Abstract: A speed control circuit provides control acceleration or deceleration with respect to a rate of speed or to standstill and is effected for a DC motor by way of a processor system which is provided with a speed signal proportional to the speed of the DC motor. During the acceleration or deceleration phase, the pulse duration of the speed signal has a path-dependent control criterion assigned thereto. During operation at constant speed, the pulse duration has a control criterion corresponding to a rated speed assigned thereto. Further, a switching device is provided by way of which the value or, respectively, the mean value and the direction of the current through the DC motor can be set on the basis of the control criterion.

Abstract: An xy-surface drive of limited .phi.-rotation and z-movement, has three box coils, positioned at mutual angles of 120.degree., the coils being mechanically connected to each other, and guided in the working air-gap of the magnet ring segment system such that when current flows through the coils, there a power or momentum results, which moves and/or rotates the coil arrangement which, by means of an electrodynamic system, is deflectably connected in z-direction to the object support only via a plate spring. The coil arrangement is connected to an incremental x-y-.phi.-measured value indicator, so that a position control connects the coils according to the deviation to the voltage sources of various polarity, so that the ideal position is attained. The z-position is optimized via an analyzer of object sharpness and a position control.

Abstract: An electromagnetic servo unit is constituted with an outer casing (1), a first shaft (4) and a second shaft (5) both rotatably supported by the casing, an electric motor (2) built in the casing coaxially with the second shaft, a torque detecting mechanism (4b, 29, 27, 41, 42, 34, 35) for detecting torque applied to either of the first and second shafts, a control mechanism (34, 35, 41, 42) for receiving a detection signal from the torque detecting mechanism and controlling operation of the electric motor, and a transmission mechanism (8; 280) for transmitting an output of the electric motor. The torque detecting mechanism is arranged inside the casing, and the first and second shafts are mutually actuatably connected to each other within the casing through the torque detecting mechanism.

Abstract: An automated vehicle guidance system (100) includes automated self-propelled vehicles (102) selectively traveling a guidepath (114) comprising a plurality of interconnected guidelines (110, 116, 118). The guidepath (114) comprises an electric field wire system comprising a series of wire segments buried under a floor surface (112), and excited by an alternating current (AC) voltage source (210) referenced to earth ground. Voltage probes (222, 224) sense the electric field emanating from the guidepath segments and generate an intelligence signal for appropriately steering the vehicle (102) along the guidepath (114).

Abstract: A cruise control system of the type utilizing an electrically operated DC servo motor to move an element that varies the fuel-air mixture of a motor vehicle engine to control the speed of the motor vehicle is provided with apparatus for detecting the limit positions of the element and to modify the electric current supplied to the motor accordingly.

Abstract: An aligner or positioning system for moving a member in any direction in a horizontal plane includes a planar member having an upper horizontal surface and a platform movable above the horizontal surface. Driving coils extending along either of two orthogonal directions are disposed in one of the members while a pattern of oppositely magnetized permanent magnet elements is disposed in the other in flux coupling relationship. Energization of windings in appropriate senses, in accordance with the position of the platform, generates relative movement in one or both of two orthogonal directions, which may include angular movement as well.

Abstract: A rotational position, velocity and acceleration of an electrical motor are detected and an amount of overrun produced when the motor has stopped is estimated from the detected velocity and acceleration, and at least one of motor position detection data and a positioning target value is changed in accordance with the estimated amount of overrun. The position detection data and the positioning target value after the change are compared with each other and a command for stopping the motor is generated in accordance with a result of this comparison. A brake is applied to the motor in advance by the amount of the estimated overrun so that the motor is stopped at a desired target position after making overrun. Further, velocity setting signals are generated in accordance with desired acceleration and deceleration characteristics and the velocity control of the motor is effected in an open loop in response to the velocity setting signals.

Abstract: An electric actuator having an electric motor operable to determine the output force generated on an output member by a spring; a drive shaft arranged to be driven by the electric motor and having first and second drive means, a non-rotational but axially movable intermediate member which is threadedly engaged with first driven means arranged to be driven by the first drive means; the spring being located between the intermediate member and the output member and arranged so that axial movement of the intermediate member is transmitted to the output member so long as the latter is free to move and, when the output member is restrained from movement, generates the output force on the output member upon continued operation of the electric motor; a stop carried by the intermediate member and positionally adjustable with respect thereto in the direction in which the intermediate member is axially movable, and second driven means with the second drive means, the first driven means being engageable with the stop to

Abstract: An absolute position detecting system for a servocontrol system which has its operation controlled in accordance with a numerical control program. Resolvers 202 and absolute encoders 110 made rotatable with a servomotor 105, are set at a predetermined revolving ratio so that the absolute positions of operating axes may be detected highly accurately from the revolution outputs of the two. The detecting operations can be performed for the plural operating axes by using one detecting circuit commonly.

Abstract: A position control method for aligning a workpiece in a machining apparatus. An alignment pattern, such as a diamond, is provided on the surface of the workpiece. The alignment pattern and the surrounding region are sensed by an image pickup television camera, the output of which is converted to binary form. From the binary data, the central point of the pattern is calculated. The difference between this central point and a reference point is then determined, and the result used to control the position of the workpiece via a positioning mechanism.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system for a two arm robot is direction sensitive. When the separation between the arms is sensed as equal to or smaller than a predetermined distance, the trailing arm is slowed to avoid a collision. The separation sensor generates a first "slow" signal when the separation is a first predetermined distance, a second "slow" signal when the separation is a second predetermined distance, smaller than the first, and a "stop" signal when the separation is a third predetermined distance, smaller than the second. The polarity of the drive signals for the arms determine their direction, and polarity sensitive comparators determine the direction of each arm. When the first "slow" signal is present and one arm is moving in the direction of the other arm, a speed reducing resistor is inserted in the circuit for the drive signal for the one arm to reduce its speed.

Abstract: Battery current is drawn by a motor vehicle electric motor speed controller through an electronic switch. The load current carrying circuit of the switch is made conductive to permit battery current to be drawn by the controller when a motor speed command signal indicates a non-zero desired motor speed, and nonconductive to prevent substantial battery current from being drawn by the controller when the motor speed command indicates a desired motor speed of zero.

Abstract: A plural motor changeover control system for using a plurality of motors (1a, 1b), the power outputs of which differ, by successively switching among the motors. A conversion table (32a, 32b) corresponding to a motor designated for operation from among the plurality of motors (1a, 1b) is selected, and an amplitude command is fetched from the selected conversion table, which command corresponds to a velocity error, which is a difference between an actual velocity of the designated motor and a commanded velocity. The amplitude command is applied to the servo control circuit to control the designated motor.

Abstract: A motor control device comprises a motor speed detector, a reference signal generator and a control circuit for controlling rotation of a motor in accordance with a reference signal from the reference signal generator and a speed signal from the motor speed detector. The control circuit includes means for eliminating a phase error component during a phase synchronization pull-in period.

Abstract: A control system for an multi-articulation robot manipulator in which an electric current used to drive the robot manipulator is detected and compared with a predetermined level band near the saturated current level of the electric current, and a feedback gain is adjusted such that the detected electric current reaches within the predetermined level band.

Abstract: A pulse width control apparatus and method for controlling motor speed wherein the number of pulses relating to more speed feedback data is counted so as to control the speed of the motor in accordance with a speed command data and a pulse width modulation signal based on the counted number of pulses. A free-running hardware timer and a soft-timer on a program controlled by an instruction execution time of a microcomputer are arranged so that ON-time data and OFF-time data of the pulse width modulation signal are selectively set in one and the other of the hardware and soft-timers in dependence on values of the ON and OFF times, respectively. The ON and OFF states of the pulse width modulation signal are changed when the contents of the hardware and soft-timers reach predetermined values so as to control the pulse width thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for calibrating a positioning system including a control computer (1405) for producing command value signals to a positioning apparatus which positions an object against a work surface. Sensors (1406,1407) detect the location of the positioning system and convert it to an actual value signal which can be fed back to the control computer. A calibration plane (601) placed on the work surface contains a number of calibration points (602,603), the command value positions of which are entered into the control computer. The positions of at least some calibration points are sensed by a calibration probe (605) corresponding to the object and the actual values for the positions of said points are compared with the command values for the positions of these points on the work surface entered into the control computer.

Abstract: Electric power for a missile during flight is provided by a solid propell gas generator coupled through a magnetically-controlled gas flow diverter valve to drive an axial flow impulse turbine. The turbine is coupled to drive an alternator which produces ac power which is conditioned to supply all the electric power for the missile. The frequency or voltage of the alternator output is sensed and fed back to the speed control circuit where it is compared to the desired value of the chosen parameter. The speed control circuit modulates the glass flow valve to adjust the flow to the turbine to drive the turbine the required speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a remotely-operable remote handling arrangement use in radioactively loaded large-area cells of facilities containing process equipment for reprocessing irradiated nuclear fuels. The remote handling apparatus has an industrial robot which is controlled by a process computer and which, for the purpose of detecting the position of an arm of an articulated joint of the robot, is provided with a rotary sensor for determining the angular position of the arm. The rotary sensor is configured as a resolver and is configured pursuant to the induction principle. A second resolver is arranged coaxially with respect to the first resolver in order to be able to check the true position of the arm of the joint. On its shaft, the second resolver has a suitable indicator which is rotatable with the shaft relative to a zero mark.

Abstract: Reaction force compensation means 70 (FIG. 1) for countering the reaction torque of a heavy body, such as rotatable yoke assembly 20, when accelerated relative to flimsily supported body 21 about axis 22, comprises a reaction member 71 rotatable about the, or a parallel, axis 22 and a reaction drive motor 74 coupled to rotate the reaction member by way of velocity step-down gearing 75. In response to acceleration of the body 21 the reaction drive motor 74 accelerates member 71 in the opposite direction producing an equal and opposite reaction torque on the structure. The reaction member is made with a higher moment of inertia about axis 22 than the body and is accelerated at a correspondingly lower rate to give the balancing reaction torque while requiring a smaller mechanical power input than might be expected. The power required of the drive motor is minimized by optimizing the gearing ratio having regard to the moments of inertia of the reaction member and drive motor.