Time-sharing Or Multiplexing Systems Patents (Class 318/562)
  • Patent number: 11243676
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: OKUMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunori Fujitsuka, Tadanobu Imai, Yasushi Fukaya
  • Patent number: 11203117
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Keylex Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Furuta, Fumika Abe
  • Patent number: 11185997
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Shiramatsu
  • Patent number: 10969289
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Joseph R. VanDeWeert, Steve Kleiber
  • Patent number: 10852713
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASHAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Hidetsugu Koga, Isamu Matsumura, Tomofumi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 10630148
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Werner Wallrafen
  • Patent number: 10612941
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Werner Wallrafen
  • Patent number: 10547264
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Douglas Buch
  • Patent number: 10490100
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Hyo-Bong Hong
  • Patent number: 10222783
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Matsubara, Hiroki Kaneko, Kenji Iriguchi, Naoki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10184919
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroomi Goto, Tsunehiro Inoue, Takahiro Mori
  • Patent number: 9874866
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9827716
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventor: Yann-Henri Laudrain
  • Patent number: 9612600
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9375853
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Edsinger
  • Patent number: 9306434
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignees: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED, NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Ueda, Yoshiji Takahashi, Toru Morita, Kou Ohno
  • Patent number: 9172316
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Su Hyun Bae, Won Kyoung Choi, Sung Kyu Kim, Mu Shin Kwak
  • Patent number: 8994316
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rafael Cobas Asensio, Marco Antonio Santacruz Motte
  • Patent number: 8766565
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Lyden, Javier Calpe-Maravilla, Mark Murphy, Eoin English, Denis Martin O'Connor, Tudor Vinereanu, Alan Cahill, Sean Brennan
  • Patent number: 8423190
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Ken'ichi Yasuda, Takahiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 8131385
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Yuzawa
  • Patent number: 7936144
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Vig, Paul David, Shaun D. Milano, Michael C. Doogue, David J. Haas
  • Patent number: 7853377
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Fuhrman, Miroslawa A. Supal, Arnold W. Millsap
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7746022
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Katayama, Satoshi Ogata
  • Patent number: 7693628
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Fuhrman, Miroslawa A. Supal, Arnold W. Millsap
  • Patent number: 7671554
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Primax Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Chang Lin, Chih-Hsun Lin
  • 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: 20090206787
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Itsuo Seki
  • Publication number: 20080303470
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Terry Murrell
  • Patent number: 7436135
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Miyakawa
  • Patent number: 7145300
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7061202
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Sunaga, Futoshi Araki, Kaoru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7038421
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy M. Trifilo
  • Patent number: 7024257
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Motion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Pearce, David Cline
  • Patent number: 7005821
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Sunaga, Futoshi Araki, Kaoru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6933698
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Tamagawa Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromasa Miura, Toshiyuki Noda
  • Patent number: 6838851
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 6781336
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: GE FANUC Automation North America, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Henry
  • Patent number: 6701220
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Christer Lundstrom, Rafael Nissfolk
  • Patent number: 6694224
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: FSI International, Inc.
    Inventor: Natarajan Ramanan
  • Patent number: 6590359
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Kaufhold, Ralf Joram
  • Patent number: 6556893
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignees: FSI International, The University of Texas at Dallas
    Inventors: Subodha Kumar, Natarajan Ramanan, Chelliah Sriskandarajah
  • Patent number: 6489741
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Genmark Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Genco Genov, Zlatko M. Sotirov, Eugene Bonev
  • Patent number: 6437531
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6366047
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: MicroE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Horwitz, Catherine E. DeVoe
  • Patent number: 6297612
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Robotic Control Group, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Moshe Shloush, Gregory A. Davis, Benjamin D. Bower
  • Patent number: 6297610
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Bytecraft Research Pty, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael John Bauer, Edward John Fregon
  • Patent number: 6255790
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Popp, Günther Heitzer, Ralf-Johannes Lenninger