Michael J Forster

6733293, May 11, 2004

Jan 25, 2002

10/057483

Michael K. Forster - White Hall MD
Jeffrey L. Vrachan - Agoura Hills CA
Curtis L. Thornton - Simi Valley CA

Provision Entertainment, Inc. - Chatsworth CA

G09B 1916

434 55, 472 60, 472130

A reliable, cost effective motion simulator system wherein a motion platform controlled by three inexpensive fractional horsepower induction AC motors to provide n-axis of motion where n is two, three, four, five or six. A dynamic boost is applied to maintain the position of the motion platform at low speed or zero speed and to handle transient motion demands without use of an encoder. The personal simulator motion base includes a support structure for positioning a rider coupled to the motion platform. A support pedestal and a plurality of linkages support the motion platform. A plurality of motor assemblies is coupled to the motion plate by the linkages. A control algorithm enables the use of low cost power electronics to drive the AC motor-linkage assemblies. The personal simulator may be controlled in response to user-initiated commands, remote-user initiated commands or by commands embedded in game software or the audio track of a video stream.

7322506, Jan 29, 2008

Mar 31, 2005

11/095726

Michael Forster - White Hall MD, US

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

B25C 1/06

227133

A tool with a driver, which is translatable along a driver axis, and a motor assembly having an electric motor, a flywheel, a roller and an actuator. The electric motor is selectively operable for driving the flywheel. The actuator is selectively operable for translating the roller such that the roller drives the driver against the flywheel to permit energy to be transmitted from the flywheel to the driver. The electric motor is selected to substantially minimize energy losses associated with bringing a mechanical inertial of the motor assembly to a predetermined rotational speed while substantially minimizing an amount of time that is needed to bring the mechanical inertia to the predetermined rotational speed.

7446493, Nov 4, 2008

Oct 11, 2006

11/545734

Michael K. Forster - White Hall MD, US
Jason K. Leh - Parkville MD, US
John C. Vanko - Timonium MD, US
Daniel R. Beers - Dallastown PA, US
Robert A. Usselman - Forest Hill MD, US
Zoran Mihailovic - Vestal NY, US

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

H02P 6/00

31840035, 318700, 318727, 31840022

A motor control module for a power tool includes a controller and a triac for controlling current to the given tool motor. The module includes a circuit within the controller for implementing a plurality of control methodologies related to synchronizing the module to the AC input signal, estimating average current flowing through the triac, compensating for amplifier offset to improve accuracy of current measurements in the module, and providing speed measurement and control for the tool motor using principles of hysteresis in a comparator of the controller. Additionally, the controller is configured to calibrate an oscillation calibration register therein.

8188393, May 29, 2012

May 11, 2006

11/920034

Garrett P. McCormick - Manchester MD, US
Paul J. Wisniewski - Baltimore MD, US
Kevin M. Hogan - Jarresttsville MD, US
Eric J. Samuelsen - Stewartstown PA, US
Peter Zhao - Baltimore MD, US
Kachi Ukeje-Eloagu - Towson MD, US
Michael A. Zemlock - North Haven CT, US
Michael K. Forster - White Hall MD, US

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

H01H 1/64

200293

A universal termination system is provided for power tools. The universal termination system includes criteria for each of the main switch platforms that define the number, type, location and orientation of the terminations. That is, the number, type, location and orientation of the terminations in each main switch platform are standardized and the power tools that use that type main switch platform use the main switch platform having the standardized terminations. That is, power tools that use push button switches use the push button switch with the standardized terminations, power tools that use overhang switches use the overhang switch with the standardized terminations, and power tools that use in-line VSR switches use the in-line VSR switch with the standardized terminations. In an aspect of the invention, a right-angle pin terminal is received in one or more sets of the standardized terminations. In an aspect of the invention, the switch body has features that cooperate with the right-angle pin terminals to reduce the risk of shorting adjacent terminals.

8347978, Jan 8, 2013

Mar 31, 2005

11/095723

Michael Forster - White Hall MD, US
Craig A. Schell - Baltimore MD, US
Paul Gross - White Marsh MD, US
Nathan Cruise - Parkville MD, US
Erik Ekstrom - Woodstock MD, US

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

B25B 21/02

173 1, 173 2, 227 2, 227129

A driving tool having a driver, a power source, a sensor and a controller. The power source selectively provides an input to the driver to cause the driver to translate along an axis. The sensor senses a condition in the power source that is indicative of a level of kinetic energy of an element in the power source and generates a sensor signal in response thereto. The controller is coupled to the power source and the sensor and is responsive to the sensor signal for deactivating the power source to inhibit the power source from providing the input to the driver when the level of kinetic energy of the element in the power source is below a predetermined threshold. A method for operating a driving tool is also provided.

8408327, Apr 2, 2013

Mar 31, 2005

11/095722

Michael Forster - White Hall MD, US
Bhanuprasad V. Gorti - Abingdon MD, US
Sam Woods - Bel Air MD, US
Craig Schell - Baltimore MD, US
Nathan Cruise - Parkville MD, US

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

B25B 31/00

173 1, 173 2, 173217

A method for operating a driving tool, such as a fastening tool, that has a driver, a motor assembly with a motor and an output member, and an electrical power source. The methodology includes transmitting electrical power to the motor to rotate the output member and thereafter adjusting one or more control parameters if a rotational speed of the output member is not within a predetermined operating range.

8434566, May 7, 2013

Apr 3, 2009

12/417928

Michael Forster - White Hall MD, US
Bhanuprasad V. Gorti - Abingdon MD, US
Sam Woods - Bel Air MD, US
Craig Schell - Baltimore MD, US
Nathan Cruise - Parkville MD, US

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

B23Q 5/081

173176, 173 2

A power tool for operating on a workpiece, the power tool having a housing and a motor disposed within the housing. A controller is connected to the motor and receives user inputs for turning on the motor and a power tool battery pack is connected to the controller and the motor. At least one light is connected to the controller for illuminating the workpiece. The controller can turn on the light in a predetermined pattern to alert the user to a tool condition, such as the charge level being below a predetermined level.

8446120, May 21, 2013

May 21, 2012

13/476634

Michael K. Forster - White Hall MD, US
Matthew Velderman - Baltimore MD, US
John C. Vanko - Timonium MD, US

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

H02P 1/30

318503, 318504, 318505, 318506, 318507, 318508

A power tool includes a tool housing, an electric motor inside the housing, and a power interface facilitating a connection to a power source. At least four actively-controlled power components are configured as an H-bridge to modulate a supply of power from the power interface to the electric motor. A user-actuated input unit outputs a first signal indicative of a desired power output level to the electric motor and a second signal indicative of a desired direction of current flow to the electric motor. A control unit controls the supply of power to the electric motor using two of said power components with synchronous rectification for pulse-width modulation (PWM) of the supply of power based on the first signal, and to control the direction of current flow to the electric motor using the other two of said power components based on the second signal.