Patent ID: 7525055

Claim:
A switch box for use with a woodworking machine having a cutting blade, a motor adapted to move the blade, a control subsystem adapted to control the motor, and a safety system to detect contact or proximity between a person and the blade, the switch box comprising: a housing; a first switch at least partially supported by the housing and switchable between an “off” position and an “on” position in which power is switched to the control subsystem and to the safety system so that the safety system can function as intended if it is operable; a second switch at least partially supported by the housing and configured to trigger the operation of the motor, where the second switch will not trigger the operation of the motor until after the first switch has switched power to the control subsystem and to the safety system; and a light system that illuminates when the first switch is in the “on” position regardless of the operability of the safety system, where the light system illuminates in a first manner to indicate if the safety system is operable and where the light system illuminates in a second manner distinguishable from the first manner to indicate if the safety system is inoperable.