Abstract: When it is determined that a rotor is initially in a stationary state, a current vector is applied to a coil by a vector control method so as to rotate the rotor in a forward direction from a present position of the rotor regardless of a predetermined start position of the rotor. Therefore, a motor can be stably started with less power consumption and noise/vibration.

Abstract: A motor-driving device comprising: a switching element to control a current passed through a first coil of a stepping motor including the first and a second coils electromagnetically coupled; a rectifier element to be energized in a ground-side-to-second-coil direction; a coil-current-detection unit to detect a current passed through the first coil; a regeneration-current-detection unit to detect a current passed through the rectifier element; a control unit to turn off the switching element when the current passed through the first coil reaches a predetermined-set current based on a detection result of the coil-current-detection unit; and a negative-current-detection unit to detect whether a negative current greater in absolute value than a predetermined-set value is passed through the rectifier element based on a detection result of the regeneration-current-detection unit, the control unit keeping the switching element off when the negative current is not passed, based on a detection result of the negative-

Abstract: A motor control device includes: a motor control unit; and a signal output unit, the motor control unit includes: a first control unit configured to estimate a current upper limit value on the basis of the rotation speed of the motor and a current decrease caused by back electromotive force, the first control unit configured to determine a control input corresponding to the estimated current upper limit value, and a second control unit configured to determine a control input to be applied to the motor on the basis of an operation amount of the motor and a target value, of the operation amount to control, the motor, and in the early period of driving of the motor, the motor is controlled by the first control unit, and in the late period of driving of the motor, the motor is controlled by the second control unit.

Abstract: A system and control method mitigates hysteresis of an adjustable component in the system. A control module can allow small control changes to be effected to the component within limits of the component's and/or the system's normal hysteresis band. The control method can allow finer, more accurate and more aggressive control to be obtained from the component. The system and method can utilize two separate control regimes to control adjustments to the component. The first control regime can control changes larger than a hysteresis band and/or changes in a same direction as the last adjustment that was performed with the first control regime. The first control regime can be a feedback-based adjustment to the component. The second control regime can be utilized to control changes within the hysteresis band. The second control regime can use open-loop based adjustments to the component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positioning device for positioning a table, including a base, a motor that drives the table in the driving area on the base, a position sensor that detects the position of the table, and a control unit that controls the motor. The control unit includes a first output unit that outputs electric current for controlling the position of the table based on the output of the position sensor; a second output unit that outputs electric current for imparting a thrust force, which is directed toward the center of the driving area, to the table; and a switch unit that switches from a state in which the motor is controlled depending on the output of the first output unit to a state in which the motor is controlled depending on the output of the second output unit, based on a stopping signal for stopping the table.

Abstract: A control system for operating a device. The control system comprises a plurality of command elements generating command signals and a control element having a plurality of control modes. Each control mode includes a transfer function output effective to operate the device in a predetermined manner and is selectable in accordance with the status of at least one of the command signals. The transfer function output of a nonselected control mode is made to substantially track the transfer function output of a selected control mode such that the transfer function output of the nonselected control mode is substantially similar in magnitude to the transfer function output of the selected mode when the control element selects the nonselected mode. A method employs the system.

Abstract: A window lifter system comprises a first window lifter motor and a master control device for the first window lifter motor. The master control device is able to detect a position of a window pane driven by the first window lifter motor and to drive the first window lifter motor at a variable speed. The system further comprises at least one second window lifter motor and a slave control device for the second window lifter motor. The slave control device is able to detect a position of a window pane driven by the second window lifter motor and to drive the second window lifter motor at a variable speed. A bus system is provided by means of which the master and slave control devices are able to communicate with each other. There is also proposed a method of controlling such a window lifter system.

Abstract: The invention reduces the oscillation of the rotation speed regulator when stationary—despite low position resolution and a high minimum rotation speed resulting from this—by switching the closed-loop control structure, when the drive is moved into the nominal position, in which case the closed-loop control structure does not need to include a current regulator when stationary. The control voltage is predetermined directly by the rotation speed regulator (2′), which is in the form of a pure P-regulator. If the rotor is deflected, then dynamic negative feedback is carried out by differentiation (9) of the position (&phgr;). The position control loop (1′), which is at a higher level than the rotation speed control loop (2′), is in the form of a PI regulator in order that no permanent position errors can occur.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a gas-fired heater to maintain temperature within a zone. The gas-fired heater is modulated between a higher firing rate and a lower firing rate within a pseudo steady-state mode until a current firing rate exceeds a predetermined maximum time period ttrans. The gas-fired heater is then modulated between an updated higher firing rate and an updated lower firing rate within a transient mode until an updated current firing rate exceeds a predetermined maximum time period tdiag. Finally, the higher firing rate and the lower firing rate are redefined in a diagnostic mode until the gas-fired heater returns to the pseudo steady-state mode.

Abstract: For efficient pulse motor drive over a wide speed range, two drive-current control methods are switched in accordance with the speed of the pulse motor. As the first method, a PWM control method generates a pulsewidth modulation signal in accordance with a value indicated by a current control pattern. The pulse-motor drive current is controlled by voltage corresponding to the pulsewidth. As the second method, a BIT control method generates a digital signal corresponding to the value indicated by the current control pattern. The pulse-motor drive current is controlled by voltage corresponding to the digital value.

Abstract: A drive control apparatus for a driven machine is designed to easily check which of a plurality of parameters indicating the control characteristics of the driven machine have been changed from their factory-set initial values. Initial parameter values are stored in a list in a first memory and current parameter values are stored in a second memory. When a display request is given, the initial values of parameters stored in the first list in a control section are compared to the current values of the parameters stored in nonvolatile memory. The identity of the parameters that have been changed from their initial values are displayed on a liquid crystal display. Also, the stored initial value list is displayed.

Abstract: A control system is provided for controlling a process system subject to an external disturbance by adjusting the value of a control amount output from the process system to a given target value. The system includes a target value generating unit for generating a given target value, and a main control unit receiving the target value and the control amount value for performing control operations to suppress fluctuation of the control amount value produced by the external disturbance and to adjust the control amount value to the given target value.

Abstract: In order to easily identify a pattern of time-series state changes based on measured information so as to facilitate representation of edge portions of an image, features extracted in a form of expansion coefficients of polynomials from the measured information are translated into abstract expressions so as to detect from the measured information significant control information which has not been used in the conventional technology, and features extracted in a form of expansion coefficients from brightness changes in the vicinity of each pixel constituting image data are translated into abstract expression.

Abstract: A digital current control arrangement for optimizing the transport time delay of a thyristor power supply used as a source of armature current for a DC motor utilizes a coarse gate angle interrupt subroutine to perform a preliminary calculation of the gate firing angle for the next thyristor to be fired. The coarse gate angle calculation is performed at a predetermined time following the firing of a previous thyristor. A finite gate angle interrupt subroutine is also provided for recalculating the gate firing angle at a second predetermined time just prior to the firing of the thyristor. The finite and coarse gate angle interrupt subroutines both perform their respective calculations using the common parameters. A flag passing arrangement is also included in the current control arrangement and is effective to insure that the finite gate firing angle is the preferred calculation used in the firing of the next thyristor.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn towards a method and a circuit for controlling a position-controlling DC motor, a system for controlling DC motor, and a system for controlling linear displacement in accordance with the method. The motor (3) has a shaft and is controlled in accordance with an error signal (.epsilon.) by generating a sequence of variable duty ratio pulses on the basis of the error signal, thereby controlling the motor. The mean value of the pulses is proportional to the difference between the instantaneous position of the motor shaft and a desired or set position at which the motor shaft should stop. Such apparatus may be used to control the orientation of a headlamp and/or an antenna.

Abstract: A method for operating a DC motor controller according to a first gain when the armature current of the DC motor is discontinuous, according to a second gain when the armature current is continuous, and according to a third gain when the armature current is in transition from the discontinuous to continuous conduction. The gains have proportional and integral terms and the integral term in the discontinuous and transition regions varies inversely to a current reference in the controller.

Abstract: A linear servo system including a linear motor with a moving permanent magnet the flux of which interacts with current flow through a stator winding. A position servo loop controls the position of the permanent magnet and preferably includes a position transducer located within the motor air gap. The servo system when used in combination with a disk drive preferably includes a coarse/fine positioning program to first move to the desired disk track area and to then move to the center of the disk track. The motor winding located in the air gap can be made of iron or copper clad iron to reduce the size of the effective air gap.

Abstract: A lens apparatus for moving one or more moving lenses of a lens system up to the end position of movement by a servomotor. The lens apparatus limits the moving speed of the moving lens or lenses to a value under a predetermined level. Also, the lens apparatus gradually reduces the moving speed as the moving lens or lenses approach the end position so that the moving lens element or elements can be stopped precisely at the end position.

Abstract: There is provided a motor control system adapted for use, for example, with a sample analyzer, having means for generating signals representative of motor movement, and a logic circuit for analyzing the motor movement signals to determine increments of movement and the direction of movement. Digital circuitry is also provided for tracking the actual motor position as it is moved in either a forward or reverse direction, and comparing the tracked position with a programmed destination position. When and only when the motor is within a predetermined range of the destination position is a variable control generated, causing braking of the motor so that it stops exactly at the programmed destination position.

Abstract: The device comprises for each window an electric driving motor and a selector which is adapted to ensure the selective supply of current to the motor, in one direction or the other, through a control circuit acting on a supply source. The supply source is of the type capable of delivering at least two distinct energy levels. The control circuit comprises means for applying to an input of the supply source an energy level control signal which produces, as a function of the position of the selector, the application of a torque to the motor when raising the window which is higher than the torque applied when descending the window.

Abstract: A motor servo circuit is disclosed. The motor in the motor servo circuit is driven by an output which is obtained by logically adding output pulses of a pulse stretcher circuit which stretches a pulse width of error pulses generated from an OR circuit when pulses inputted to the motor servo circuit and pulses outputted from a pulse generator in response to the input pulses are different in the pulse width to pulses having a predetermined pulse width which are generated at intervals of a predetermined member of the error pulses synchronizing therewith.

Abstract: In a spindle control system in which a pulse coder is coupled with a spindle; a pulse train signal, derived from the pulse coder upon each rotation of the spindle through a predetermined rotational angle, is converted into an analog signal corresponding to the actual rotational speed of the spindle; and the analog signal is compared with a commanded speed signal to drive the spindle at the commanded speed. Upon application of a command for stopping the spindle at a predetermined position, a predetermined numerical value is set in an error register in accordance with a specified position signal from the pulse coder, the pulse train signal from the pulse coder is fed back to the error register, and the rotational position of the spindle is controlled with a signal corresponding to the content of the error register.

Abstract: An analog/digital numerical control system that utilizes analog techniques to process large scale (macro) differences and digital techniques to process small scale (micro) differences. In this manner, advantage is taken of the respective virtues of both analog and digital processing techniques while avoiding the disadvantages associated with the exclusive use of either approach. In addition, a novel tach responsive braking generator is disclosed for particular use in controlling the positioning of high mass heads that is adapted to provide dynamic braking of the controlled machine assembly to accomplish proper positioning without "hunting".

Abstract: A process control system providing a particular control effort function is divided into a primary control effort portion having a primary controller, and a feed back from the controlled process to the primary controller, and a secondary control effort portion having a secondary controller in controlling relation therewith, and receiving its control input from the primary controller. The secondary controller is provided with limits such that it becomes saturated in operation, thereby permitting selective overriding by the primary controller, while utilizing the secondary controller and actuators the maximum practical amount. The arrangement is suitable for use with continuously variable devices or for use with on-off (bang-bang) devices. The particular embodiments illustrated are (1) a bang-bang heater system, and (2) a continuously variable fluid flow control system.

Abstract: A heating control system for automatically controlling the temperature within a space is provided. The heating control system includes a temperature sensor for detecting changes in temperature without the space and in response thereto producing a control signal having a substantially linearly variable potential, the increase or decrease in the variable potential being directly varied in response to changes in temperature without the space. A heat supply includes a control valve adapted to be selectively opened to increase the rate at which heat is supplied to the space and be selectively closed to decrease the rate at which the heat is supplied to the space. A rheostat having a shiftable contact is coupled to the control valve and is disposably controlled thereby to produce a variable reference feedback signal having a substantially linearly variable potential in response to the selective opening and closing of the control valve.

Abstract: A servo-motor control system varies a set point input signal to a comparator between predetermined limits in order to establish three detectable output conditions. When the difference between the feedback signal and the set point signal exceeds the average deviation of the set point input to the comparator, the comparator produces a characteristic output signaling rotation in one direction. When this difference signal is less than a negative quantity equal to the average deviation, the comparator produces a characteristic output which signals rotation in the other direction. If the difference signal is less than the absolute average value, then a third characteristic output is produced which causes a cutoff in the energization of the motor.

Abstract: A closed loop servo system for positioning a head relative to a magnetic recording element wherein track crossings are normally utilized to generate a feedback signal to the servo for positioning the head and wherein for a precise indication of head positioning between track crossings the velocity of movement of the head is integrated and fed into the servo system to provide a fine position signal.

Abstract: A control method of a DC motor is described which comprises a digital control method and an analogue control method, wherein a rotor of the DC motor rotates with high speed under the digital control method until the rotating angle of the rotor comes close to a predetermined rotating angle and then the rotor rotates with high accuracy under the analogue control method to the predetermined rotating angle.

Abstract: A system for providing a predetermined phase relationship between signals representing the operation of first and second moveable members, the operation of said first moveable member being regulated in accordance with the operation of said second moveable member. The phase relationship is determined by comparison means which produces a pulse signal indicative of said phase relationship. Signal storage means, responsive to the pulse signal, produces an analog signal, the amplitude thereof varying at a first rate, the maximum amplitude attained by said analog signal being proportional to said phase relationship. The output of said signal storage means is coupled to signal generating means comprising variable gain means, said variable gain means being adjusted to correspond to a predetermined gain, said signal generating means generating an analog signal proportional to the signal stored by said storage means.