Patents by Inventor Dennis E. Melvin

Dennis E. Melvin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for controlling a piezo actuator
    Publication number: 20040124744
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a piezo-electric actuator coupled to a driven member is disclosed. The piezo-electric actuator is responsive to waveforms with asymmetrical voltage/current profiles on the rising and falling edge to effect consistent and cumulative movement of the driven member in one of two directions throughout the reciprocations of the piezo-electric actuator. The waveforms are digitally generated from a stored set of numbers or a function for generating the set of numbers. The numbers correspond with the discrete digital values associated with the desired waveforms for moving the driven member in either of at least two directions. The controller may be used to drive more than one piezo-electric actuator. The controller may include responsiveness to a feedback of the position of the driven member to accurately position the driven member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: John Pease, Sherwin D. Cabatic, Dennis E. Melvin
  • Method and apparatus for controlling a piezo actuator
    Publication number: 20040124743
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a piezo-electric actuator coupled to a driven member is disclosed. The piezo-electric actuator is responsive to waveforms with asymmetrical voltage/current profiles on the rising and falling edge to effect consistent and cumulative movement of the driven member in one of two directions throughout the reciprocations of the piezo-electric actuator. The waveforms are digitally generated from a stored set of numbers or a function for generating the set of numbers. The numbers correspond with the discrete digital values associated with the desired waveforms for moving the driven member in either of at least two directions. The controller may be used to drive more than one piezo-electric actuator. The controller may include responsiveness to a feedback of the position of the driven member to accurately position the driven member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: John Pease, Sherwin D. Cabatic, Dennis E. Melvin
  • Method and apparatus for controlling a piezo actuator
    Patent number: 6707231
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a piezo-electric actuator coupled to a driven member is disclosed. The piezo-electric actuator is responsive to waveforms with asymmetrical voltage/current profiles on the rising and falling edge to effect consistent and cumulative movement of the driven member in one of two directions throughout the reciprocations of the piezo-electric actuator. The waveforms are digitally generated from a stored set of numbers or a function for generating the set of numbers. The numbers correspond with the discrete digital values associated with the desired waveforms for moving the driven member in either of at least two directions. The controller may be used to drive more than one piezo-electric actuator. The controller may include responsiveness to a feedback of the position of the driven member to accurately position the driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: New Focus, Inc.
    Inventors: John Pease, Sherwin D. Cabatic, Dennis E. Melvin
  • Method and apparatus for controlling a piezo actuator
    Publication number: 20020190606
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a piezo-electric actuator coupled to a driven member is disclosed. The piezo-electric actuator is responsive to waveforms with asymmetrical voltage/current profiles on the rising and falling edge to effect consistent and cumulative movement of the driven member in one of two directions throughout the reciprocations of the piezo-electric actuator. The waveforms are digitally generated from a stored set of numbers or a function for generating the set of numbers. The numbers correspond with the discrete digital values associated with the desired waveforms for moving the driven member in either of at least two directions. The controller may be used to drive more than one piezo electric actuator. The controller may include responsiveness to a feedback of the position of the driven member to accurately position the driven member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: John Pease, Sherwin D. Cabatic, Dennis E. Melvin
  • Apparatus for controlling a piezoelectric assembly of a piezo actuator coupled with a driven member
    Patent number: 6476537
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a piezo-electric actuator coupled to a driven member is disclosed. The piezo-electric actuator is responsive to waveforms with asymmetrical voltage/current profiles on the rising and falling edge to effect consistent and cumulative movement of the driven member in one of two directions throughout the reciprocations of the piezo-electric actuator. The waveforms are digitally generated from a stored set of numbers or a function for generating the set of numbers. The numbers correspond with the discrete digital values associated with the desired waveforms for moving the driven member in either of at least two directions. The controller may be used to drive more than one piezo-electric actuator. The controller may include responsiveness to a feedback of the position of the driven member to accurately position the driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: New Focus, Inc.
    Inventors: John Pease, Sherwin D. Cabatic, Dennis E. Melvin