Toolz, Ltd.

Robotoolz Limited

Robert Bosch Co., Ltd.

Rick Feffer

Eugene F Duval

William Mitchell Scott

Daniel Thomas Adams

Christopher Tacklind

Andrew G Butler

Aragon Burlingham

Gene Duval

Jonathan Carver

Lance Reisman

Jon Carver

William Scott

Dan Adams

A tool operates with a guide system to identify the orientation of a tool on a work piece. In one implementation, the tool identifies its orientation with respect to a guide signal supplied by the guide system. In an alternate embodiment, the tool determines its absolute orientation, such as a (x, y) coordinate. The tool includes an action component adapted to alter the work piece, such as a cutting head in a router. A guide detector in the tool detects a position of a guide signal from the guide system. A location detector in the tool receives the position data and employs it to determine the tool's orientation. Based on the detected orientation, the tool decides whether any tool adjustments are necessary. Examples of tool adjustments include the following: adjusting the position of the action component, enabling or disabling the action component, and providing operating indicators to direct a tool operator's use of the tool.

Tools with orientation detection

A tool is employed in conjunction with alignment, depth, and level detectors. The tool can use all or some of these detectors. The alignment detector provides an orthogonal laser line grid on an incident surface when the detector has a predefined relationship with the surface. The depth detector emits two sets of parallel laser planes that converge with each other. When the laser planes impact on an incident surface two sets of lines are formed. The laser lines from one laser plane set move closer to the lines from the other laser plane set as the depth detector moves closer to the surface&#x2014;showing changes in depth or distance. The level detector employs two converging laser planes. An operator positions the level detector above an incident surface, so the laser planes' line of intersection appears on the surface if the surface is level. If the surface is not level, lines separate from each laser plane appear on the surface&#x2014;signaling the need for a level adjustment. Some versions of the tool have the ability to detect their own orientation and make adjustments based on the orientation. Example tools include nail guns, jigsaws, circular saws, routers, and drills.

Detecting tool orientation, alignment, depth, and leveling

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Aptos, CA, United States of America

Rick Feffer