Digital Or Numerical Systems Patents (Class 318/569)
  • Patent number: 8120304
    Abstract: Methods and systems for, in one embodiment, accelerating a stage through a clearance height in a first direction and decelerating the stage in the first direction while accelerating in a second direction are shown. The stage is moved in a third direction and a determination is made whether the stage movement in the second direction is below a threshold value before continuing to move the stage further in the third direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction and is parallel and opposite to the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Yalei, Uday Nayak, Richard J. Casler, Jr., Thomas Rohrs
  • Patent number: 8115427
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for controlling a motor are disclosed. A method may include determining a rotational direction of a motor from a pair of quadrature signals sent to a microprocessor. The method further includes adjusting an internal count stored in the microprocessor at each edge of each of the pair of quadrature signals. The method further includes adjusting an external count stored in the microprocessor and transmitting an interrupt to a main controller after a first phase signal and a second phase signal have transitioned through each combinational logic state in one of a forward rotational direction and a reverse rotational direction. The method further includes transmitting a signal comprising the rotational direction of the motor and the external count from the microprocessor to a main controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin D. Banta, D. George Field, E. Carl Goodman, Duane O. Hall
  • Patent number: 8115439
    Abstract: A system for moving robots in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. The system includes: a surface having a position-coding pattern which identifies the surface; mobile robots for moving across the surface, each robot being configured for sensing and decoding the position-coding pattern; and a computer system in communication with the mobile robots. The computer system is configured to send instructions for moving each mobile robot relative to the surface in response to position information corresponding to that mobile robot. Further, the computer system is configured to determine instructions for moving each mobile robot using a predetermined algorithm. The predetermined algorithm is selected on the basis of the identity of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Zhenya Alexander Yourlo, Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8108071
    Abstract: A method for coordinating cooperative robots is provided. The method includes following steps. An abnormal event is detected by a sensor disposed in an environment or in a robot. The abnormal event is broadcasted to the cooperative robots. Each robot determines whether the priority of the abnormal event is higher than that of its currently executing task. If the answer is “yes,” whether function attributes of the robot meet attributes of the abnormal event is then determined. If the function attributes of the cooperative robot do not meet the attributes of the abnormal event, the robot broadcasts to acquire help from other robots, thereby constituting an instantly designated task team. The instantly designated task team goes to where the abnormal event takes place to process the abnormal event. After the abnormal event has been eliminated, the instantly designated task team is dismissed and these robots resume their original tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yen-Chun Lin, Jen-Hua Wu, Kuo-Tsung Tseng
  • Patent number: 8054028
    Abstract: A table containing correspondence between “n” and “m” is set in a control circuit of a servo control system so that the current command data in the m-th (m=1, 2, 3 . . . ) current command register is assigned to the n-th (n=1, 2, 3 . . . ) servo amplifier. When data is specified in this table to satisfy “n=m”, the current command data in the n-th current command register is passed to the n-th servo amplifier. When “m=1” is set for “n=1” and “m=1” is set for “n=2” in this table, the current command data stored in the first current command register is passed to the first and second servo amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: FANUC Ltd
    Inventors: Kazunari Aoyama, Kunitaka Komaki, Yasuharu Aizawa
  • Publication number: 20110263309
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling motion-generating devices in gaming machines are disclosed. A gaming apparatus includes a main processor board, a CPU operable to execute a game of chance, a motion generating device, a first memory configured to store at least one first motion control profile that describes movement of the motion generating device, a motion control board coupled to the main processor board by an interface bus, the motion control board including a second memory configured to store at least one second motion control profile, and transfer logic configured to: receive the at least one first motion control profile via the bus in response to a gaming event, generate the at least one second motion control profile based upon the at least one first motion control profile, and store the at least one second motion control profile in the second memory; and motion control logic configured to cause the motion generating device to move in accordance with the at least one second motion control profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: Scott T. Gowin
  • Patent number: 8046104
    Abstract: An industrial robot system including at least one industrial robot including a manipulator and a control unit for controlling the manipulator, a portable operator control device for teaching and manually operating a robot. The portable operator control device includes safety equipment including an enabling device, which upon activation enables manual operation of the robot by the portable operator control device. The portable operator control device is adapted for wireless communication with the control unit, and a detecting unit that detects when the portable operator control device enters an area defined in the vicinity of the manipulator. The robot includes an enabling function which upon activation enables the enabling device of the portable operator control device, and upon deactivation disables the enabling device. The robot system is adapted to automatically activate the enabling function of the robot upon detecting that the portable operator control device enters the defined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Ralph Sjöberg
  • Patent number: 8018192
    Abstract: A trajectory display device capable of correctly quantifying an error of a three-dimensional trajectory of a machine tool, and displaying or outputting the error. The trajectory display device has a command line segment defining part adapted to define a command line segment which connects two temporally adjacent points, in relation to each commanded position; an error calculating part adapted to define a normal line extending from the actual position to each command line segment and calculate an error of the actual position relative to a commanded trajectory, the error being determined as a shorter one between a length of a shortest normal line among the defined normal lines and a length of a line segment extending from the actual position to a commanded position which is the nearest from the actual position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: FANUC Ltd
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Tadashi Okita, Junichi Tezuka, Kazuyuki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7986119
    Abstract: A motor control system includes an MMI (man machine interface), an upper-controller, and a motor driver connected in that order. The upper-controller includes a motherboard, a communication control module, and a servo driven control card connected in that order. The motherboard is connected to the MMI and includes a processor. The communication control module includes a plurality of control cards. A control signal is inputted into the MMI and sequentially processed by the processor, the communication control module, and the servo driven control card. A driven signal is outputted from the servo driven control card to the motor driver to drive a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Foxnum Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsing-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 7977906
    Abstract: Described is a fault-tolerant electro-mechanical system that is able to saccade to a target by training and using a signal processing technique. The invention enables tracking systems, such as next generational cameras, to be developed for autonomous platforms and surveillance systems where environment conditions are unpredictable. The invention includes at least one sensor configured to relay a signal containing positional information of a stimulus. At least one actuator is configured to manipulate the sensor to enable the sensor to track the stimulus. A processing device is configured to receive positional information from each sensor and each actuator. The processing device sends a positional changing signal to at least one actuator and adjusts at least one positional changing signal according to the information from each sensor and each actuator to enable the actuator to cause the sensor to track the stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Narayan Srinivasa, Youngkwan Cho
  • Patent number: 7977908
    Abstract: While a numerical controller is operating, an abnormality of a numerical control section is detected. In response to an abnormality detection signal, a motor deceleration stop control circuit of a servo section is actuated to perform speed control with a speed command “0”, thereby stopping a motor. If an actual speed of the motor becomes not higher than a preset speed, an off command signal for turning off a DO signal is delivered to a PMC section. In response to this off command signal, the PMC section turns off a brake control DO or all DO signals. Thus, a brake device that is attached to the motor is activated to brake the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hamabata, Hiroshige Ando
  • Patent number: 7973509
    Abstract: A pulse distribution unit notifies a mode control/instruction unit of an output start signal. The mode control/instruction unit outputs a mode setting signal, a speed command signal, and a compensation pulse to an axis control unit. In a position control mode, the mode control/instruction unit continues outputting the speed command signal to the axis control unit until the mode control/instruction unit receives the output start signal from the pulse distribution unit, and stops, up receiving the output start signal, outputting the speed command signal. The compensation pulse is output to the axis control unit to cancel the difference between a spindle position and the position control start reference position of the spindle. The axis control unit adds the compensation pulse to the position command signal of the spindle output from the pulse distribution unit and outputs the result to a servo control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Masahiko Hosokawa, Shuji Ogawa, Kazuhiko Sonobe
  • Patent number: 7956566
    Abstract: An automotive drive system for a high voltage electric motor comprises a microcontroller and ECU powered by a low voltage (12 volt) bus net which controls the drives of a high voltage inverter powered by a 100 volt or higher source, which, in turn, drives the motor. To provide good electrical insulation between the low voltage and high voltage systems, the low voltage control signals are produced by a low voltage signal transmitter chip which has a small integral antenna which wirelessly communicates with the antenna of a high voltage driver IC which drives the power devices of the high voltage inverter. The two IC chips are separated by a suitable isolation distance and may be bare chips, individually packaged chips or co-packed chips. Plural control IC chips and driver IC chips can communicate with one another for adverse control functions, including “smart” functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Henning M. Hauenstein
  • Publication number: 20110095718
    Abstract: A servo motor system and an operating method of the servo motor system are disclosed. The servo motor system includes a servo motor and a servo driver. The servo motor is electrically connected to the servo driver. The servo motor includes a motor unit and an encoder. The encoder is mechanically connected to the motor unit. The encoder includes a CPU and a memory unit. The memory unit is electrically connected to the CPU. Data parameters are saved in the memory unit. The servo driver uses data parameters of the motor unit saved in the memory unit for controlling the motor unit. The servo motor system and the operating method provide a mechanism to drive and offer compensation to an upgraded motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Chin-Shiong Tsai, Jian-Da Chen, Hong-Cheng Sheu
  • Patent number: 7933667
    Abstract: An industrial robot including a manipulator, a control unit for controlling the manipulator, a portable operating unit for teaching and manually operating the robot, which operating unit is adapted for wireless communication with the control unit and including an operator control. The transmissions may be made wirelessly with redundant software processes for transmission and/or reception. Safety is increased by ensuring that the operator is within the specified operating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Ralph Sjöberg, Nick Warren, Jan Endresen, Erik Carlson
  • Patent number: 7915851
    Abstract: Initial speeds in the move commands for respective control axes at servo-on are determined according to parameter setting, or the comparative relationship or difference in speed among the actual speeds of the control axes so that difference in position between the control axes does not increase as the move commands are executed after the servo-on. The actual speeds of the control axes are set as initial speeds in the move commands, and a target axis is specified on the basis of the comparative relationship among their actual speeds and the other control axes are accelerated or decelerated at the acceleration or deceleration rate specified in the move commands to attain the position and speed of the target axis, so that differences in position and speed among the control axes are gradually decreased as the move commands are executed after the servo-on, thereby preventing abrupt speed changes and suppressing mechanical shocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hishikawa, Takashi Idei
  • Patent number: 7902785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for guiding the displacement of a displaceable machine element (18) in a machine, comprising the following steps: a) specification of a guide target variable (xtarg) that describes the desired displacement operation of the machine element (18); b) determination of a pilot actual variable (Mpilot) and/or a guide actual variable (xact) from the guide target variable (xtarg) using a model (2), said model (2) comprising a path model (3), which simulates the dynamic behaviour of the elements (16, 18) involved in the displacement. The invention also relates to a device that corresponds to the method. The invention permits the optimised guidance of the displacement of a displaceable machine element (18) in a machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Denk, Klaus Geissdörfer, Jens Hamann, Elmar Schäfers, Bernd Wedel
  • Patent number: 7868574
    Abstract: A motor absolute position signal processing apparatus connected to a signal processor and an optical encoder of a motor control system includes first and second switches, a signal integration amplifier, first and second separators and an inverter. The first switch is connected with the optical encoder, the second switch with the optical encoder and the first switch, the signal integration amplifier with the first and second switches, the first separator with the signal integration amplifier and the signal processor, and the second separator with the signal processor. An input end of the inverter is connected with the second separator and an output end with the second switch. The signal processor outputs an enable signal to be processed by the inverter for switching the first or second switch. The signal integration amplifier processes and transmits two sets of differential signals SIN;/SIN and COS;/COS of the optical encoder to the signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Cheng Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7863849
    Abstract: A fan driver circuit for powering a fan with a linear voltage may be designed using digital design techniques, resulting in a testable, accurate circuit on a smaller die size. The fan driver circuit may be configured to receive a digital control signal, which may be a sequence of numeric values, e.g. multiple-bit binary numbers, each indicative of a desired present rotational speed of the fan. The fan driver circuit may be implemented using a digital modulator, e.g. a delta-sigma modulator, with a simple low-pass filter, e.g. an RC-filter at the output, and may use oversampling based on a system clock, to shift in-band noise to out-of-band frequencies, and digital interpolation to filter out unwanted images from the upsampled digital control signal. The delta-sigma modulator may be constructed as a first-order delta-sigma modulator using an error-feedback structure to reduce die size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Scott C. McLeod, Chao-Ming Tsai
  • Patent number: 7859214
    Abstract: A synchronous controller capable of gently changing a synchronous multiplying factor and setting the gentleness of changing of the synchronous multiplying factor without shocking a machine. A block for gently changing the synchronous multiplying factor is added between blocks before and after the changing of the synchronous multiplying factor. Synchronous multiplying factors a and b before and after changing of the synchronous multiplying factor designated in the added block, a motion amount p of master axis, a motion amount of a slave axis, and a residual motion amount v of the master axis after the completion of changing the synchronous multiplying factor (or a preliminary motion amount u of the master axis from the start of motion of the block concerned to a position for the start of changing of the synchronous multiplying factor) are read out. A gradient of changing the synchronous multiplying factor and the preliminary motion amount u (or the residual motion amount v) are obtained based on these data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Fujibayashi, Tetsuo Hishikawa, Takashi Idei
  • Patent number: 7853350
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting manufacturing parameters of a machine tool is provided, which comprises at least a sensing and transmitting module, and a receiving module. The sensing and transmitting module has a sensor and a wireless transmitting module. The sensor generates a sensing signal with respect to processing parameter of the machine tool. The wireless transmitting module converts the sensing signal into a wireless signal and transmits the wireless signal to the receiving module. Then the wireless signal is decoded and sent to a processing unit for compensating the machine tool. In the present invention, it is not necessary to consider wiring arrangement so that the sensors can be disposed at positions that are close to the mechanism whose operating status could affect the machining process and the compensation, generated according to the foregoing sensing data, for machine tool will be more effective to improve the machining accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Shin-Hung Jou, Yung-Feng Nien, Jan-Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 7852032
    Abstract: A selector selects an analog signal group to be used for PWM control out of a plurality of analog signals output by a PWM controlled load. An AD converter AD converts the analog signal group and generates a digital signal group that becomes control data for duty ratio setting in a duty ratio setting register to provide the generated digital signal group to a control unit for controlling a PWM circuit. A duty ratio comparison circuit compares duty ratios set by the plurality of duty ratio setting registers. An AD conversion channel selection circuit controls an analog signal group selecting operation by the selector based on a comparison result of the duty ratio comparison circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuji Azuma
  • Patent number: 7847505
    Abstract: An externally configurable soft starter system comprises a motor controller including solid state switches for controlling application of power to a motor. A control circuit controls operation of the solid state switches. The control circuit comprises a programmed processor for commanding operation of the solid state switches and a memory connected to the programmed processor storing parameters relating to operation of the solid state switches. An interface circuit is operatively connected to the programmed processor. An external device includes a memory for storing parameters relating to operation of the solid state switches and an interface for communication with the motor controller. A configuration program is operatively implemented in the programmed processor and the external configuration device for transferring a configuration database file between the controller memory and the external device memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Mayhew, Scott Wakefield, Daniel Zuzuly
  • Patent number: 7847506
    Abstract: In a machine tool controller (1): a position control unit (12) controls, based on an operational signal input from without during manual operation, a moving body's move-to point and moving speed; a memory (13) stores data modeling the moving body and any potentially interfering machine-tool structure; a travel-area checking unit (17) defines in the modeled structure speed-control regions obtained by displacing the structure's contour, generates, based on the defined speed control regions and on current moving-body position, data modeling the moving body as moved into its current position, to check whether the moving body will travel within a speed control region, and if so, sends to the position control unit a speed limit predefined for that speed control region. The position control unit controls the moving body to travel at speed limit if the operational-signal-directed moving speed exceeds the speed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7843152
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus comprises a control processing unit (3) creating a motor drive command, power supply processing units (2A to 2D) supplying a driving voltage to a motor, and a signal relay processing unit (4) supplying the motor drive command received from unit (3) to power supply processing units (2A to 2D). Control processing unit (3) transmits a preparation request flag to power supply processing units (2A to 2D) via signal relay processing unit (4), which includes a preparation complete flag register storing preparation complete flags each transmitted from each of power supply processing units (2A to 2D) to indicate the completion of preparation for supplying power to the motor, and transmits a preparation complete flag enabled state to control processing unit (3) if contents of the preparation complete flag register indicate that the preparation is completed in all units (2A to 2D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Tadashi Okita, Hiroyuki Kawamura, Satoshi Ikai
  • Patent number: 7839110
    Abstract: A motor control system includes a first-type amplifier that receives a PWM instruction, a second-type amplifier that receives a positional instruction, a numerical control device, and a serial bus. The numerical control device includes a first processor that calculates a positional instruction of a motor, a DSP that calculates a PWM instruction of the first-type amplifier from the positional instruction, and a serial bus control circuit that outputs the PWM instruction of the first-type amplifier and the positional instruction of the second-type amplifier to the serial bus. The first-type amplifier generates a drive current signal of a motor directly from the received PWM instruction. The second-type amplifier includes a third processor that calculates a PWM instruction from the received positional instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Kazunari Aoyama, Kunitaka Komaki, Yasuharu Aizawa
  • Patent number: 7834575
    Abstract: An automotive drive system for a high voltage electric motor comprises a microcontroller and ECU powered by a low voltage (12 volt) bus net which controls the drives of a high voltage inverter powered by a 100 volt or higher source, which, in turn, drives the motor. To provide good electrical insulation between the low voltage and high voltage systems, the low voltage control signals are produced by a low voltage signal input chip which has a bottom electrode which produces a control potential responsive to the ECU output and a high voltage driver IC which drives the power devices of the high voltage inverter. The high voltage driver IC has a top electrode which drives the high voltage IC function. The bottom electrode of the LV input chip is coupled to the top electrode of the high voltage driver IC through an insulation layer, defining a capacitive coupler which defines an isolation barrier between the low voltage net and the high voltage system insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Henning M Hauenstein
  • Patent number: 7800334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system comprising a control unit (1), which is connected to drive units (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) via a data bus (2) for the exchange of data. According to the invention, one drive unit (3a, 3b) is connected to the drive motor (7a, 7b) in order to control the latter (7a, 7b) and an additional drive unit (3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) is connected to a magnetic bearing (11c, 11d, 11e, 11f, 11g) of a magnetic spindle bearing arrangement (23) in order to control said bearing (11c, 11d, 11e, 11f, 11g). The invention thus provides a drive system, in which a magnetic spindle bearing arrangement (23) is integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jens Hamann, Uwe Ladra, Dietmar Stoiber, Bernd Wedel
  • Patent number: 7772795
    Abstract: A motor position signal processing apparatus electrically connected to a signal processor and an optical encoder of a motor control system includes a first switch, a second switch, a first signal integration amplifier, a first separator, a second signal integration amplifier, a second separator, a third signal integration amplifier, a third separator, a fourth separator and an inverter. An enable signal outputted by the signal processor is processed by the inverter to switch the operation to the first switch or the second switch. An incremental signal outputted by the optical encoder, a motor mechanical position and a reset correction signal are processed by the first, second and third signal integration amplifiers and transmitted to the signal processor for controlling the operation of a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Cheng Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7764039
    Abstract: A numerical controller is capable of foreseeing the occurrence of interference during operation of a machine and securely preventing the interference. An advanced position calculating section determines advanced time for the next interference check, based on an end time point of an interference check by an interference checking device and the sum of a time required for the interference check, a time required for communication, a time required for decelerating and stopping a movable part, and a predetermined float. If an interference checking device detects interference, the interference checking device delivers an axis stop signal the movable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Takehiro Yamaguchi, Tetsuo Hishikawa, Yasushi Onishi, Kentaro Fujibayashi
  • Patent number: 7759895
    Abstract: A conveyer for transporting a box and a conveyer for transporting a bottle are driven along a follow-up target axis and a follow-up axis, respectively. The follow-up axis is accelerated from a synchronization start position, and, when the follow-up axis velocity catches up with the conveyer, performs the constant velocity operation. An advanced operation, performed by an asynchronous axis (moving the bottle closer to the box), is started before synchronization completes, and is completed when synchronization completes, then immediately an operation by a synchronous axis (follow-up target axis or follow-up axis) is started (insertion operation). The point of time when the advanced operation is started is determined by processing of the numerical controller, as a point of time when the time required for the follow-up axis in the current status to reach the synchronization completion status becomes the same as the time required for the advanced operation (preset).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hishikawa, Noboru Hirose
  • Patent number: 7750592
    Abstract: When performing numerical control of a rotary table, the moment of inertia and the center of gravity of a control target change because of a placed object fixed onto the rotary table. A rotary table to which a placed object has been fixed serves as a target plant, the actual motion of this is compared with motion calculated by an identification model of the target plant, and a torque command value is corrected. The identification model comprises a term pertaining to angular acceleration and a term pertaining to angle of rotation, and by including the term pertaining to angle of rotation, correction of a torque command corresponding to a change in the center of gravity can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Eguchi
  • Publication number: 20100148715
    Abstract: Methods and systems for, in one embodiment, accelerating a stage through a clearance height in a first direction and decelerating the stage in the first direction while accelerating in a second direction are shown. The stage is moved in a third direction and a determination is made whether the stage movement in the second direction is below a threshold value before continuing to move the stage further in the third direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction and is parallel and opposite to the third direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Sun Yalei, Uday Nayak, Richard J. Casler, JR., Thomas Rohrs
  • Patent number: 7710060
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing systems provided with redundant actuators of the type comprising at least a first system operating according to a first set of variables, representative of a physical quantity to be controlled and a second system operating according to a second set of said variables, representative of a physical quantity to be controlled, said first set of variables and second set of variables identifying one or more redundant variables. The method comprises the operations of commanding the actuators of the system through a numeric control unit and a servo control module to follow trajectories of the variables as a function of a set sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignees: Prima Industrie S.p.A., Sintesi ScpA
    Inventors: Matteo Cardinale, Emanuele Carpanzano, Massimiliano Carracoi, Michele De Chirico, Antonella Lacasella, Saverio Masotti, Ernesto Mininno
  • Patent number: 7664569
    Abstract: A ZMP equilibrium equation stating the relationship of various moments applied to a robot body of a robot, based on desirable motion data made up by trajectories of respective parts, imaginarily divided from the robot body, is generated, and moment errors in a ZMP equilibrium equation are calculated. A priority sequence of the parts, the target trajectories of which are corrected to cancel out the moment errors, is set. The target trajectories are corrected from one part to another, in a sequence corresponding to the priority sequence, to compensate the moment errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignees: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Shimizu, Jinichi Yamaguchi, Yoshihiro Kuroki
  • Patent number: 7659681
    Abstract: A servomotor in a numerical controller is controlled by automatically switching to either pressure control or position control in association with the command which is smaller from among a command obtained by performing pressure feedback control and a command obtained by performing position feedback control. When switched to pressure control while moving according to a movement command, the output of the movement command is terminated halfway, and the command in the next block is executed, and pressure control of the next command is immediately started. As a result, a wasteful time is eliminated, and a cycle time of the operation can be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yasushi Onishi, Tetsuo Hishikawa, Keisuke Tsujikawa
  • Publication number: 20100001678
    Abstract: A motor control architecture is provided that simultaneously controls multiple motors. The motor control system includes memory, a plurality of motor control processors, and a communication controller. The motor control processors are each responsive to control signals supplied from the communication controller to selectively retrieve system commands and motor positions from the memory, to generate motor commands, and to supply the generated motor commands to the memory. The communication controller selectively receives system commands and transmits the received system commands to the memory, selectively supplies the command signals to selected ones of the motor control processors, selectively receives motor positions from a plurality of motors, selectively transmits motor positions to the memory, selectively retrieves generated motor commands supplied to the memory, and selectively transmits the retrieved motor commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Calvin C. Potter, Casey Hanlon, Paul T. Wingett
  • Patent number: 7613526
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a control system of the reciprocating object comprising a microprocessor (01), a reciprocating mode control circuit (02), a reciprocating travel control circuit (03), a power supply circuit (04) and a motor driving circuit (05), with the microprocessor (01) provided with matrix type on-off signal input-outputs. The reciprocating mode control circuit (02) consists of matrix column branches and matrix row branches, allowing the limited number of the on-off signal ports of the microprocessor (01) to be connected to a plurality of on-off controlling elements thereby realizing a multiple of control modes and diversifying the control modes. The circuit construction according to the present invention is relatively simple, which is helpful to a tidy wiring and layout of the elements and therefore the circuit is easy for manufacturing, assembling, trouble shooting and maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Inventor: Chichun Wu
  • Patent number: 7613525
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a disk device and a method of controlling the device which is capable of suppressing peak current, even for serial communication, that is required when initiating rotation of a spindle motor down to a level equivalent to that of parallel communication, without prolonging elapsed time before reaching the steady rotation speed. In one embodiment, an HDD includes a serial communication circuit which executes serial communication with a host, an SPM which rotates a disk, an HDC/MPU which controls the SPM and the serial communication circuit. The HDC/MPU, after shutting down the serial communication circuit once, starts up the serial communication circuit again when rotation speed of the SPM reached the specified standard value, and establishes serial communication with the host by means of the serial communication circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kenji Ogasawara, Hirofumi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7605560
    Abstract: There is provided a motor driving apparatus in which variations in individual circuit constants have a small effect even when a drive current is small. An error amplifier circuit amplifies a difference between a current detection signal showing a current value of a drive current that flows in the motor and a drive command signal controlling the drive current and converts an amplified difference into a current to output the current as an error amplifier current signal. A D/A conversion circuit generates a sinusoidal signal from the error amplifier current signal based on a digital signal sequence outputted from a rotational position detecting unit. It is preferable that a transfer coefficient of the error amplifier circuit is inversely proportional to the resistance value of the D/A conversion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Tamaoka
  • Patent number: 7595602
    Abstract: An apparatus, machine tool, and method for adaptively controlling a feedrate of a machine tool are provided in which a plurality of maximum spindle power and/or radial load values, each corresponding to a spindle rotational speed, are received, stored and applied. Additionally, the current spindle power and/or the current radial load, along with the current spindle rotational speed may be received. The current spindle power and/or the current radial load may be compared to the maximum spindle power and/or radial load corresponding to the current spindle rotational speed, such that the feedrate may be reduced if the current spindle power and/or the current radial load exceed the corresponding maximum spindle power and/or radial load for the current spindle rotational speed or increased if the current spindle power and the current radial load are below the corresponding maximum spindle power and/or radial load for the current spindle rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Liangji Xu
  • Patent number: 7570006
    Abstract: A computer (20) that determines a sequence of control vectors (16) using predetermined functional instructions. Each vector includes a number of vector elements (17). Each vector element (17) is designed for a maximum of one final drive unit (2 to 4) of a machine (1). Each control vector (16) comprises at least one vector element (17) for each final drive unit (2 to 4) of the machine (1). There is at least one positioning element (s*) for each final drive unit (2 to 4). The computer (20) stores the determined sequence of control vectors (16) as a control file (11). Once the file has been transmitted to a control unit (6) of the machine (1), the control unit retrieves the control file (11) and executes the stored sequence of control vectors (16). The control unit staggers the execution of successive control vectors (16) by a predetermined clock interval (delta t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jochen Bretschneider
  • Patent number: 7564208
    Abstract: A system for controlling an electric motor comprises, in one embodiment, an encoder; a central processor in communication with said encoder; a module processor in communication with said central processor; feedback circuitry in communication with said module processor, wherein said encoder is an electronic device that provides rotor and stator positional information to said central processor, and further comprising a user interface in communication with said central processor, wherein said user interface enables a user to select preferred operational parameters for an electric motor. Another embodiment comprises a method for controlling an electric motor, comprising: determining rotor position based on data received from an encoder; determining how to energize stator coils; directing a power module to provide appropriate current to appropriate coils; and monitoring rotor response, wherein determining how to energize stator coils comprises consulting a look-up table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Xidem, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Bailey, Kyle J. Bunch
  • Patent number: 7548795
    Abstract: A numerical control system using converted data is provided in which changes can be made quickly to the feed rate by speed override and the like, the operation of the machine according to the content of variable data, and workpiece offset data during machining operation. The numerical control system includes a machining-program/internal-processing conversion module for allocating during conversion a command in a machining program to an application program for the numerical control apparatus, a variable/offset conversion module for storing during conversion, with respect to a command such as a variable command and a tool offset command in the machining program, only referencing information for the command, and a conversion data executing module for directly executing, during machining program execution, the internal processing sequentially based on data allocated by the conversion module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Sagasaki, Hirohusa Kamiya, Toru Takeyama
  • Patent number: 7541765
    Abstract: A motor control circuit includes: a detector outputting a detection signal in accordance with the motor rpm; a counter counting the number of clocks in accordance with a rotational cycle represented by the detection signal; a controller counting a DC motor based on the count value; and a divider dividing a frequency of a basic clock based on a preset division value to generate a counting clock. The divider generates a counting clock having a frequency corresponding to a rotational cycle, and the counter counts the number of counting clocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Shinpei Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7531981
    Abstract: A controller for a servomotor capable of improving accuracy of positioning and quality of a machined surface by switching modes of correction of a position command or the like, and reducing a shock at the time of switching. A correction amount generating section obtains a correction amount based on a value of a correction factor such as machine temperature. When the external signal is in ON state, a position command or the like is corrected by the correction amount obtained by the correction amount generating section and sent via switches. A correction amount holding section holds the correction amount obtained by the correction amount generating section. When the external signal turns to OFF state, the connection of the switches is changed so that correction is performed by the correction amount held in the correction amount holding section. When the connection of the switches is changed, the correction amount does not change rapidly, so that the machine does not suffer a shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Tadashi Okita, Hiroyuki Kawamura, Kenichi Takayama
  • Patent number: 7508152
    Abstract: An apparatus, machine tool, and method for adaptively controlling a feedrate of a machine tool are provided in which a plurality of maximum spindle power and/or radial load values, each corresponding to a spindle rotational speed, are received, stored and applied. Additionally, the current spindle power and/or the current radial load, along with the current spindle rotational speed may be received. The current spindle power and/or the current radial load may be compared to the maximum spindle power and/or radial load corresponding to the current spindle rotational speed, such that the feedrate may be reduced if the current spindle power and/or the current radial load exceed the corresponding maximum spindle power and/or radial load for the current spindle rotational speed or increased if the current spindle power and the current radial load are below the corresponding maximum spindle power and/or radial load for the current spindle rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Liangji Xu
  • Publication number: 20090069956
    Abstract: A central control system of a wireless remote-control model is capable of controlling a flight safety and effectively according to an operation control instruction signal data or a detector detection data instead of a single control value. Information such as the control, movement and abnormal detection of an electronic control machine installed on the wireless remote-control model are managed, determined and controlled jointly, so as to improve the safety and operability of the wireless remote-control model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Shigetada Taya, Arakawa Noboru
  • Publication number: 20090021190
    Abstract: In a closure panel control apparatus, an ECU controls a rotational speed of an electric motor, which provides a drive force to drive a closure panel in an opening movement and a closing movement thereof. The ECU obtains a vehicle speed measured with a vehicle speed sensor and receives a command signal from a switch, which is operable by an occupant of a vehicle to command the opening movement or the closing movement of the closure panel. The ECU controls the rotational speed of the electric motor based on the measured vehicle speed that is obtained at the time of receiving the command signal from the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 7477965
    Abstract: A twisted wire actuator, whereby the shortening of the length of a wire or a bundle of wires, as it is twisted, is used to control the motion of an actuated element, achieving sub-micron motion resolution. The control can be performed robotically. The high resolution can be achieved without the use of gears, sliders, or high precision lead screws, thus enabling a simplified actuation system and eliminating sources of friction. The use of wires operating in opposing directions and having oppositely directed rotations significantly reduces the non-linearity effect inherent in twisted wire actuation, resulting in a system having a good level of motion linearity as a function of control input impulse. The use of multiple twisted wires attached to the actuated element at different angles, enables the implementation of robotic systems with multiple degrees of freedom. Several experimental actuators verify these results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Inventor: Moshe Soham