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  Table saw having a measurement and display systemRelated Patent Categories: Geometrical Instruments, Distance Measuring, Scale Reading Position Sensor (e.g., Grid Counting)The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070220771. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/823, 270, filed Apr. 13, 2004. [0002] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Table saws of the type which have a circular cutting blade are well known and have been used by tradesmen and woodworkers for decades. Because they have a generally flat surface, large and small boards as well as plywood sheets can be cut to the appropriate size by typically setting a fence at the appropriate position to perform a cut along a desired line which is done by pushing the board or sheet across the tabletop and through the blade. Typically, the fence is adjustable by sliding along an elongated rail anchored at opposite ends of the table saw top, with the fence having a clamping mechanism to lock the fence once it has been placed in the desired position. Most users, when they know the width of the desired board will use a tape measure or other measure to position the fence to obtain the desired width by measuring between the edge of the blade to the fence. After the fence is in position, it is locked in place and users typically remeasure the distance to make sure that they have the fence in the correct position. [0004] While the manual measurement and setting of the position of the fence is the manner in which the fence has been positioned by most users over the years, in some instances it is highly desirable to have very accurate measurements which may be difficult depending upon the type of measuring device is being used. Most tape measures, for example, do not have accurate measurements beyond a 1/32 of an inch or less. Also, if the fence is moved during other types of cuts, it is not possible to reset the fence at exactly the same position that was used for a prior cut without going through the complete exercise again. If the user does not remember the prior cut distance, then additional measurements of a work-piece may be necessary in order to obtain the distance which must then be used to correctly position the fence. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] FIG. 1 is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of a table saw having a measurement and display system; [0006] FIG. 2 is a front view of a second preferred embodiment of a table saw similar to the table saw shown in FIG. 1, but having a tabletop extension shown in an extended position; [0007] FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; [0008] FIG. 4 is a front view of a portion of the table saw shown in FIGS. 1 and2; [0009] FIG. 5 is a section taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and [0010] FIG. 6 is a front view of a third preferred embodiment illustrating a display unit having additional functionality relative to the display unit shown in FIG.4. [0011] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an idealized illustration of a third preferred embodiment of a table saw having a measurement and display system; [0012] FIG. 8 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and illustrating a mounting bracket in phantom; [0013] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7; [0014] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an idealized illustration of a fourth preferred embodiment of a table saw having a measurement and display system; [0015] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an idealized illustration of a fifth preferred embodiment of a table saw having a measurement and display system; [0016] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an idealized illustration of a sixth preferred embodiment of a table saw having a measurement and display system; and [0017] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an idealized illustration of a seventh preferred embodiment of a table saw having a measurement and display system. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0018] A table saw having a measurement and display system has at least one fence rail on which a removable fence is movably supported. Several embodiments have an elongated sensor strip located adjacent the fence rail and a sensing unit that is supported and positioned adjacent to the sensor strip and is capable of providing an electrical signal to a display unit that is indicative of the position of the sensor unit relative to the elongated sensor strip. A processing unit is operatively connected to the sensing unit and display unit to provide a digital readout of the position of the sensing unit. A switch is connected to the processing unit and is adapted to provide a zero or reference setting position and this embodiment may include a second switch for changing between English and metric units. [0019] A second preferred embodiment includes a table extension which can be moved to increase the effective size of the table saw top so that larger work pieces can be supported during cutting. In this embodiment, the fence rail is connected to an extension rail so that the fence rail moves with the extension to thereby increase the range of the sensor strip and sensing unit for providing larger measurements. [0020] A third preferred embodiment includes a more sophisticated display and processor functionality, which, among other things, can display English units in decimal or fractions as well as store and recall important distance measurement positions. [0021] A fourth preferred embodiment includes a mounting mechanism that enables a relatively short and inexpensive sensor strip to be selectively positioned to increase the range of measurement of a fence along the width of the table saw and to adjust the measurement as a result of the position of the sensor strip. [0022] A fifth preferred embodiment operates with a sensing rail that is located on the front of the table saw, but has all other operative elements mounted on the fence. Continue reading... Full patent description for Table saw having a measurement and display system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Table saw having a measurement and display system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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