Time-sharing Or Multiplexing Systems Patents (Class 318/562)
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Patent number: 11243676Abstract: A numerical control system for a machine tool includes a display screen, a storage unit, and a control unit. The control unit executes a step of displaying, on the display screen, a designation screen that selects and designates one or more pieces of auxiliary information and auxiliary functions corresponding to each of basic work screens prepared for each work process using the machine tool, and associating with the basic work screen and storing in the storage unit one or more pieces of auxiliary information and auxiliary functions selected and designated by a user through the designation screen, and a step of simultaneously displaying, on the display screen, one basic work screen designated by the user among the basic work screens, and one or more virtual buttons that select one or more pieces of auxiliary information and one or more auxiliary functions, associated with the user-designated basic work screen.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: OKUMA CORPORATIONInventors: Kazunori Fujitsuka, Tadanobu Imai, Yasushi Fukaya
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Patent number: 11203117Abstract: A control point extraction unit (1d) is configured to extract, when a center of a joint portion (V) of a fifth rotary shaft (C5) is defined as a control point (A), a position (P1) of the control point (A) for a teaching point (T1) and a position (P2) of the control point (A) for a teaching point (T2). A linear path calculation unit (1e) is configured to calculate a linear path (L) that passes through the position (P1) and the position (P2). An arm movement calculation unit (1f) is configured to generate teaching data (D1) by calculating a movement of an arm (3) to cause the control point (A) to move along the linear path (L) from the position (P1) to the position (P2).Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2020Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Keylex CorporationInventors: Takeshi Furuta, Fumika Abe
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Patent number: 11185997Abstract: A robot includes: a first arm having a first body, a first housing fixed to the first body, and a first gear transmitting power to a rotary member supported by the first housing so as to be rotatable; a second arm supporting the first arm and having a second body, a second shaft having a second gear meshing with the first gear, and a second bearing supporting the second shaft so that the second shaft is rotatable relative to the second body; and a channel in the arms. An inlet of the channel is formed in an outer surface of the first body, an outlet of the channel opening into a space in which an outer peripheral surface of the second shaft and the second bearing are arranged inside the second arm, the channel extending from the inlet to the outlet through inside of the first body.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventor: Daisuke Shiramatsu
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Patent number: 10969289Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a field serviceable pressure scanner suitable for high-pressure sensing applications and replacement of large pressure transmitter panels. The pressure scanner includes a housing having a mounting plate comprising a plurality of through-hole bores extending from a front to back side for mating with corresponding transducer ports of the pressure sensors, and a plurality of input ports disposed on the front side of the mounting plate and in communication with the corresponding plurality of through-hole bores. The pressure scanner assembly includes two or more field-replaceable (swappable) pressure sensors seal mounted to the back side of the mounting plate, each pressure sensor comprising one or more sensor ports, each of the one or more sensor port in communication with corresponding through-hole bores in the mounting plate, and a multi-channel data acquisition system configured to receive pressure signals from the two or more field-replaceable pressure sensors.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Joseph R. VanDeWeert, Steve Kleiber
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Patent number: 10852713Abstract: An industrial communication system includes multiple industrial instruments connected in series and including a first industrial instrument and a second industrial instrument connected to the first industrial instrument.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASHAWA DENKIInventors: Hidetsugu Koga, Isamu Matsumura, Tomofumi Nishiyama
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Patent number: 10630148Abstract: The present disclosure relates to actuators in general. In some embodiments, an actuator system may include an electric motor having motor terminals and driving the actuator; a control unit operating the electric motor; and an active electronic position sensor for detecting a position of an actuator. Electrical energy for the operation of the position sensor is tapped from the control unit via the motor terminals. The terminals of the control voltage UM1 and UM2 for operation of the motor are switched such that at least one motor terminal, at periodic intervals, delivers a positive voltage and, during idling of the motor or during the braking of the motor, at least one of the two motor terminals of the control voltage UM1, UM2 carries a positive voltage UB.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventor: Werner Wallrafen
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Patent number: 10612941Abstract: The present disclosure relates to sensors in general, and more specifically a sensor for detecting the position of an actuator. In some embodiments, a position sensor for detecting a position of an actuator with an electric motor may include: an evaluation circuit; a rectifier circuit; and additional filter components. The evaluation circuit, the rectifier circuit, and the additional filter components may be combined into an integrated circuit disposed in an IC housing. Electrical energy for operation of the position sensor may be drawn via control lines for the electric motor, rectified by the rectifier circuit, and filtered by the additional filter components.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventor: Werner Wallrafen
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Patent number: 10547264Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plurality of servo controllers and a plurality of motor control circuits. Each of the plurality of motor control circuits has a primary serial interface (SIF) coupled to one of the plurality of servo controllers and at least one secondary SIF coupled to others of the plurality of servo controllers. Each of a plurality of independently controllable actuators is coupled to one of the motor control circuits. Each of the plurality of motor control circuits is configured to generate a compensated control signal using an actuator command received from the primary SIF and an actuator command received from the at least one secondary SIF. Each of the plurality of motor control circuits is configured to control movement of one of the plurality of actuators using the compensated control signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventor: Bruce Douglas Buch
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Patent number: 10490100Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for controlling a hybrid display that provides both tactility and a sense of temperature. The apparatus for controlling a hybrid display includes a data acquisition unit for receiving display data for representing both tactility and a sense of temperature from a user, a shape control unit for displaying a 3-dimensional shape that provides tactility by controlling a haptic head installed in an X-Y plotter based on the display data, and a temperature control unit for providing a sense of temperature to the 3-dimensional shape based on the display data.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventor: Hyo-Bong Hong
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Patent number: 10222783Abstract: A numerical control device includes an NC-machining-program reading unit to read an NC machining program, a machining-removal-shape generation unit to generate a machining removal shape by a block of the NC machining program, a tool-data search unit to search for tool data to be used in the NC machining program, and a machining-finished-shape generation unit to generate a machining finished shape from the machining removal shape generated by the machining-removal-shape generation unit. During editing of the NC machining program, the machining removal shape and the machining finished shape can be confirmed sequentially by the block.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Susumu Matsubara, Hiroki Kaneko, Kenji Iriguchi, Naoki Nakamura
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Patent number: 10184919Abstract: A feedback control apparatus includes: a detector configured to detect an output value based on a controlled object; a P control circuit including a differential amplifier circuit and an analog circuit, the differential amplifier circuit being configured to receive a detection value of the detector and a target value, the analog circuit being configured to output a P control component VP to an output of the differential amplifier circuit; an I control unit configured to output an I control component VI by integrating a deviation of the detection value from the target value by digital processing; and a driver element configured to be driven based on the P control component VP from the P control circuit and the I control component VI from the I control unit to control the controlled object.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroomi Goto, Tsunehiro Inoue, Takahiro Mori
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Patent number: 9874866Abstract: A control system includes a control apparatus, identification information storage units disposed in a plurality of servo amplifiers and configured to store identification information pieces for identifying each of the plurality of servo amplifiers, communication units configured to perform communication between the control apparatus and the plurality of servo amplifiers, and an automatic setting unit configured to automatically set axis configuration parameters for assigning correspondence relations between a plurality of control axes and axes of the plurality of servo amplifiers based on the identification information and a type of a servo amplifier corresponding to each of the plurality of control axes recognized by software of the control apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2015Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventor: Takahiro Tanaka
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Patent number: 9827716Abstract: A process for direct fabrication of a part at a predetermined structural position. The process comprises: a) scanning, via a three-dimensional scanner, the structure in the region of the predetermined position; b) comparing a virtual surface mesh of the predetermined position with a real surface mesh of the predetermined position, the real surface mesh calculated based on data obtained from the scanning; c) determining the gaps between the two meshes; d) calculating the data for modeling an inserted part, the dimensions of which fill up the determined gaps, to obtain an inserted part model; e) merging of a virtual model of a part, linked with the predetermined position, with the inserted part model, to obtain a model adjusted to the geometry of the structure in the region of the predetermined position; f) fabricating, by material deposition, an adjusted part at the predetermined position based on the adjusted model.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)Inventor: Yann-Henri Laudrain
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Patent number: 9612600Abstract: The present disclosure relates to controllers of linear motion devices and control methods of the same, in particular, to a controller of a linear motion device and a control method of the same capable of controlling the position of the linear motion device accurately, in a case where a misalignment of the mounting position of a magnetic sensor or a magnetizing variation of a magnet occurs, or in a case where a magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensor receives an interference of the magnetic field generated by a driving coil of the linear motion device.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices CorporationInventor: Takashi Fukushima
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Patent number: 9375853Abstract: Examples are provided that describe a motion based light display for a robotic arm. In one example, a robotic device comprising one or more components configured to be actuated for movement. The robotic device also includes one or more processors are configured to determine a motion per path metric of the one or more components based on a motion plan associated with the robotic device. The one or more processors are configured to determine one or more feedback characteristics based on the motion per path metric. The one or more feedback characteristics include information indicative of an effect of motion associated with the one or more components. The robotic device also includes an indicator coupled to the one or more components and configured to provide feedback about the one or more components based on the feedback characteristics indicative of the effect of motion.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2014Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Aaron Edsinger
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Patent number: 9306434Abstract: A joint of a robot includes a driving motor, a speed reducer that reduces rotation of an output shaft of the motor, and an arm connected to the speed reducer. The joint includes an input encoder that detects a rotational position of the motor and an output encoder that detects a rotational position of the arm. A controller controls the motor based on data indicating the rotational positions of the motor and the arm detected by the input encoder and the output encoder, respectively. The input encoder is arranged with a register that latches and retains an input EC value. The output encoder includes a register that latches and retains an output EC value, and an edge pulse output section that outputs an edge pulse to both registers every time the output EC value changes. In response to the edge pulse, both registers concurrently output EC values to the controller.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignees: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED, NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Takeshi Ueda, Yoshiji Takahashi, Toru Morita, Kou Ohno
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Patent number: 9172316Abstract: Provided is an inverter control system and method for an eco-friendly vehicle, by which overall improvements can be obtained in terms of switching loss, electromagnetic performance, noise-vibration-harshness (NVH) performance, control stability, and so forth, when compared to a conventional case in which one fixed switching frequency and one fixed sampling frequency are used over the entire operation area. To this end, the inverter control method for an eco-friendly vehicle which generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal according to a switching frequency and a sampling frequency and controls ON/OFF driving of a switching element, in which a controller changes and sets the switching frequency according to a current motor speed, changes and sets a sampling frequency according to the switching frequency, and controls on/off driving of a switching element according to the switching frequency corresponding to the motor speed and the sampling frequency.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Su Hyun Bae, Won Kyoung Choi, Sung Kyu Kim, Mu Shin Kwak
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Patent number: 8994316Abstract: A method for controlling multiple stepper motors with a single micro-controller output set uses a demultiplexer to split a single micro-controller output set into individual control signals for a plurality of stepper motors.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2009Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Rafael Cobas Asensio, Marco Antonio Santacruz Motte
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Patent number: 8766565Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.Inventors: Colin Lyden, Javier Calpe-Maravilla, Mark Murphy, Eoin English, Denis Martin O'Connor, Tudor Vinereanu, Alan Cahill, Sean Brennan
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Patent number: 8423190Abstract: From a desired wrist joint position and a desired elbow rotation angle, a temporary elbow joint position is calculated on the assumption that a distance between a shoulder joint and an elbow joint is fixed. The shoulder joint has a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis, and the elbow joint has a fourth axis. From the calculated temporary elbow joint position, temporary angles of the first and second axes or temporary angles of the first to fourth axes are determined. The temporary angles are corrected in accordance with at least one evaluation function calculated from the temporary angles.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Ken'ichi Yasuda, Takahiro Maeda
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Patent number: 8131385Abstract: A positioning device includes a driver which moves a positioning object and a sensor which measures the distance to the positioning object in a non-contacting manner and outputs a detection signal if the positioning object is detected only in a length measuring area within a predetermined range from any detection position, shaft controller which stops the driver by detecting the detection signal from the sensor and automatically correcting for an overshoot amount between the stop position and any detection position, when the driver moves the positioning object and the sensor, and the positioning controller that stores the coordinate value after the automatic correction by the shaft controller and that performs the positioning based on the reference coordinate value.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2005Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Takashi Yuzawa
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Patent number: 7936144Abstract: A motion control device for controlling a motor is presented. The motion control device is operable to scale or adjust an input relative to an input range that is based on calibration values and to use that scaled input to produce a drive signal to drive the motor. The motion control device performs a self-calibration to produce the calibration values. The self-calibration involves measuring home position and full travel position values for the motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2008Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Ravi Vig, Paul David, Shaun D. Milano, Michael C. Doogue, David J. Haas
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Patent number: 7853377Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronous communication in a control system is disclosed. Within a first time interval, a first source task is executed to broadcast a first destination task, within a second sequential time interval, the first destination task is communicated over a channel to a first destination, and within a third sequential time interval, the first destination task is consumed. Within the first time interval, a second source task may be executed to broadcast a second destination task, within the second sequential time interval, the second destination task may be communicated over the channel to a second destination, and within the third sequential time interval, the second destination task may be consumed. The first source task is allowed to be scheduled ahead of the second source task, and the second source task is allowed to be scheduled ahead of the first source task.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Fuhrman, Miroslawa A. Supal, Arnold W. Millsap
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Patent number: 7782003Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventor: Thomas O. Melrose
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Patent number: 7746022Abstract: A stepping motor controller for controlling a stepping motor which drives a load, including: a load drive state detection section which detects a driving state of the load; and a control section which controls the stepping motor, when a detection result of the load drive state detection section is beyond a prescribed range, so as to maintain a driving speed of the load, and when the detection result of the load drive state detection section is within the prescribed range, so as to control the driving state of the load based on a control pattern.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2007Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Yoshiki Katayama, Satoshi Ogata
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Patent number: 7693628Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronous communication in a control system is disclosed. Within a first time interval, a first source task is executed to broadcast a first destination task, within a second sequential time interval, the first destination task is communicated over a channel to a first destination, and within a third sequential time interval, the first destination task is consumed. Within the first time interval, a second source task may be executed to broadcast a second destination task, within the second sequential time interval, the second destination task may be communicated over the channel to a second destination, and within the third sequential time interval, the second destination task may be consumed. The first source task is allowed to be scheduled ahead of the second source task, and the second source task is allowed to be scheduled ahead of the first source task.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2005Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Fuhrman, Miroslawa A. Supal, Arnold W. Millsap
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Patent number: 7671554Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor driving system. The motor driving system includes a motor, a transmission member, a follower member, a position-detecting light emitter, a position-detecting light receiver, and a positioning-status sensing element. The positioning-status sensing element includes a plurality of notches or openings. The positioning-status sensing element is moved between the position-detecting light emitter and the position-detecting light receiver such that a light beam emitted from the position-detecting light emitter is successively penetrated through the notches or openings to be received by the position-detecting light receiver. According to the light-receiving status of the position-detecting light receiver, the speed of the motor is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Primax Electronics, Ltd.Inventors: Chia-Chang Lin, Chih-Hsun Lin
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Patent number: 7649330Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Masaki Yamashita, Chisako Ota, Naoyuki Tsuruoka
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Patent number: 7638963Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 26, 2005Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Centricity CorporationInventors: Richard M. Amendolea, Rick Steinkamp
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Publication number: 20090206787Abstract: A drive control system includes a drive control device, an auxiliary control device, and a physical-amount detecting device. The physical-amount detecting device detects a physical amount such as position information necessary for the machine control device to operate. The drive control device, the auxiliary control device, and the physical-amount detecting device are connected to each other with a data communication line. Physical amount detected by the physical-amount detecting device is directly transmitted synchronously in a constant cycle to one or both of the drive control device and an auxiliary control device through the data communication line.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2005Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventor: Itsuo Seki
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Publication number: 20080303470Abstract: A motor control processor is provided for motor phase current sampling of multiple variable frequency controlled electric motors. The motor control processor comprises an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and a controller. The A/D converter has multiple analog inputs and generates a digital output signal in response to the multiple analog inputs. The controller is coupled to the A/D converter and determines a maximum desired switching frequency for a first one of the multiple variable frequency controlled electric motors. The controller further selects a base period in response to the maximum desired switching frequency and defines a phase shift time delay as a fraction of the base period so that the controller may control the multiple analog inputs of the A/D converter to sample motor phase currents of each of the multiple variable frequency controlled electric motors at sample times determined by the controller in response to the base period and the phase shift time delay.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2007Publication date: December 11, 2008Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Terry Murrell
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Patent number: 7436135Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a control method for controlling a stage apparatus including a base and a stage, the base including first and second coil phases, the stage including a plurality of magnets. The control method includes a first energization step of rotating the stage to a stable angle by contemporaneously energizing a plurality of coils comprising the first coil phase and a second energization step of rotating the stage to a stable angle by sequentially energizing coils comprising the second coil phase one by one.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2006Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takahiro Miyakawa
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Patent number: 7145300Abstract: A multiple axis servo control implements a multi-tasking PWM control unit to provide PWM signals for multiple axes in a single unit. A time slice mechanism provides axis selection signals based on a system clock signal to permit control parameters of the selected axis to be processed to control the selected motor drive axis. The single unit PWM control mechanism eliminates complex and costly multiple axis networks typically associated with independent servo motor controls for each axis in a multi-axis system. A single PWM unit implementation also permits the reduction of components for closed loop current control and closed loop velocity control in the multi-axis servo control system.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2004Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: International Rectifier CorporationInventor: Toshio Takahashi
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Patent number: 7061202Abstract: An automobile servomotor controller includes a master control unit having a master control circuit for transmitting a designation signal and a slave unit having a motor and a control circuit which controls driving of a motor by outputting an operation signal to a driving device depending upon said designation signal. The slave unit is constructed by a same feedback control unit having a non-feedback control unit for inhibiting the operation of the motor until a target is changed by an input of a new designation signal with a target reached state and a feedback control unit for driving the motor to reach a target state by detecting a present position value with a position detecting device, and a control inhibiting signal for inhibiting the feedback control is individually provided to the designation signal transmitted from the master control circuit to the non-feedback control unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2004Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Calsonic Kansei CorporationInventors: Hideki Sunaga, Futoshi Araki, Kaoru Tanaka
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Patent number: 7038421Abstract: A system for control of a plurality of motors comprising: an inverter including at least three legs, with each leg including two series switching devices configured to receive a command from a controller. The system also includes a first motor operably connected to an inverter at a common terminal of the switching devices for a first leg and at a common terminal of the switching devices for a second leg; a second motor is operably connected to the inverter at the common terminal of the switching devices for the second leg and at a common terminal of the switching devices for a third leg. The outer terminals of the switching devices for each of the first leg, second leg and third leg are operably connected to the voltage source. The controller executes a process for controlling the first motor and the second motor with an error arbiter function.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Timothy M. Trifilo
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Patent number: 7024257Abstract: A motion control system and method that includes a central controller configured to generate first and second demand control signals to be used to define actuation motion of respective first and second actuators. The central controller is in communication with first and second nodes by way of a data network, each node including at least a respective actuator configured to implement at an actuator time a motion or force-related effort based upon the respective demand control signal. Each node also includes a memory configured to store at least one respective propagation delay parameter related to a signal propagation delay between the central controller and the node. A timing mechanism establishes timing at each node based on the respective propagation delay parameter so that the actuator time at the nodes occurs simultaneously. Strictly cyclic and/or full-duplex high-speed communication can be supported. The network can be wired in a ring or as a tree and with twisted pair cabling or fiber.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2001Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Motion Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Robert Pearce, David Cline
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Patent number: 7005821Abstract: In a servomotor controller, when a comparing circuit (70) detects that a position of an object to be controlled has been achieved to a target position, an operation inhibiting signal generating section (71) supplies an operation inhibiting signal (71a) to an operation permitting/inhibiting signal-processing section (66), and obtains an operation stopped state of an H bridge-driving processing section (67) for controlling driving of a motor. A LIN communication processing section (61) receives information to a self address supplied from a superordiante device, and outputs a forced operation (recovery) request (61R) in the received information. The operation state of the H bridge-driving processing section (67) is obtained through an operation permitting trigger signal generating section (65) and the operation permitting/inhibiting signal-processing section (66) through the H bridge-driving processing section (67).Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2004Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Calsonic Kansei CorporationInventors: Hideki Sunaga, Futoshi Araki, Kaoru Tanaka
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Patent number: 6933698Abstract: Disclosed is a method of driving a servo motor with a built-in drive circuit in which a common rectifying circuit is provided on a distribution board to which a plurality of the servo motors with built-in drive circuits are connected, to thereby achieve a reduction in size of each servo motor. In this method, there is used a common distribution board for distributing power to be supplied to a plurality of servo motors with built-in drive circuits and for distributing a communication line, an external communication signal and external input power are supplied through the distribution board.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Tamagawa Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiromasa Miura, Toshiyuki Noda
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Patent number: 6838851Abstract: Under electric control of a motor by a CPU, before the rotation angle of a rotary knob reaches a predetermined angle (20°, 40°, 60°, . . . 360°), a torque in the same direction as a rotational direction is provided from the motor to the rotary knob, and the torque is decreased from a maximum value to zero. When the rotation angle of the rotary knob reaches a predetermined angle, a torque product is provided to the rotary knob depending upon an angular velocity of the rotary knob. After the rotation angle of the rotary knob exceeds a predetermined rotation angle, a torque in the reverse direction to a rotational direction is provided to the rotary knob, and the torque is increased from zero to a maximum value.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2003Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Satoshi Hayasaka
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Patent number: 6781336Abstract: A servomechanism having an actuator configured to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and a controller configured for electrical connection to a power source. A power cable electrically connects the actuator and the controller. The power cable is configured to transmit electrical current from the controller to the actuator. At least one transducer is coupled to the actuator. The transducer is electrically connected to the power cable and is configured to transmit data over the power cable.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2002Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: GE FANUC Automation North America, Inc.Inventor: William B. Henry
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Patent number: 6701220Abstract: An industrial robot including a manipulator having a control system. The manipulator includes a common gear housing having first and second inner compartments connected with a passage channel. First and second gears are arranged in the first and second inner compartments and are adapted to move the manipulator. A cooling and lubricant medium is disposed in the common gear housing and circulates between the first and second inner compartments through the passage channel.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: ABB ABInventors: Christer Lundstrom, Rafael Nissfolk
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Patent number: 6694224Abstract: In an automated processing system, a system controller uses a meta-heuristic technique for identifying an optimal or near-optimal control schedule for controlling movements and operations of a robot. In particular embodiments, the system controller uses a genetic algorithm to breed a control schedule for the robot. In particular embodiments, the system controller dynamically updates the control schedule based on system operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2002Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: FSI International, Inc.Inventor: Natarajan Ramanan
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Patent number: 6590359Abstract: A method for the synchronized control of a plurality of stepping motors SM1, SM2 . . . SMn which serve as drives in a feed system, wherein the stepping motors SM1, SM2 . . . SMn are controlled with a base frequency fa and a cycle of the base frequency fa is proportional to a given step length SL. Different step lengths SL1, SL2 . . . SLn are triggered fith each cycle of the same base frequency fa in the individual stepping motors SM1, SM2. . . SMn, wherein a specific step length SL1 is associated with stepping motor SM1, a specific step length SL2 is associated with stepping motor SM2, and so forth. Accordingly, it is no longer required to provide separate control frequencies for every stepping motor. All stepping motors can now be controlled at the same frequency and only a counter unit or timer unit is required for all stepping motors of the positioning system.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbHInventors: Tobias Kaufhold, Ralf Joram
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Patent number: 6556893Abstract: In an automated processing system, a system controller uses a meta-heuristic technique for identifying an optimal or near-optimal control schedule for controlling movements and operations of a robot. In particular embodiments, the system controller uses a genetic algorithm to breed a control schedule for the robot. In particular embodiments, the system controller dynamically updates the control schedule based on system operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignees: FSI International, The University of Texas at DallasInventors: Subodha Kumar, Natarajan Ramanan, Chelliah Sriskandarajah
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Patent number: 6489741Abstract: Motion of a substrate-transporting robot arm is controlled in order to compensate for inaccuracies and deflections encountered during operation. The compensation is effected by synchronizing elevational and planar motions of the robot arm such that the trajectory of the substrate is made coincident with the object axis of the substrate. The substrate may be a semiconductor wafer, an LCD panel or an end effector of the robot arm. The synchronized motion is achieved using a controller issuing control signals to arm actuating means based on synchronization algorithms developed during analytical or experimental robot learning sessions.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2000Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Genmark Automation, Inc.Inventors: Genco Genov, Zlatko M. Sotirov, Eugene Bonev
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Patent number: 6437531Abstract: There is provided an external watchdog timer 30 for detecting a temporary runaway of the microcomputer body 20 and resetting it according to a pulse output of the microcomputer body 20. Further, an internal watchdog timer 70 operated independently from a control section of CPU of the microcomputer body 20 is incorporated as a program. When a pulse signal is not outputted from the microcomputer body 20 exceeding a predetermined period of time, the external watchdog timer 30 is disabled, and impedance of the output terminal 32 is made high and the backup circuit 60 is set in an operating condition, so that the windowpane can be opened and closed by a manual operation switch 11.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
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Patent number: 6366047Abstract: A position encoder and a method for estimating absolute position using two or more diffractive grating tracks of differing periods to generate interference fringe patterns on a multi-track sensor. Detectors, corresponding to the diffractive grating tracks, detect the interference fringes. A first processing circuitry coupled to the detectors extract phase signals from the signals from the detectors. A second processing circuitry then estimates the cycle counts of the track signals based on the phase signals from the first processing circuitry. The absolute position is estimated by combining the cycle count, the fractional fringe value, and the grating period.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2000Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: MicroE, Inc.Inventors: Bruce A. Horwitz, Catherine E. DeVoe
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Patent number: 6297610Abstract: A control system for controlling a plurality of electrical devices (6) the system including a central controller (2) for controlling functions of the devices, a network (4) coupled between the central controller (2) and the devices, the network including a plurality of device drivers (10) for providing drive signals to the electrical devices, the number of drivers being less than the number of devices characterized in that the network includes intelligent devices (8) which enable communication through the network from the central controller (2) to the devices (6).Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1998Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Bytecraft Research Pty, Ltd.Inventors: Michael John Bauer, Edward John Fregon
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Patent number: 6297612Abstract: A motion control system includes a signal conduit to which the various devices of the system, such as a motion controller and motor drive modules, are linked. The modules are intertied such that the order of the modules along the signal conduit does not affect system operability. In one embodiment, the signal conduit includes a substantially rigid substrate having a plurality of electrically conductive lines formed in one or more layers of the substrate. The substrate may include a one-piece construction to which the motion controller, drives, and other devices are attached, or the substrate may be in the form of a plurality of couplers joined one to the other by connectors. For the latter, the various modules of the system include a coupler with connectors which allow the various modules to be easily connected without the need for any tools and without concern for the order in which the modules are attached.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1999Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Robotic Control Group, L.L.C.Inventors: Moshe Shloush, Gregory A. Davis, Benjamin D. Bower
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Patent number: 6255790Abstract: A control device, disposed in or on a vehicle seat, which has a pickup for detecting seat occupation, a pickup for detecting a position of the vehicle seat, a common control circuit, and an energy supply for the control circuit. The pickup for detecting seat occupation and the pickup for detecting the position of the vehicle seat are connected electrically conductively with the common control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Peter Popp, Günther Heitzer, Ralf-Johannes Lenninger