooling apparatus, for example a refrigerator (10), comprises a housing (11) having a casing (11) lined in part of the storage area of the apparatus by thermal insulation walls (12) defining an evacuatable cavity (12a). The housing (11) also contains an evacuatable storage compartment (13). For evacuating the cavity (12a) and the compartment (30) the apparatus comprises evacuating means in the form of a multi-stage pump unit (16) in which the stages (17, 18) thereof are operable in series to maintain the underpressure in the cavity and in parallel to produce un­derpressure in the compartment. Valves (22, 23, 24) are provided to switch the stages between serial and parallel operation and to selectively connect the stages exclusively with the wall cavity and exclusively with the compartment.

Multi-function evacuating system in cooling apparatus

The invention relates to display means for displaying the pressure ratio between a first zone under atmospheric pressure, for example a refrigeration compartment of a refrigerator and a second zone, which is separated from the first zone by a boundary wall (12) and in which a vacuum of reduced atmospheric pressure can be created. Said means contain an element (13), which is installed in the boundary wall (12) and is configured with a flexible construction, permitting it, for example, to be diverted from a first position (fig. 3A), which displays equivalent pressures in the zones into a second position (fig. 3B), which displays a lower pressure, in particular a desired vacuum pressure.

Display means for pressure ratios

Indicating means for indicating a pressure relationship between a first region at atmospheric pressure, for example a refrigerating compartment of a cooling appliance, and a second region separated from the first region by a boundary wall (12) and able to be evacuated to sub-atmospheric pressure comprises an element (14) incorporated in the wall (12) and arranged to be deflectable, for example by virtue of a flexible construction, between a first position (Fig. 3A) indicating equivalent pressures in the regions and a second position (Fig. 3B) indicating a lower pressure, in particular a desired level of vacuum, in the second region. The element may comprise a concavo-convex element which protrudes out of the second region before being deflected, and into the region after a reduction in pressure therein. Alternatively the element may retain the same shape, but be deflected towards the second region by means of a resilient corrugated annular section (figures 2A, 2B). The element may make on audible sound on deflection from the first position to the second position.

Craig Duncan Webster

Papers

Radar system and method

Handwheel-operated device

Multi-function evacuating system in cooling apparatus

Display means for pressure ratios

Pressure relationship indicating means