Kickback control methods for a power tool including a force sensor

1 . A power tool comprising:

a housing including a motor housing portion, a handle portion, and a battery pack interface;

a motor within the motor housing portion;

a trigger configured to be actuated to cause the power tool to drive the motor;

at least one grip sensor supported by the housing and configured to generate a grip parameter, wherein the grip parameter represents a user grip on the housing;

a switching network electrically coupled to the motor;

a transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device; and

an electronic processor connected to the transceiver, the switching network, and the trigger, wherein the electronic processor is configured to:

receive, from the external device via the transceiver, an indication of whether to perform kickback control;

determine a kickback threshold based on the grip parameter; and

control, in response to the trigger being actuated, the switching network to drive the motor in accordance with the indication and in accordance with the kickback threshold determined based on the grip parameter.

2 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the indication of whether to perform kickback control includes a sensitivity level for the kickback control.

3 . The power tool of claim 2 , wherein the sensitivity level adjusts the determined kickback threshold, and wherein, to implement kickback control, the electronic processor is configured to:

determine, based on a power tool characteristic being greater than or equal to the kickback threshold, that a kickback event of the power tool is occurring; and

control, in response to determining that the kickback event is occurring and in response to the indication indicating to perform kickback control, the switching network to cease driving of the motor.

4 . The power tool of claim 2 , wherein the sensitivity level sets a filtering method implemented by the electronic processor.

5 . The power tool of claim 1 , further comprising:

a light emitting diode configured to illuminate when kickback control is activated.

6 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to:

receive a signal related to a power tool characteristic;

determine, based on the power tool characteristic when kickback control is activated, whether a kickback event of the power tool is occurring; and

control, in response to determining that the kickback event is occurring and in response to the indication indicating to perform kickback control, the switching network to cease driving of the motor.

7 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to:

ignore, in response to the indication indicating not to perform kickback control, a kickback event.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program comprising instructions that, when implemented by an electronic processor, cause the electronic processor to carry out a method comprising:

receiving a first selection indicating whether to perform kickback control;

receiving a second selection of a sensitivity level of the kickback control, wherein the sensitivity level of the kickback control adjusts a kickback threshold determined based on a user grip on a power tool housing; and

wirelessly transmitting the first selection and the second selection to a power tool.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the method further comprising providing a user interface including a toggle switch, wherein receiving the selection via the toggle switch.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the sensitivity level further includes a filtering rate associated with a sensor of the power tool.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the method further comprising providing a user interface including a slider bar, wherein receiving the second selection includes receiving the second selection via the slider bar.

12 . A method for activating kickback control of a power tool, the method comprising:

receiving, via a user interface, a first selection indicating whether to perform kickback control;

receiving, via the user interface, a second selection indicating a sensitivity level for the kickback control, wherein the sensitivity level of the kickback control adjusts a kickback threshold determined based on a user grip on a power tool housing; and

wirelessly transmitting, with a transceiver, the first selection and the second selection to a power tool.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

providing, via the user interface, a toggle switch configured to receive the first selection.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

providing, via the user interface, a slider bar configured to receive the second selection.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

providing, via the user interface, a plurality of slider bars including the slider bar, wherein each of the plurality of slider bars is associated with a different kickback threshold.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensitivity level further indicates a strength of a low-pass filter associated with a sensor of the power tool.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensitivity level further indicates a filtering rate associated with a sensor of the power tool.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving, via the user interface, a third selection indicating an updated sensitivity level for the kickback control; and

wirelessly transmitting, with the transceiver, the third selection to the power tool.