Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying a number of air states for a vehicle. A deflection of a control surface associated with an actuator is identified to form an identified deflection. A current in the actuator is identified to form a measured current. The number of air states for the vehicle is estimated using the identified deflection and the measured current.

Abstract: A device and a method for determining the current position of a rotor, particularly the angle of rotation of the rotor, of an electric motor, wherein said device determines the current position of the rotor using the fluctuations of the armature current or the armature voltage of the electric motor. The fluctuations of the armature current or the armature voltage are separated from the fluctuations of the motor current or the motor voltage with the help of an amplifier unit dependent on a controllable offset value. The offset value is changed according to the motor current or the motor voltage. By virtue of the device and the method, the fluctuations of the armature current or the armature voltage can be separated from the fluctuations of the motor current or the motor voltage over the full measurement range of the motor current or the motor voltage.

Abstract: A water and/or air dispenser for snowmaking system includes water and/or air supplying ducts and is equipped with at least one valve (9) associated with an electric actuator (10), the actuator (10) being connected to an electric power source (12, 19) and associated with its own management unit (11) to ensure the operation of the valve (9) between the open and closed configurations thereof. The dispenser is associated with security elements able to cause the valve (9) to be positioned in a known security configuration, for example tightly closed, in case of voltage cut-off at the electric source (12, 19), the security elements being integrated and including a capacitor-type electric unit (16), connected to the electric power source and to the actuator (10), the capacitor unit being able to store, and then return, a quantity of energy necessary for complete actuation of the valve, to implement the security elements.

Abstract: A system and method for exciting an electrical machine with instantaneous non-sinusoidal current waveforms is disclosed. The system includes an inverter that controls current flow and terminal voltages in an electrical machine. The controller is further programmed to receive feedback on an air gap magnetic field in the electrical machine generated by an initial sinusoidal current demand, generate a non-sinusoidal current demand based on received air gap magnetic field feedback, and input the non-sinusoidal current demand to the inverter, thereby causing the inverter to output a non-sinusoidal current.

Abstract: Time information t and positional information about each axis are obtained, and the three-dimensional coordinates of tool center point Pe at time t are calculated to display the path of the tool center point Pe at time t. Then, whether a fixed time has elapsed or not is decided. If the fixed time has elapsed, the coordinates of the tool vector start point Ps at time t are calculated to display a line segment connecting between tool vector start point Ps and tool center point Pe, which is the end point of the tool vector. This display enables the orientation of the tool at each tool center point to be grasped at a glance.

Abstract: A drive device for an electric motor is provided. The drive device decides based on signals it receives from outside whether it is monitoring an actual value of the electric motor with respect to the adherence to an actual value condition (monitoring operation). During monitoring operation, the drive device causes the motor to be disconnected from a power supply if the actual value does not adhere to the actual value condition. Via a communication connection, the drive device provides a drive control unit with first information, which reveals whether the drive device is in the monitoring operating mode. The drive device provides the drive control unit with second information, which reveals what the actual value condition is. Based on the first information, the drive control unit examines whether the drive device is in the monitoring operating mode. If this is the case, the drive control unit, based on the second information, determines what the actual value condition is.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for automatically determining an effective mass of a door system that is driven by a motor and has at least one door. In this case a speed change accomplished during an acceleration movement is established, and a force variable, for example the motor current or an armature voltage, influencing the drive force of the motor is summed or integrated during the acceleration movement. The effective door mass is established from the sum or the integral of the force variable and the speed change, the summation or the integration of the force variable being performed over a number of operating system cycles of a control device assigned to the door system. Also described is a control device for automatically determining the effective door mass, having a memory for force variable profiles that is designed in such a way that mass can be established for different force variable profiles in the memory in conjunction with an unchanged program code.

Abstract: A medical manipulator includes an actuator block having a motor, a coupler detachably mounted on the actuator block and having a rotor connected to a rotatable shaft of the motor, a distal-end working unit mounted on a distal end of a joint shaft, which extends from the coupler and is operatively connected to the rotor by a wire, an encoder for detecting an angular displacement of the motor, and a controller for reading a signal from the encoder and comparing the read signal with an operation command value for energizing the motor through a feedback loop. The controller outputs a signal having a level greater than the resolution of the encoder and a lower operation limit of the motor within a range in which the distal-end working unit remains still, and monitors the angular displacement of the motor for thereby determining whether the feedback loop is malfunctioning or not.

Abstract: In a method for reliably monitoring the speed of a moveable coordinate measuring device, a first value of the speed is calculated from measured values of the coordinate measurement system. The measured values contain information on positions of the coordinate measuring device. The measured values are further used to determine the coordinates of a measurement object. A second value of the speed is ascertained from measurement signals of at least one additional movement sensor. The measurement signals can also be used for controlling a drive device of the coordinate measuring device. A fault signal can be generated if the first value and/or the second value deviate from one another, from a predetermined value and/or a limit value according to a predefined criterion.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling at least one machine, such as an industrial robot, having drives, safety peripheral components and a controller for a machine, and also having a safety controller. In this arrangement, the safety controller has superordinate access over the respective machine controller both to the machine drives and to the safety peripherals. This achieves the most easily configurable integration of the safety control loop into the operating control loops.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method of controlling a device having a calibration process. The calibration process has a partial calibration routine and a calibration routine. A detector within the control system is capable of receiving one or more input signals and determining whether a partial calibration or calibration should occur. The first step in the process involves starting the control method where the detector receives input signals or generates it own data within the detector. The detector also determines whether a partial calibration routine or a calibration routine will take place based upon the value of the input signals received. A partial calibration routine will be performed if the input signals to the detector do not favor a calibration.

Abstract: Disclosed a servo motor monitoring apparatus including: a magnetic pole position calculating member to extract a magnetic pole position signal of the servo motor from a motor drive line connected to the servo motor; a present position signal inputting member to receive an input of a present position signal from the position detecting member attached to the servo motor; and a monitoring member to compare operations of the servo motor based on two types of signals of the magnetic pole position signal and the present position signal of the servo motor, and to output a stop instruction signal for cutting off a power supply to the servo motor when detecting disagreement.

Abstract: A mechanical system includes a plurality of amplifier groups each having a common power source unit connected to a higher-level power source and a plurality of power supply units for supplying power to servo motors from the common power source unit. A servo motor drive control device of the mechanical system includes a plurality of amplifier group electric power detection units each determining an electric energy of the corresponding one of the amplifier groups.

Abstract: In a positioning device in gantry type of construction, due to a special arrangement of the position-measuring devices used for the positioning, errors due to thermal expansion of the positioning device may be avoided to a great extent. In particular, attention is given to the advantageous placement of fixed point of a scale relative to a straightness track of a further scale.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor configured to drive a driven member includes a rotor having a magnet, a stator having a coil configured to provide a rotational force to the magnet, a position detector configured to output a first signal that is periodic, in accordance with a rotating position of the rotor, a signal generator configured to generate a second signal by adding a lead angle to a phase of the first signal output from the position detector, an excitation switch configured to select an excitation to the coil in accordance with the second signal, and a phase change part configured to change the lead angle in accordance with at least one of a position and a moving direction of the driven member.

Abstract: A control device for a machine tool including a feed axis driving motor; a first power consumption calculating portion calculating power consumption of the feed axis driving motor; a second power consumption calculating portion calculating power consumption of equipment adapted to be operated by constant power; and a motor control portion determining a target time constant correlated with at least one of acceleration time and deceleration time of the feed axis driving motor, based on a summation of the power consumption calculated by the first power consumption calculating portion and the power consumption calculated by the second power consumption calculating portion, and controlling the feed axis driving motor based on the target time constant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the existence of an earth-fault on-the-fly and thereby protecting a motor controller having a high- and a low-side DC-link, and having high- and low-side switching elements, the high- and low-side switching elements being operatively connected to the high- and low-side DC-link buses, respectively, the method comprising the steps of generating a fault signal, generating at least one test vector in response to the fault signal by switching at least one of the switching elements on, and measuring, while the at least one switching element is on, the magnitude of a current flowing in that DC-link operatively connected to the conducting switching element in order to detect an earth-fault. The present invention further relates to additional methods for on-the-fly determination of earth-faults.

Abstract: A servo driver sets an instruction value for an operation of a servo motor based on an instruction signal from a controller. The servo driver sends the instruction value and a feedback value obtained based on a feedback signal to a safety unit. When at least one of the instruction value and the feedback value sent by the servo driver has an abnormal value, an STO signal is generated and sent to the servo driver. When the STO signal is input to the servo driver, the servo driver stops the supply of electricity to the servo motor.

Abstract: A robot controller (7) controlling a robot (1) used combined with a machine tool (5, 6) provided with a communication unit (9) connecting the robot controller to a machine tool, a detection unit (52) detecting through the communication unit a type and number of machine tools, and a setting unit (55) setting the robot controller based on the type and number of machine tools detected by the detection unit. Due to this, machine tool and robot startup work can be simply and easily performed without requiring skill or increasing the startup man-hours. The setting unit selects one setting file from among a plurality of setting files for the robot controller, stored in the robot controller, based on the type and number of machine tools detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A method of detecting one or more failed current sensor and estimating a phase current for the failed current sensor on a three-phase machine is disclosed. The method may include detecting one or more failed current sensor by determining if an absolute value of a sum of the phase currents of the motor is below an open circuit value. The method may also include determining which phase currents are approximately zero, for each phase current associated with each phase of the motor, if the sum of the phase currents of the motor is not below the open circuit value. The method may further include estimating the phase current for the failed current sensor by determining the phase current value for the failed current sensor, that when added to the phase currents of the remaining current sensors, will make the sum of all the phase currents equal to approximately zero.

Abstract: A control device of a work positioning apparatus includes an operating limit line storage unit for storing position coordinates of an operating limit line, a speed reduction zone storage unit for storing a width of a speed reduction zone ranging from a reduction start position to the operating limit line, a check point storage unit for storing position coordinates of check points set in the work, a check point updating unit for determining position coordinates of the check points moved in accordance with an operation of the work positioning apparatus by calculation, an in-speed-reduction-zone determining unit for determining whether the check points enter the speed reduction zone in accordance with the updated position coordinates of the check points, and a work positioning apparatus control unit for instructing a work positioning apparatus motor to reduce a speed if the check points are determined to enter the speed reduction zone.

Abstract: In normal mode, a central unit of an electronic control device receives desired and actual values for determining desired current values which are transmitted to an electronic drive unit. The central unit of the electronic drive unit receives the desired current values for determining drive signals for circuit breakers. In monitoring mode, the central unit of the electronic control device checks whether an connected electric motor is in a safe state. If not, the control device transmits disconnection signals to a disconnection device and to the drive unit. The central unit of the electronic control device generates checking information for the drive unit. In the monitoring mode, the central unit of the drive unit checks whether a disconnection signal is transmitted to the central unit and whether the checking information is correct.

Abstract: A control portion instructs supply of an offset voltage while a disk remains stopped at the time of start. While the disk remains stopped at the time of start, a differential operational amplifier detects a voltage difference between a first voltage supply line and a second voltage supply line. When the absolute value of the voltage difference output by the differential operational amplifier is equal to or lower than a prescribed threshold value, a failure determination portion determines that a spindle motor has shorted out.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motor connected to an unbalanced load in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes operating the motor for a predetermined period of time with a first performance parameter held constant, monitoring a signal related to a second performance parameter, monitoring electrical rotation within the motor and providing an electrical rotation signal indicative of the electrical rotation angle, sampling the signal related to the second performance parameter at a predetermined angle of electrical rotation, arranging samples provided in the sampling step in predetermined order and generating a mechanical rotation signal representing the mechanical rotation angle of a rotor of the motor based on the arrangement of samples. The mechanical rotation signal is used to control at least one of the first and second performance parameters of the motor.

Abstract: A motor speed control system includes a pulse outputting device capable of outputting a pulse each time a motor rotates, a pulse interval determining device capable of determining a pulse interval between the pulses outputted, and a comparative value calculating device capable of obtaining a comparative value as the product of a first value and a second value. The first value can correspond to the pulse interval determined, and the second value can correspond to a set rotational speed of the motor. The system can further include a set value calculating device capable of obtaining a set value as the product of the second value and a third value and a controller capable of controlling a supply of power to the motor such that a difference between the set value and the comparative value decreases.

Abstract: Featured is a controller for a motor that is ultra-compact, with a power density of at least about 20 watts per cubic cm (W/cm3). The controller utilizes a common ground for power circuitry, which energizes the windings of the motor, and the signal circuitry, which controls this energization responsive to signals from one or more sensors. Also, the ground is held at a stable potential without galvanic isolation. The circuits, their components and connectors are sized and located to minimize their inductance and heat is dissipated by conduction to the controller's exterior such as by a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material (e.g., potable epoxy). The controller uses a single current sensor for plural windings and preferably a single heat sensor within the controller. The body of the controller can also function as the sole plug connector.

Abstract: A robot arm is provided with an end effecter for grasping an object and a force sensor for detecting a force acted upon the end effecter. In the state in which end effecter grasps an object, when there is a change in the force acting on the end effecter detected by the force sensor, outputted is a signal for releasing the force of the end effecter grasping the object. The object grasped by the end effecter can be taken out as if the object were handed from person over to person.

Abstract: A control device is provided for an assembly of a motor vehicle body, which assembly can be moved between at least two positions, specifically at least between a position retracted to the maximum extent and a position deployed to the maximum extent, in particular a spoiler. The control device contains a first sensor which transmits a signal to an evaluation device, which determines the position of the assembly from the signal of the first sensor, in dependence on the rotational speed of a motor which serves to move the assembly, and a second sensor which monitors a deployed position of the assembly and transmits a corresponding signal to the evaluation device. The evaluation device corrects the signal provided by the first sensor when the assembly is at least temporarily located in the position monitored by the second sensor and the signal provided by the first sensor is outside a tolerance range.

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.

Abstract: A motor control unit controls a motor including a rotor and a stator facing the rotor. A current drive unit drives the motor at an axis current value of a rotating coordinate system that rotates in accordance with a control angle that is a rotational angle used in a control. A control angle calculation unit obtains, at every predetermined calculation cycle, a present value of the control angle by adding an addition angle to an immediately preceding value of the control angle. A torque detection unit detects a torque other than a motor torque and applied to a drive target driven by the motor. A command torque setting unit sets a command torque to be applied to the drive target. An addition angle calculation unit calculates the addition angle to be added to the control angle through a proportional-integral control based on a torque deviation of the torque detected by the torque detection unit from the command torque set by the command torque setting unit.

Abstract: A protection scheme to protect pulse width modulated drives is described. The scheme is implantable in both hardware and software and combinations thereof. The semiconductor devices of the drive are protected from transient signals such as power line spikes and loss of line. The present scheme uses an adaptive technique to determine the normal or steady state distortion (transients and harmonics) value in an unfiltered power signal. The present distortion value is compared to the normal distortion. If the present distortion exceeds the steady state value by a given amount, then the drive is placed in freewheel mode to protect the semiconductor devices in the drive.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a base, a display screen part supported on the base turnably, a driving part for turning the display screen part in accordance with an inputted control signal, a turning prevention mechanism for preventing turning of the display screen part, a judgment part for judging on the basis of the inputted control signal whether the display apparatus is operated or not, and a controller for producing a signal for operating the turning prevention mechanism to prevent turning of the display screen part when it is judged that there is no operation to the display screen part and producing a signal for releasing operation of the turning prevention mechanism when it is judged that there is operation to the display screen part.

Abstract: This invention aims to achieve safety without interchanging an entire existing servo system to a servo system having the safety function. In a servo system including a servo motor, and a servo amplifier for controlling the drive of the servo motor based on the output of an encoder attached to the servo motor, a safety control device for monitoring presence of abnormality based on the output of the encoder, and shielding the supply of drive power to the servo motor if abnormality is present is arranged, and the monitoring content is set as setting information.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motorized window treatment provides for continued operation of the motorized window treatment during an overload condition, a low-line condition, or an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event. The motorized window treatment is driven by an electronic drive unit having a motor, a motor drive circuit, a rotational position sensor, a controller, and a memory for storing the command. The controller stores the present position of the motorized window treatment in the memory each time the rotational position of the motor changes by a predetermined angle, such that a plurality of positions are stored in the memory. When the controller is reset due to an overload condition or ESD event, the controller recalls the desired position from the memory, determines the present position, and continues to drive the motor drive circuit in response to the command and the present position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting undesired operating conditions of a driving device. A sensor (50) that is transformer-coupled between a stator side and a rotor side is triggered by a control circuit (40) for detecting a position value or a rotational speed value of the drive mechanism. An error signal (F) is emitted, if an undesired operating condition occurs. A test signal (?) is supplied to a safety monitoring device (30) in order to determine and emit this error signal (F), said test signal being also supplied to the control circuit (40). There, the test signal (?) acts as an unbalance and is checked as regards its presence in the safety monitoring device.

Abstract: A unit for recording operating information of an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The unit includes a system controller communicatively coupled to an ECM. The system controller includes a processing device configured to control the unit. The unit also includes a memory device communicatively coupled to the system controller. The memory device is configured to receive and store ECM operating information provided by the processing device.

Abstract: In order to track the position of a component driven by an electric motor, wherein rotational movements of the electric motor are detected and used for a position count, deviations from an anticipated position count are determined and added to the position given by the position count as an uncertainty region.

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.

Abstract: A medical manipulator includes an actuator block having a motor, a coupler detachably mounted on the actuator block and having a rotor connected to a rotatable shaft of the motor, a distal-end working unit mounted on a distal end of a joint shaft, which extends from the coupler and is operatively connected to the rotor by a wire, an encoder for detecting an angular displacement of the motor, and a controller for reading a signal from the encoder and comparing the read signal with an operation command value for energizing the motor through a feedback loop. The controller outputs a signal having a level greater than the resolution of the encoder and a lower operation limit of the motor within a range in which the distal-end working unit remains still, and monitors the angular displacement of the motor for thereby determining whether the feedback loop is malfunctioning or not.

Abstract: A mobile lift device having a load moving device capable of engaging a load is provided. The mobile lift device includes one or more systems for stabilizing the mobile lift device during operation of the load moving device. According to one exemplary embodiment, the mobile lift device is a heavy duty wrecker having a rotatable boom assembly. The heavy duty wrecker comprises a monitoring system for stabilizing the wrecker during operation of the boom assembly. The monitoring system comprises a plurality of sensors and a monitoring circuit coupled to the sensors to generate a force signal representative of at least one force being applied to the wrecker based upon the transmitted signals.

Abstract: A unit for recording operating information of an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The unit includes a system controller communicatively coupled to an ECM. The system controller includes a processing device configured to control the unit. The unit also includes a memory device communicatively coupled to the system controller. The memory device is configured to receive and store ECM operating information provided by the processing device.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for a DC brushless motor of a ceiling fan is provided. By setting at least one coder and one sensor outside the DC brushless motor, the driving apparatus can sense the position of magnetic poles of the motor for driving the motor. Meanwhile, a controller set with the motor stores the rotation speed of the motor before being turned off by detecting the turn-off time of a turn-on/off signal.

Abstract: Method and device for detecting oscillatory faults relating to an aircraft airfoil slaving chain. The device (1) comprises means for carrying out a counting of all the overshoots of a threshold value by the current value of a quantity related to the positional slaving of an airfoil (3), and for detecting an oscillatory fault as soon as the number resulting from said counting becomes greater than a predetermined number.

Abstract: Disclosed a servo motor monitoring apparatus including: a magnetic pole position calculating member to extract a magnetic pole position signal of the servo motor from a motor drive line connected to the servo motor; a present position signal inputting member to receive an input of a present position signal from the position detecting member attached to the servo motor; and a monitoring member to compare operations of the servo motor based on two types of signals of the magnetic pole position signal and the present position signal of the servo motor, and to output a stop instruction signal for cutting off a power supply to the servo motor when detecting disagreement.

Abstract: A motion controller accurately identifies system constants, such as inertia, viscous friction coefficient, and constant disturbance, without requiring operation, even in cases where viscous friction and/or constant disturbance are present. An identifier includes a time-differentiator for calculating an acceleration detection value afb by time-differentiating a speed detection value Vfb, a first filter for calculating Fafb by filtering the acceleration detection value afb, a second filter for calculating Fvfb by filtering the speed detection value Vfb, a third filter for calculating Ftref by filtering a torque command value Tref, and a JDC estimator for calculating an inertia identification value J_hat, a viscous friction coefficient identification value D_hat, and a constant disturbance identification value C_hat of a control object by performing time-differentiation and four arithmetic operations based on Ftref, Fvfb and Fafb.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method of controlling a device having a calibration process. The calibration process has a partial calibration routine and a calibration routine. A detector within the control system is capable of receiving one or more input signals and determining whether a partial calibration or calibration should occur. The first step in the process involves starting the control method where the detector receives input signals or generates it own data within the detector. The detector also determines whether a partial calibration routine or a calibration routine will take place based upon the value of the input signals received. A partial calibration routine will be performed if the input signals to the detector do not favor a calibration.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for capturing and saving motor drive information in a non-volatile memory to facilitate troubleshooting and motor fault analysis. The motor drive includes a power conversion system that provides electrical power to an electric motor and a control system providing a control input to the power conversion system, and an information capture system is provided with an information capture component to capture motor drive information and a non-volatile memory component to store the captured information.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a motor control system having a monitoring circuit for monitoring PWM control for a DC electric motor, the PWM control comprising a power end stage having at least one field effect transistor, which controls the current at the DC electric motor. The motor control system is designed to monitor the current at the DC electric motor. The motor control system detects the voltage drop across the field effect transistor and comprises a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the field effect transistor. Furthermore, the motor control system is designed to determine the resistance of the field effect transistor from the detected temperature thereof, and to determine the current at the DC electric motor from the resistance of the field effect transistor and from the voltage drop across the field effect transistor.

Abstract: A method for autonomously identifying a type of motor based on a characteristic value of the motor, the method including measuring a characteristic value of a motor, comparing the measured characteristic value to a known characteristic value, and identifying the motor based on the measured characteristic value when compared to the known characteristic value.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a multi-phase inverter, a fault detector to indicate a detection of a fault, a sensor to provide a speed signal indicative of whether a speed of a PM motor is greater than a transition speed, and a controller. The controller is operable to apply either an open-circuit response or a short-circuit response to the multi-phase inverter. The open-circuit response is applied when the speed of the PM motor is greater less than the transition speed and a fault is detected. The short-circuit response is applied when the speed of the PM motor is less greater than the transition speed and the fault is detected. The transition speed is either a fixed predetermined speed or an adjusted predetermined speed.