Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting the movement of a control device (such as a tuning knob) for controlling the input to a controlled device (such as a frequency synthesizer or display) operating in discrete or digital steps. The rotational direction of a single tuning device such as a "tuning" knob causes an increase or decrease of the frequency. The rate of movement of the positioning device determines frequency bandswitching in differing degrees of coarse to fine tuning modes. The utilization of rotational direction and rate of the device provides a single control for all tuning functions.The apparatus and method is useful in both open and closed (servo) loop systems.

Abstract: A weld head control and guidance system utilizing non-contact proximity sensors which generate a signal based on the electrical conductivity of a workpiece. The system includes electrical controls which receive the signal generated by the proximity sensors and control movement of a movable torch mount to maintain a welding torch in a proper orientation and position with respect to a workpiece.

Abstract: A magneto resistor whose resistance is a function of its position with respect to an external magnetic field is disclosed as a source of position feedback information which may be utilized in a closed loop system for accurately positioning a loud speaker or other coil with respect to said external magnetic field.

Abstract: A servo controlled strip or tape linear indicating device is described in which a substantially nonresilient and nonself-supporting strip or tape is connected to servo motor means by a single attachment member at a fixed position along the length of the strip or tape. The strip or tape is freely slidable in a guide channel along its entire length and in all positions. The tape is visible with respect to a pointer through at least one transparent portion in the guide channel. The edges of the strip define with the guide channel play sufficient to prevent bunching or buckling of the strip. The servo motor means comprises D'Arsonval type motor having movable coil displaceable in an air gap of a magnetic circuit with fixed pole pieces.

Abstract: An improved numerically-controlled machine tool including means for adding incremental set values, which depend on a programmed input, and incremental actual values, generated by a self-balancing distance measuring system, at defined time intervals to a set distance value and an actual distance value, and means for forming a set speed value for a controller of an input drive by the difference between the set distance value and the actual distance value. The difference between the values is proportional to a lag distance, and the self-balancing distance measuring system comprises an inductive measuring transducer which is fed from a primary side thereof and which generates a secondary error voltage on the secondary side thereof, the magnitude and polarity of which depends on the position of a flux vector generated on the primary side relative to the position of a secondary winding of the transducer.

Abstract: A servo system including a recording head to sense servo data on a disk track for fine positoning of the head and an external transducer for generating signals representing the coarse position of the head. A micro-processor stores the coarse positon signals which include information as to repeatable error such as wobble of the disk. A compensator maintains information concerning small offsets of the disk due to, for example, temperature variations. During coarse positioning of the head, from one track to a desired track, the stored repeatable error information and stored offset information is used to generate error signals to control movement of a carriage connected to the head, whereby the head follows the repeatable error and offset to arrive coarsely on the desired track.

Abstract: A linear variable phase transformer directly converts displacement to phase information. In one form the relationship of such displacement and such phase information is substantially linear or directly proportional. Moreover, a circuit is provided for directly converting such phase information to digital information which is preferably provided in a binary format.

Abstract: A sampled data positioning system for moving a member between positions in a minimum time employs a model of the physical system to overcome the low bandwidth constraints of fed back position and velocity samples. The model system is an approximate analog of the physical system and provides continuous pseudo position and velocity signals of high bandwidth. These are applied to a seek controller which generates an error signal between a desired reference velocity trajectory and the pseudo velocity signal. The error signal is fed back to the model system input and is also applied to control the physical system. The model velocity and position outputs are reset at sampling times to the values of the sampled velocity and position in the physical system.

Abstract: A mechanism for driving a sensor for detecting the shapes of weld beads is completely separated from a mechanism for driving a welding torch with the sensor being operative independently of the welding torch. Prior to or during a welding operation, the sensor is moved above the groove in a direction perpendicular to a weld line in accordance with a command from a computer. Information about the shapes, in particular, information about the shapes of cross-sections of a groove portion which has been obtained by scanning is first stored in a memory. Then, information processing is executed so as to calculate a central position of the groove, the amount of dislocation, and the shape of the bead.

Abstract: In a position control device for driving a speed controlled motor, the motor having coupled thereto a tachometer generator for providing velocity feedback, a brushless tachometer generator having at least one position transmitter for the rotor thereof is used as the tachometer generator and the position signals of the position transmitter also used to provide an actual value feedback for the position control.

Abstract: The surface of a magnetic disk (23) is divided into servo sectors (S.sub.1) and data sectors (S.sub.2). A selectively positionable magnetic head (24) effects, in predetermined time intervals controlled by clock signals of a clock sensor (26), the transfer of servo and data signals. The servo signals sensed in the servo sectors are used for the track following control of the magnetic head.The servo markings (Ma) recorded in the servo sectors (S.sub.1) are arranged, with twice the width (2d) of the data tracks in radial distances of one respective track width (d), one beside the other in a row along a disk radius. In each servo sector at least three rows (A, B, C) of servo markings (Ma) are provided. The servo markings are arranged in track direction one behind the other in such a manner that between each of the rows (A, B, C) a distance (g) is formed, and that each servo marking of one row overlaps a servo marking of the following row by one track width (d).

Abstract: The measuring apparatus comprises an electromagnetic induction type non-contacting distance measuring device including a detection coil disposed near the edge of a running metal strip, a filter for deriving out the high frequency component and the low frequency component of the output of the detection coil, means responsive to the high frequency component for determining the contour of the wavy edge of the strip and means responsive to the low frequency component for adjusting the lateral position of the detection coil with respect to the edge of the metal strip.

Abstract: A field (e.g., a magnetic field) which nutates about a pointing vector is used to both track or locate an object in addition to determining the relative orientation of this object. Apparatus for generating such a field includes mutually orthogonal coils and circuitry for supplying an unmodulated carrier, hereafter called DC signal, to one coil and an AC modulated carrier signal, hereafter called AC signal, to at least one (usually two) other coil, such that the maximum intensity vector of a magnetic field produced by the currents in the coils nutates about a mean axis called the pointing vector direction of the field.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for accurately positioning a blank angular position transducer element for boring at its center. A relatively high frequency carrier signal is applied to the blank transducer element to be bored and is thereby induced in a master rotor element which is rotated at a constant speed in an operative relationship with the blank. The rotor is made deliberately eccentric with respect to its axis of rotation, and the induced signal contains a carrier signal, a component indicative of relative angular position, and a once-per-revolution eccentricity error component, if the blank element is also eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation. Error detection circuitry isolates the once-per-revolution eccentricity error component, and resolution circuitry resolves it into x and y directions for application to error display devices, or to actuators connected to move the blank transducer element automatically until the x and y components are both zero.

Abstract: A system for sensing the air gap between a cutting tool and a work piece mounted on a machine for the purpose of controlling the traverse feed rate of the machine as contiguity approaches. A drive coil is mounted on the machine. A search coil surrounds the cutting tool in proximity to the air gap and is mutually coupled (M.sub.1) to the drive coil. A mutual inductor has first and second coils arranged so that their mutual inductance M.sub.2 is variable; these coils are connected in common at one end to a variable inductionless resistor r. The first coil is connected series aiding with the drive coil, while the second coil is connected in series opposition with the search coil. An a.c. source is connected across the drive coil, first coil and inductionless resistor. The induced voltage across the series combination of search coil, second coil, and inductionless resistor provides an output which is initially nulled by adjusting M.sub.2 and r for a selected datum displacement between cutting tool and work piece.

Abstract: Means to control the speed of correction of a probe, and a slave such as a torch or welding head, for a welding guidance system, and the like, wherein the response of the probe controls or actuates a device, which is responsive to a predetermined electrical condition, characteristic or information, to continuously vary the magnitude of the output of the device in proportion to the change or deviation detected by the probe to actuate at least one motor to correct or change the position of the probe and the slave.

Abstract: A material transfer apparatus which includes a carriage whose movement is controlled along a path between specified locations thereon. The carriage includes means for dynamically indicating its present location on the path which is compared with a specified new location to provide a difference drive for moving the carriage as required.

Abstract: An electromagnetic drive for rotary bodies including a stationary member having at least two coils and a revolving member arranged for rotation with respect thereto. The coils are supplied with a current signal for causing rotation of the revolving member and a sensing arrangement senses the position of the revolving member with respect to the stationary member and provides an output indicative thereof. A control device is responsive to the output of sensing arrangement for supplying an additional current signal to the coils effect positional control of the revolving member.