Adaptive Or Optimizing Systems Including "bang-bang" Servos Patents (Class 318/561)
  • Patent number: 7800329
    Abstract: There are provided a motor control device and a method for deciding a velocity instruction shape within the limit of a movement range, a velocity, and an acceleration of an object device while maintaining the acceleration as high as possible in inertia identification. The motor control device includes a position control unit for generating a velocity instruction based on a position instruction and a motor position, a velocity control unit for generating a torque instruction based on the velocity instruction and a motor velocity, and a motor drive unit for generating motor current from the torque instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Umeda, Eri Yamanaka, Dai Fukuda, Yuko Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20100231156
    Abstract: Method of operating an actuator (1) for maneuvering a movable element (52), comprising a motor of asynchronous type or of brushless type or comprising a motor associated with a differential brake, and comprising a partially irreversible reduction gear, which comprises a step of establishing a measurement of an operating parameter of the actuator and a step of using this measurement to determine whether the actuator is driving the movable element or whether the actuator is being driven by the movable element, and then a step of implementing first logic for determining an end of travel or an obstacle, or a step of implementing second logic for determining an end of travel or an obstacle, depending on whether the actuator drives the movable element or the actuator is driven by the movable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Bernard Grehant, Alain Tranchand, Geoffroy Dumont D'Ayot
  • Publication number: 20100225265
    Abstract: A filter representing a complex impedance of a motor system based on a deviation between a first voltage driven by a command signal and a second voltage driven by the command signal can be dynamically adjusted. The motor system can be held in a steady state, eliminating back electromotive force, by providing zero mean current excitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Michael Leis
  • Patent number: 7782003
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for compensating for positional indicia misplacements in the positioning of a control object, such as with servo seam misplacements on a data storage device storage medium. An actual position for the control object is determined in relation to a corrected commanded position of the control object and a corrected position error of the control object. The corrected commanded position is determined in relation to a gain error and an actual commanded position, and the corrected position error determined in relation to the gain error and an actual position error. Preferably, an actual position error of the control object is next determined in relation to the actual position, and the control object is moved to reduce the actual position error. The positional indicia preferably comprise AB and CD seams of ABCD servo dibit patterns on a recording surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Thomas O. Melrose
  • Publication number: 20100201300
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a motor-driven mechanical system with a detection system to measure properties of a back channel and derive oscillatory characteristics of the mechanical system. Uses of the detection system may include calculating the resonant frequency of the mechanical system and a threshold drive DTH required to move the mechanical system from the starting mechanical stop position. System manufacturers often do not know the resonant frequency and DTH of their mechanical systems precisely. Therefore, the calculation of the specific mechanical system's resonant frequency and DTH rather than depending on the manufacturer's expected values improves precision in the mechanical system use. The backchannel calculations may be used either to replace or to improve corresponding pre-programmed values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Colin LYDEN, Javier Calpe-Maravilla, Mark Murphy, Eoin English, Denis Martin O'Connor, Tudor Vinereanu, Alan Cahill, Sean Brennan
  • Publication number: 20100194327
    Abstract: A motor controller capable of detecting an oscillation of a feedback loop and performing gain adjustment while updating a gain value of a control unit is provided. The motor controller includes an electric motor, an operation-amount detector, a control unit, a machine, a disturbance signal generator which generates a sweep sine wave, a compensation-driving-force detector, a vibration calculator, an oscillation detector, a vibration storage, a simulated open-loop gain calculator, a gain changer, and an automatic gain changer, and detects an oscillation by processing a response signal in time series on the basis of a first threshold regarding to a magnitude of vibration and a second threshold regarding a frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Takehiko Komiya, Kazuhide Takao, Keisei Inoki, Shuichi Mihara
  • Patent number: 7765978
    Abstract: A differential pressure sensor apparatus for use in a fuel delivery system measures the differential pressure of the fuel between a point immediately upstream and a point immediately downstream of a fuel monitor element. The differential pressure sensor apparatus uses an electronic transducer to monitor differential pressure and may be used with interlocks to shutdown fuel delivery if the measured value of the differential pressure is above a predetermined threshold value and to notify an operator of the fuel delivery system of such an increase in the differential pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Liquid Controls Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Ruesch, Bryan P. Haynes
  • Publication number: 20100182585
    Abstract: A control system configured to position a control location of a movable object in two or more degrees of freedom with respect to another object, including a set-point generator, a position quantity measurement system, a controller including a single input-single output controller for each degree of freedom to control a position quantity of the control location, each controller providing a control signal in logical coordinates on the basis of the error signal; and a gain scheduling device to provide centre-of-gravity control signals in centre-of gravity coordinates on the basis of the control signals, wherein the gain scheduling device includes a static and a dynamic relationship between logical coordinates and centre-of-gravity coordinates of the movable object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel François HEERTJES, Daan Willem Theresia Hennekens
  • Patent number: 7759894
    Abstract: An aircraft user interface haptic feedback system includes a user interface, a position sensor, a cogless motor, and a control circuit. The user interface is movable to a position. The position sensor senses the position of the user interface and supplies a user interface position signal. The cogless motor is coupled to the user interface, and receives motor drive signals. The cogless motor, in response to the motor drive signals, supplies feedback force to the user interface. The control circuit receives at least the user interface position signal and a signal representative of the motor current and is operable, in response to at least these signals, to control the motor current supplied to the cogless motor using a non-trapezoidal motor commutation scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mark G. Marino, John K. Tillotson, Danial L. Kosht
  • Patent number: 7750592
    Abstract: When performing numerical control of a rotary table, the moment of inertia and the center of gravity of a control target change because of a placed object fixed onto the rotary table. A rotary table to which a placed object has been fixed serves as a target plant, the actual motion of this is compared with motion calculated by an identification model of the target plant, and a torque command value is corrected. The identification model comprises a term pertaining to angular acceleration and a term pertaining to angle of rotation, and by including the term pertaining to angle of rotation, correction of a torque command corresponding to a change in the center of gravity can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Eguchi
  • Publication number: 20100156335
    Abstract: A method for determining gain of a back-electromotive force amplifier may include setting an electric motor into a tri-state function mode and storing a first quasi steady-state value for back-electromotive force from the difference signal, and forcing a reference current through the electric motor and determining a first value of the gain of the amplifier for equaling a difference signal to the first quasi steady-state value. The method may further include setting the electric motor into a tri-state function mode a second time and storing a second quasi steady-state value for back-electromotive force from the difference signal, and increasing the first value of the gain by an amount proportional to a difference between the second quasi steady-state value and the first quasi steady-state value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Davide Betta, Diego Armaroli, Roberto Trabattoni, Marco Ferrari
  • Publication number: 20100148714
    Abstract: A controller and a control system capable of estimating inertia of an article to be driven in a short period of time, with a small operation range of an electric motor. The controller for the motor has an inertia estimating part which includes a sine-wave command generating part which adds a sine-wave command to a torque command for the motor; a current feedback sampling part which obtains a current value of the motor; a speed feedback sampling part which obtains a speed feedback of the motor; an acceleration calculating part which calculates an acceleration value based on the speed feedback; and an estimated inertia calculating part which estimates the inertia of the article, based on a representative current value, a representative acceleration value and a torque constant of the motor, which are calculated from current and acceleration values in a plurality of cycles of the sine-wave command and stored in a sampling data storing part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Tadashi Okita, Yukio Toyozawa, Naoto Sonoda
  • Patent number: 7739083
    Abstract: When a parameter for a numerical computation library is required, an optimum parameter reflecting a user policy is provided. A program calculates, based on a preset objective function, an optimum tuning parameter for executing a numerical computation library. The program reads the numerical computation library; reads the objective function; sets a user policy regarding speed performance and computational accuracy of the numerical computation library as plural policy parameters; reads, from preset execution histories of numerical computation libraries, execution histories of the numerical computation library; calculates, in a domain where the policy parameters are met and based on the execution histories having been read in, a tuning parameter for the numerical computation library by using the objective function; and outputs a calculation result of the objective function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Naono, Masashi Egi
  • Patent number: 7733046
    Abstract: A motor controller including a position control section that generates a speed command based on a position command and a motor position, a speed control section that generates a torque command based on the speed command and a motor speed, and a motor driving section that generates a motor current based on the torque command. The motor controller has a speed feed forward command generating section that generates a speed feed forward command by differentiating the position command. A model control section generates a model torque command based on the speed feed forward command and a model speed. An inertia identifying section identifies inertia based on the ratio of an integrated value of a motor torque command obtained by time-integrating the motor torque command in a prescribed section to an integrated value of the model torque command obtained by time-integrating the model torque command in a prescribed section, from a prescribed position command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Eri Yamanaka, Nobuhiro Umeda, Ken-ichi Murata
  • Publication number: 20100123890
    Abstract: A control system to control a position quantity of a movable object in dependency of signals provided by a sensor representing an actual position quantity of the moveable object, the control system being configured to provide a drive signal to an actuator which is able to apply forces to the moveable object, the control system including a set-point generator to provide a reference signal; a subtractor to provide an error signal, the error signal being the difference between the reference signal and the signals provided by the sensor; a control unit to provide a drive signal to the actuator in dependency of the error signal, wherein the control unit comprises a nonlinear controller to improve a low-frequency disturbance suppression, and wherein the control unit further includes a compensator to at least partially compensate the deterioration of the high-frequency behavior caused by the nonlinear controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Marcel Francois HEERTJES
  • Publication number: 20100123421
    Abstract: An HVAC actuator, such as a spring return actuator, may adjust the maximum output torque of the motor with the varying spring return force of the HVAC actuator as the HVAC actuator moves through its range of motion. In some cases, this may provide a more constant force at the output of the HVAC actuator and reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train and/or the HVAC component when an end stop is reached. Also, an HVAC actuator is disclosed that can be configured to discover and store the location of one or more end stop(s), and to slow the speed of the motor down before the end stop(s) is reached. This may reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train and/or the HVAC component when an end stop is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Cory Grabinger, Nathan Carlson, Ivo Chromy, David Cermak
  • Patent number: 7701161
    Abstract: An active user interface assembly includes a user interface, and one or more feedback motors coupled to the user interface. The one or more feedback motors, when energized, supply a feedback force to the user interface that opposes user interface movement. One of the feedback motors is disposed such that its center of gravity is located at a position relative to the user interface to mass balance the user interface when it is in the null position. The configurations allow for the center of gravity of a feedback motor to be positioned in a manner that alleviates the need for counterbalance weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignees: Honeywell International Inc., Wittenstein Aerospace & Simulation Ltd.
    Inventors: Casey Hanlon, James I. Kern, Douglas C. Smith, David Cowling
  • Publication number: 20100085003
    Abstract: A controller for an actuator estimates the torque required to accelerate and decelerate an actuator and calculates a trajectory to a desired position based on the estimated torque requirements. The controller then determines an appropriate step size to move the actuator in the current time interval. Each time cycle the controller recalculates the trajectory to account for changes in conditions or operator inputs. The controller determines an appropriate step size to move the actuator in the next time interval based on the new trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Peter Spring
  • Publication number: 20100066296
    Abstract: A method is provided for adapting controller parameters of a drive to different operating states. A control loop includes a PID controller whose I gain factor is adapted to a drive velocity and/or whose D gain factor is adapted to a drive current, and consequently to a drive load. The I gain factor is determined based on the drive velocity and the D gain factor is determined based on the drive current, in each case at least in one area, the I gain factor falling with the drive velocity and the D gain factor rising with the drive current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Vaucher, Pierre-Alain Burri
  • Patent number: 7676283
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a compression installation (1), the installation has at least two compressor units (i=1, , N) that can be separately turned on or off, a plurality of devices for modifying the output of the compressor units and a control device (10). Known methods and devices do not function optimally in terms of the power consumption of the entire compression installation. The power consumption (EG) for the operation of a plurality of compressor units (i=1, , N) of a compression installation (1) can be optimized by calculating a novel circuit configuration (Si, t) and automatically adjusting the novel circuit configuration (Si, t) by a control device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Liepold, Michael Metzger
  • Publication number: 20100052593
    Abstract: A servo motor control apparatus having a feedback loop includes: an oscillation detecting section, which detects oscillation of the feedback loop, to output an oscillation detection signal; a parameter operating section, which gives an operational instruction to set a control parameter in the feedback loop based upon the oscillation detection signal; and an updating section, which is supplied with a set value for setting a control parameter, and sets the control parameter in the feedback loop while making an update thereon in accordance with the operational instruction given by the parameter operating section, wherein when the oscillation detection signal indicates no detection of oscillation, the parameter operating section gives the updating section an operational instruction to set a control parameter in accordance with the supplied set value, and when the oscillation detection signal indicates detection of oscillation, parameter operating section gives the updating section an operational instruction to se
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kishimoto, Tooru Tazawa
  • Patent number: 7660639
    Abstract: A control system includes a basic control command operating unit, a fuel data storage unit, a running results database for storing past running results values of a control subject, a data creating unit configured to calculate a distance between data of the past running results values and the data sets and determining data set in which a distance between data becomes minimum, a modeling unit configured to model a relationship between operation parameters of a combustion apparatus and components in combustion gas of the combustion apparatus by using the data set determined by the data creating unit and a correcting unit for calculating combustion apparatus operation parameters with which components having a better condition than that of the components in a current gas are provided by using a model of the modeling unit and correcting operation command values of the basic control command operating unit by calculated operation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Yamada, Masaki Kanada, Takaaki Sekiai, Yoshiharu Hayashi, Naohiro Kusumi, Masayuki Fukai, Satoru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7656114
    Abstract: A servo control apparatus for a linear motor comprises a position feedback device, a driver and a position compensating device that are connected with one another. The servo control apparatus is electrically connected to the linear motor. By such arrangements, it can not only improve the precision of the displacement of the linear motor, but also make the movement of the linear motor relatively smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp.
    Inventors: Chi-Tai Liu, Ching-Long Shih
  • Patent number: 7656111
    Abstract: A circuit is adapted to activate a writer head of a data storage media drive during both the boost periods as well as the steady state periods. The current supplied to the writer head during the boost periods exceeds the steady state current and flows between positive and negative voltage supplies so as to provide the required magnetic flux change in the inductor disposed in the write head. During the steady state periods, a switch circuit is turned on to provide a second current path across the writer head. During the steady state periods, the current flows between the positive voltage supply and the ground to reduce power consumption. The switch circuit is turned off during the boost periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Kong Chan, Kien Beng Tan, Xiao Yu Miao
  • Publication number: 20100014185
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a position control apparatus includes: a digital control module that performs position control including disturbance adaptive control with a predetermined sampling period using a control constant, in accordance with a position error between a target position and a current position of the object; and a table that stores the control constant corresponding to a value of sin(?T) or cos(?T), wherein the digital control module is configured to determine a control value of the actuator in accordance with the position error, calculates the value of sin(?T) or cos(?T) according to an adaptive law from a signal based on the position error, reads the corresponding control constant from the table in accordance with the calculated value of sin(?T) or cos(?T), and updates the control constant, to perform the position control including the disturbance adaptive control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takaishi
  • Publication number: 20100014184
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a position control apparatus includes: a digital control module that performs position control including disturbance adaptive control with a predetermined sampling period using a control constant, in accordance with a position error; and a table that stores the control constant corresponding to one of values sin(?T), cos(?T), and sin(?T/2), wherein the digital control module determines a control value of the actuator in accordance with the position error, calculates a value of one of estimated errors of sin(?T), cos(?T), and sin(?T/2) according to an adaptive law from a signal based on the position error, multiplies the calculated estimated error by an adaptive gain in accordance with a value of the angular frequency ?, updates one of the values, reads the corresponding control constant from the table based on the updated value, and updates the control constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takaishi
  • Publication number: 20100014186
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a position control apparatus includes: a digital control module that performs position control including disturbance adaptive control with a predetermined sampling period with the use of a control constant, in accordance with a position error between a target position and a current position of the object; and a table that stores the control constant corresponding to a value of sin(?T/2), wherein the digital control module determines a control value of the actuator in accordance with the position error, calculates the value of sin(?T/2) according to an adaptive law from a signal based on the position error, reads the corresponding control constant from the table in accordance with the calculated value of sin(?T/2), and updates the control constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takaishi
  • Patent number: 7649330
    Abstract: A disk drive system including retract logic for control of the voice coil motor in a retract operation, in which the voice coil motor positions the read/write head actuator arm in a safe place in a loss-of-power event, is disclosed. The retract logic includes circuitry for controlling the application of power to the voice coil motor from an external capacitor in a pulse-width modulated manner. Current from the capacitor is coupled to the voice coil motor in a drive phase of the pulse-width modulation cycle, and is recirculated through the voice coil motor in a complementary phase of the pulse-width modulation cycle. The recirculation is accomplished by a recirculation transistor that is smaller than the pull-down transistor used in the drive phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Masaki Yamashita, Chisako Ota, Naoyuki Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 7638963
    Abstract: The present invention is a rotary indexing table driven by an induction motor. The rotary indexing table includes a rotatable work supporting platform, an AC induction motor including a motor shaft coupled to the rotatable work supporting platform; and a controller operatively coupled to the AC induction motor. The AC induction motor is equipped with a high resolution positional feedback device. The high-resolution positional feedback device may be an encoder or a resolver. The controller is configured to drive the AC induction motor in a direct drive manner. The high-resolution positional feedback device is operatively coupled to the controller, and the controller is configured to filter a signal provided by the high-resolution positional feedback device. The signal provided by the high-resolution positional feedback device may be a square wave or a sine wave. The present invention is also directed to a method precisely driving and positioning a rotary indexing table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Centricity Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Amendolea, Rick Steinkamp
  • Publication number: 20090315499
    Abstract: A mechanism for empirically deriving the values of the damping ratio and frequency of the mechanism driven by a servo-controlled control system is disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the values of the damping ratio and frequency are continually re-generated based on empirical data derived from sensor feedback of the maximum-amplitude switch and the linear second-order servo. Because the values of the damping ratio and frequency are generated from empirical data, it is not necessary that they be known, and because the values of the damping ratio and frequency are continually re-generated, variances in their values are continually noticed and compensated for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jyun-Horng Fu
  • Patent number: 7630813
    Abstract: A method for controlling a force exerted by an actuator on a load, the actuator being driven by a motor, the method including the steps of modeling the force as a function of at least one parameter, the parameter having an initial value, determining a new value for the parameter, determining an observed force based at least in part upon the new value for the parameter and controlling a positioned of the actuator based at least in part upon the observed force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rassem Henry
  • Patent number: 7609813
    Abstract: An imaging system that includes a radiation source. An image receptor is located to receive radiation emitted by the radiation source. The imaging system further has a servo system that includes a computer operationally coupled to a motor-load element. The servo system is configured to position the radiation source, the image receptor and the object to be scanned. The servo system is configured to measure at set time intervals in real-time a position of the radiation source, the image receptor, and the object. The measured position is used to predict a native hardware motion parameter value for the servo system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Steven E. Curtis
  • Patent number: 7603187
    Abstract: An adaptive control device includes an identifier and a feedforward controller. The identifier estimates an unknown coefficient in a discrete-time transfer function model of a controlled object to identify the discrete-time transfer function model. Estimation is performed based on a manipulated variable supplied to the controlled object and a controlled variable of the controlled object to the given manipulated variable. When estimating each coefficient of the discrete-time transfer function model, the identifier estimates a single unknown coefficient in numerator in non-expanded form of the numerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Iesaki
  • Patent number: 7603188
    Abstract: An electronic cam using a servo motor is controlled such that its motion including its acceleration will be connected between synchronized and non-synchronized control sections. A controlled object is moved at a fixed speed during the synchronized control section. A fifth-order function for position control of the electronic cam, a fourth-order function for speed control of the electronic cam and a third-order function for acceleration control of the electronic cam are used in the non-synchronized control section such that operation of the electronic cam at transition points between the synchronized control section and the non-synchronized control section is smoothly controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 7583049
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a rotating electromagnetic machine. The rotating machine, such as a permanent magnet motor or hybrid switched reluctance motor, includes a stator having a plurality of phase windings and a rotor that rotates relative to the stator. A drive is connected to the phase windings for energizing the windings. A controller outputs a control signal to the drive in response to an input demand such as a demanded speed or torque. Control methods (which can be implemented separately or in combination) include varying the gain of an estimator as a function of a demanded or estimated speed to position control system poles at desired locations, de-coupling control system currents to achieve a constant torque with motor speed, compensating flux estimates of the estimator for saturation operation of the stator, estimating rotor position using averages of sample values of energization feedback, and calculating a trim adjusted speed error from a plurality of speed estimates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, Prakash B. Shahi, Michael I. Henderson
  • Publication number: 20090153091
    Abstract: An error detector determines whether or not there is a frequency error. In a case where it is determined that there is the frequency error, the error detector further determines whether or not the frequency error stays within a targeted error range. In a case where it is determined that the frequency error stays within the targeted error range, a proportional gain is decreased. In a case where it is determined that the frequency error fails to stay within the targeted error range, the proportional gain is increased. Then, a frequency proportional-integral-derivative operation processing is executed based on a set gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takahiro Tsujimoto, Takashi Honda, Shiro Umeda
  • Patent number: 7548835
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for an innovative design of the automatic stabilization and pointing control of a device based on the MEMS technology, which is small enough and has acceptable accuracy to be integrated into many application systems, such as, laser pointing systems, telescopic systems, imaging systems, and optical communication systems. The stabilization mechanism configuration design is based on utilization of AGNC commercial products, the coremicro IMU and the coremicro AHRS/INS/GPS Integration Unit. The coremicro AHRS/INS/GPS Integration Unit is used as the processing platform core for the design of the MEMS coremicro IMU based stabilization mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: American GNC Corporation
    Inventor: Ching-Fang Lin
  • Patent number: 7535192
    Abstract: A positioning control device executes disturbance observer control having a disturbance suppression function, wherein changes of control characteristics are prevented even if the disturbance frequency is suppressed. When a control value of an actuator is computed using estimated gains of the actuator and estimated gains of disturbance according to an estimated position error by disturbance observer control including a model of the actuator and model of the disturbance, the disturbance frequency is estimated according to the estimated position error, and the estimated gains of the actuator and the estimated gains of the disturbance, corresponding to the disturbance frequency, are changed. Therefore appropriate observer control according to the disturbance frequency can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takaishi
  • Publication number: 20090108791
    Abstract: At an initial drive operation after turning on of an electric power source, an ECU sequentially changes each current exciting phase among multiple phases through one complete cycle at a predetermined time schedule, so that a rotational position of a rotor and the corresponding exciting phase coincide with each other at some timing during the initial drive operation, and thereby the rotor is rotated. The ECU counts the A-phase signal and the B-phase signal during the rotation of the rotor in the initial drive operation and learns a relationship among a count value of the A-phase signal and the B-phase signal, a rotational position of the rotor and each exciting one of the plurality of phases at an end of the initial drive operation. When the ECU determines that a result of the learning is erroneous, the ECU re-executes the learning by re-executing the initial drive operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Eiji Isobe, Shigeru Yoshiyama
  • Publication number: 20090102409
    Abstract: A control device for electric motors, capable of precisely moving one object by using two electric motors based on periodically repeated commands. The control device includes a first learning controller for calculating an amount of correction so that a positional deviation of a first electric motor is minimized, and a second learning controller for calculating an amount of correction so that a positional deviation of a second electric motor is minimized. The first and second learning controllers are independent from each other, and configured to minimize the positional deviation of the corresponding electric motor. The parameters set in the learning controllers, each defining the response of learning control of each electric motor, are equal to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Tadashi OKITA, Yukio TOYOZAWA, Naoto SONODA
  • Publication number: 20090102410
    Abstract: A machine tool, production machine or robot includes an electric motor with a memory, and a device for open-loop and/or closed-loop control of the electric motor. The device can determine operating data of the motor, transfer the operating data to the memory, and store the operating data in the memory. The operating data of the motor can hereby be reliably determined and stored on or in the motor memory without the need to arrange a recording device, such as an operating time meter, on the motor itself. The stored data can be evaluated for determining causes of a motor malfunction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: JOCHEN BRETSCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 7519440
    Abstract: A position of a motion control axis is monitored and an output device responsive to the position of the motion control axis is controlled. The controlling further includes latching an electronic cam element that controls the output device, and unlatching the cam element that controls the output device. The manner in which the latching is performed and the manner in which the unlatching is performed are configurable in a programming interface. The programming interface is capable of receiving a latch position for the cam element and an unlatch position for the cam element. The programming interface is further capable of receiving additional configuration information to configure the manner in which the latching is performed and different additional configuration information to separately configure the manner in which the unlatching is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Juergen K. Weinhofer, Jacob S. Baker, Kendal R. Harris
  • Publication number: 20090091284
    Abstract: A P-range side delimiting position of a movable range of a range change mechanism is learned by rotating a motor to a corresponding rotational position, which corresponds to the P-range side delimiting position. A climb correction amount is set for a learning value of the P-range side delimiting position to correct the learning value of the P-range side delimiting position in view of presence of a relatively small angle of rotation of the motor beyond the corresponding rotational position, which corresponds to the P-range side delimiting position. The climb correction amount is set according to motor temperature information, which is one of a temperature of the motor and a temperature that relates to the temperature of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Isobe, Shigeru Kamio
  • Publication number: 20090091283
    Abstract: A servo control apparatus for a linear motor comprises a position feedback device, a driver and a position compensating device that are connected with one another. The servo control apparatus is electrically connected to the linear motor. By such arrangements, it can not only improve the precision of the displacement of the linear motor, but also make the movement of the linear motor relatively smooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Chi-Tai Liu, Ching-Long Shih
  • Patent number: 7509177
    Abstract: The invention relates to the control of an orienting/positioning system comprising comprising at least a sensor and an actuator for controlling an orienting and/or positioning action adapted to change an input space of the sensor. A first step evaluates pre-action output information of the sensor in order to detect a pre-action position of a manipulating device in the input space of the sensor. A second step decides on a targeted post-action position of the manipulating device in the input space of the sensor. A third step defines a command for the actuator by mapping any deviation of the pre-action position and the targeted post-action position in the input space of the sensor to actuator control coordinates using a predefined mapping function. A fourth step orients/positions the manipulating device according to the defined command in order to carry out the orienting/positioning action. A fifth step detects a real post-action position of the manipulating device in the input space of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Joublin, Tobias Rodemann
  • Patent number: 7498759
    Abstract: An end effector of a robot tool that includes accelerometers and methods to sense end effector motion. A semiconductor substrate or similar object may be supported by the end effector. Motion of the end effector and associated substrate movement may be transduced and sampled according to specified conditions. The sampled data may be processed, stored and analyzed for subsequent use, and/or may be used in near real time to control end effector movement. Sampled data representative of mechanical events associated with end effector movement may be communicated to a remotely operated processor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Nelson, Kent C. McBride, Paul L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7495409
    Abstract: The lead or lag relationship between the stator and rotor of a stepper motor is monitored on a continuing basis by an incremental encoder, in feed-back relation, and adjusts the lead or lag to within optimum range values to thereby prevent motor stalls and motor cogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: David Coutu
  • Publication number: 20090021205
    Abstract: A control system for any type of electric motor that automatically learns the characteristics of the motor and computes a motor model for the motor. The control system uses the computed motor model to produce a closed-loop control design that achieves a particular resolution. The control system also uses the motor model to automatically construct efficient motion profiles for a variety of motion commands. The control system may also include an encoder interface device that provides highly accurate motor position information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventor: Christopher P. Cullen
  • Publication number: 20080309272
    Abstract: The present invention provides a motor controller and a motor control method in which displacement does not arise even when an external force is present during the identification of inertia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Eri Yamanaka, Nobuhiro Umeda, Ken-ichi Murata
  • Patent number: 7463000
    Abstract: A method of controlling, by an adaptive control method, an electric motor as a drive source of an operating apparatus that operates, based on a driving force produced by the electric motor, under an arbitrary one of a plurality of operating conditions, and exhibits different dynamic characteristics corresponding to the plurality of operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Akiyama