Including Velocity Or Acceleration Control Patents (Class 700/63)
  • Patent number: 7627387
    Abstract: A command generating device includes a command shape calculating unit for calculating an nth derivative command shape which is a fixed multiple of the nth derivative with respect to time of a position command for causing a machine to reach a target position at a positioning time so that a convolution of a velocity command which is the first derivative with respect to time of the position command and the impulse response of a transfer function determined from the frequency of a vibration which occurs in the machine becomes equal to zero, the convolution being calculated over the time period from the positioning time onward, and an associating processing unit for integrating the nth derivative command shape n times with respect to time, and for multiplying the integral result by a constant which associates the position command at the positioning time with the target position so as to determine the position command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro Ueda, Hidetoshi Ikeda, Kiyoshi Maekawa
  • Patent number: 7603188
    Abstract: An electronic cam using a servo motor is controlled such that its motion including its acceleration will be connected between synchronized and non-synchronized control sections. A controlled object is moved at a fixed speed during the synchronized control section. A fifth-order function for position control of the electronic cam, a fourth-order function for speed control of the electronic cam and a third-order function for acceleration control of the electronic cam are used in the non-synchronized control section such that operation of the electronic cam at transition points between the synchronized control section and the non-synchronized control section is smoothly controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 7598697
    Abstract: A motor and a method for serves finding the position of an armature in relation to a stator of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co.
    Inventors: Christian Welk, Michael Apel, Ralf Hartramph
  • Patent number: 7567879
    Abstract: A device for driving a plant such as a beam scanner includes a memory, drive-signal generator, and a calibrator. The memory stores data corresponding to the drive signal, and the generator generates the drive signal from the data and couples the drive signal to the plant. The calibrator measures a response of the plant to the drive signal, calculates a difference between the measured response and a corresponding target response, and reduces the difference by altering the drive signal. Such a device can force the output response of the driven plant to equal a target output response, or to be sufficiently close to the target response for a particular application, while the device is operating in an open-loop configuration. Furthermore, while operating in an open-loop configuration, such a device often has a greater stability margin and greater noise immunity than a comparable device that operates in a closed-loop configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Lewis, William Standing, Gary Mansouri, Tze Siu, Jari Honkanen
  • Publication number: 20090177296
    Abstract: A command generating device includes a command shape calculating unit for calculating an nth derivative command shape which is a fixed multiple of the nth derivative with respect to time of a position command for causing a machine to reach a target position at a positioning time so that a convolution of a velocity command which is the first derivative with respect to time of the position command and the impulse response of a transfer function determined from the frequency of a vibration which occurs in the machine becomes equal to zero, the convolution being calculated over the time period from the positioning time onward, and an associating processing unit for integrating the nth derivative command shape n times with respect to time, and for multiplying the integral result by a constant which associates the position command at the positioning time with the target position so as to determine the position command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichiro Ueda, Hidetoshi Ikeda, Kiyoshi Maekawa
  • Patent number: 7519440
    Abstract: A position of a motion control axis is monitored and an output device responsive to the position of the motion control axis is controlled. The controlling further includes latching an electronic cam element that controls the output device, and unlatching the cam element that controls the output device. The manner in which the latching is performed and the manner in which the unlatching is performed are configurable in a programming interface. The programming interface is capable of receiving a latch position for the cam element and an unlatch position for the cam element. The programming interface is further capable of receiving additional configuration information to configure the manner in which the latching is performed and different additional configuration information to separately configure the manner in which the unlatching is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Juergen K. Weinhofer, Jacob S. Baker, Kendal R. Harris
  • Patent number: 7519441
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which movement of a medical imaging device is detected and the movement is assisted in magnitude by an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jonathon Carl Boomgaarden
  • Patent number: 7353135
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and process for obtaining values for one or more alignment quantities using one or more transportable devices. The process consists of establishing and maintaining a transportable device in a reference position and a reference orientation, then establishing and maintaining the transportable device in a fixed position and orientation with respect to a target object, then determining the transportable object's position and orientation with respect to the target object from measurements of acceleration and angular velocity of the transportable device as it moves from the reference position and orientation to the fixed position and orientation with respect to the target object, determining the position and orientation of the target object from the position and orientation of the transportable device, repeating the preceding steps as required to obtain position and orientation data for other target objects, and finally determining the values of the alignment quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Malm
  • Patent number: 7341822
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a lithographic apparatus, a device manufacturing method, and a robotics system capable of specifying a trajectory to be followed by a substrate relative to a radiation beam comprising a position and/or an orientation as a function of time. The specified trajectory is characterized as a mathematical smooth function up to at least the third order which connects a first state and a second state, wherein both the first state and the second state comprise boundary values for at least the position and/or the orientation and for first and second derivatives of the position and/or orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Joris Jan Van Der Sande
  • Patent number: 7319910
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling a movement of a movable machine element of a machine tool or production machine with at least two drive axles are disclosed. At least one mechanical characteristic frequency is determined for each drive axle of the machine, and the lowest mechanical characteristic frequency is selected from the determined mechanical characteristic frequencies. For each drive axle of the machine, desired values are supplied to a control unit associated with the drive axle, whereby the desired values of the drive axles having a mechanical characteristic frequency higher than the lowest mechanical characteristic frequency are time-delayed. The disclosed method and device modify a method referred to as “Input Shaping” so that geometrically linked drive axles can be operated simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wolfgang Papiernik
  • Patent number: 7286890
    Abstract: A processing system includes a transfer chamber, a plurality of chambers connected to the transfer chamber, a transfer apparatus disposed in the transfer chamber, and a control section configured to control the transfer apparatus. The transfer apparatus includes a base and transfer arm configured to perform a slide motion and a swing motion, respectively. The control section includes a storage portion and an operational controller. The storage portion stores pattern model data concerning a plurality of motion patterns each indicative of a composite motion of the slide motion and the swing motion, and track model data concerning time-based motion tracks respectively corresponding to the motion patterns. The operational controller is configured to retrieve necessary data from the pattern model data and the track model data and control the transfer apparatus in accordance therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Wataru Machiyama, Shigeru Ishizawa, Hiroshi Koizumi, Tsutomu Hiroki, Keisuke Kondoh
  • Publication number: 20070183031
    Abstract: This invention relates to a control device for controlling an astronomical telescope and, specifically, to a control device for automatic locating of celestial bodies, and to a method for controlling an astronomical telescope. The control device comprises a power input interface, a master controller, and an intelligent motor drive controller. The master controller comprises a CPU, an optional RAM, a FLASH microprocessor, one or more buttons, an LCD, a buzzer, one or more backlight diode lamps, one or more LED lights, a serial to USB interface, and an internal serial bus. The intelligent motor drive controller comprises a chip microprocessor having IAP functions, a two-way reversible PWM driving circuit having an output end and a detection end, a direct current motor, an optical encoder, an optical encoder detection circuit, and an over-current protection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Wen XU, Ning XU
  • Patent number: 7191031
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a reverse rotation preventing electronic cam curve generating method of an electronic cam type rotary cutter control which serves to prevent the reverse rotation of a cutter. According to the invention, there is provided an electronic cam curve parameter setting unit 28 for previously calculating a critical cutting length Ljag from which an electronic cam curve passing through a point having an acceleration of 0 and a speed of 0 is obtained by setting a rotor diameter r of a rotary cutter 5, the number of blades M disposed at regular intervals on a rotor, synchronizing speed coefficients ?1 and ?2 for regulating synchronizing speeds in cutting, and synchronizing angles ?1 and ?2, comparing the critical cutting length Ljag with a set cutting length Lset of a processed product set by an operator, and generating an electronic cam curve pattern for preventing a reverse rotation when the set cutting length Lset is greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventor: Makoto Akama
  • Patent number: 7181296
    Abstract: By applying time-frequency analysis to a given standard iterative learning control or ILC an adaptive filter for the learned feed-forward loop is designed. This time varying filter varies according to the momentary frequency content of the error signal and allows to discriminate between areas of deterministic and stochastic error. Its application results in selective application of ILC to those intervals where error signals of high level are concentrated and allows application of a single ILC acquisition to different setpoint trajectories. The adaptive filter finds particular use in lithographic scanning systems where it is used for varying scan length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Andreea Iuliana Rotariu, Rogier Ellenbroek, Maarten Steinbuch, Gregor Edward Van Baars
  • Patent number: 7154377
    Abstract: In a movable barrier operator, data that corresponds to force requirements to effect desired movement of a movable barrier is compressed and stored for later retrieval. Multiple compression schemes and/or compression rates can be made available. Selection of a given scheme or rate can be determined on a user-directed or an automatic basis. Automatic selection in turn can be based on various criteria including, for example, presently available memory resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Gregori
  • Patent number: 7110853
    Abstract: A process and device for computer-aided adaptation of an application program for a machine tool is described. A sequence of control commands for feed axes of the machine tool defines a contour to be traveled by a tool relative to a workpiece. Based on the sequence of control commands, a computer determines sequential instructions for a round axle of the machine tool to track the contour and determines if, and possibly at which locations, the contour has angular or curvature discontinuities. When such angular or curvature discontinuities occur, the computer determines sequential instructions, so that the round axle begins to start accelerating before the angle or curvature discontinuities occurs, and the acceleration of the round axle terminates only after the angle or curvature discontinuity has ended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Munz, Wilhelm Westermeyer
  • Patent number: 7072724
    Abstract: Method for processing parameters of a spatiotemporal trajectory of movement of a moving body, this method being characterized in that: after having collected the data of the trajectory, the curvilinear abscissa (s) of the trajectory is calculated at least for the point of origin (A, B, C, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Tornos SA
    Inventor: Cedric Paroz
  • Patent number: 7035694
    Abstract: System and method for user configuration of an autotuning algorithm for a controller in a motion control system. A desired trajectory in one or more dimensions for the motion control system is received. Values of one or more gains for a controller are initialized. A response trajectory of the controller and motion control system in response to the desired trajectory is received, and an error determined between the response trajectory and the desired trajectory. A gain space is then experimentally searched to determine final values of the one or more gains for the controller that minimize the error (e.g., Euclidean norm) between the response trajectory and the desired trajectory, e.g., via simulated annealing, or other stochastic, quasi-random, and/or deterministic approaches. After experimentally searching, the controller is operable to control the motion control system substantially in accordance with the desired trajectory using the determined values of the one or more gains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Subramanian Ramamoorthy, Jeanne S. Falcon
  • Patent number: 6996506
    Abstract: A Process and device for displacing a moveable unit on a base. The process includes: a) a force (F) is determined which, applied to the moveable unit (4), produces a combined effect, on the one hand, on the moveable unit (4) so that it exactly carries out the envisaged displacement on the base (2), especially as regards the prescribed duration and prescribed distance of the displacement, and, on the other hand, on the elements (MA1, MA2, MA3, 4) brought into motion by this displacement so that all these elements are immobile at the end of said displacement of the moveable unit (4); and b) the force (F) thus determined is applied to the moveable unit (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Newport Corporation
    Inventors: Van Diep Nguyen, Jean Levine
  • Patent number: 6973355
    Abstract: A positioning system including a sensor, a drive sequencer and an actuator. The sensor senses the actuator position and provides position signals to drive the sequencer which responsively computes and drives the actuator in open loop moves containing dwell intervals of position. The actuator positions a mirror or other load means to reflect an optical beam as desired. Either preprogrammed or non-repeating sequences of actuator stopping positions can be synchronized with a laser. During dwell times, mirror position accuracy better than 10 microradians is suitable for tuning CO2 pulse burst or CW lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Inventor: J. Gilbert Tisue
  • Patent number: 6920363
    Abstract: An acceleration and deceleration control in which, for a relation between speed and acceleration, the low speed part need not be symmetrical with the high speed part, is performed such that an actual acceleration curve may lie along a restricted acceleration curve as much as possible. A curve representing actual acceleration-speed, corresponding to time-speed transition to be planned, approaches a restricted acceleration curve. When supplying a movement command which has been subjected to acceleration and deceleration processing to a servo control section, acceleration in the acceleration and deceleration processing is determined such that a speed-acceleration curve of the movement command which has been subjected to acceleration and deceleration processing may lie along predetermined speed-acceleration curve. The speed-acceleration curve is set for each axis and dependent on acceleration or deceleration, using parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Toshiaki Otsuki, Shouichi Sagara, Kazuhiko Sonobe
  • Patent number: 6909921
    Abstract: A room occupancy sensor, a home automation system and a method for automatic control of controlled devices throughout a home. A unique architecture of occupancy sensors includes entry/exit sensors for detecting movement through doorways that separate rooms in the home, room motion sensors for detecting room occupancy, spot sensors to detect occupancy of specific locations within the rooms, and house status sensors to detect the status of certain parameters of the home. A central controller communicates with the sensors and controlled objects over a communications network, where the sensors and controlled objects can be added to the system in a ‘plug and play’ manner. The central controller controls the controlled objects in response to the entry/exit sensors, room motion sensors, spot sensors and the house status sensors. This control is accomplished by assigning each room to one of a plurality of room states, which dictate how the controlled objects are controlled by the central controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Destiny Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Bilger
  • Patent number: 6909938
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for synchronous control of a leading element and a follower element in which synchronism is started smoothly and a mechanical shock at the start of synchronism is reduced. When the follower element is started to move to be synchronized with the leading element, motion of the follower element is started before the follower element reaches a start position of the synchronism, and brought into synchronism with the leading element at the start position of synchronism. A positional relationship between the leading element and the follower element in synchronism, and a start position for starting the synchronism of the follower element and the leading element is set. An acceleration control of the follower element is performed between a motion start position preceding the start position of the synchronism and the start position of the synchronism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hishikawa, Takashi Idei, Kentaro Fujibayashi
  • Patent number: 6842651
    Abstract: A programmable controller comprises a speed pattern generator(12) including speed pattern generator units (12a-12n) that respond to input quantities of the amount of movement, speed, acceleration time and deceleration time by calculating a desired speed pattern for output to a servomotor (17). A desired speed pattern is generated by simultaneously operating any of the speed pattern generator units (12a-12n) of the speed pattern generator (12). The speed pattern provided by the speed pattern generator (12) is output to a console (14), on which the user can process the speed pattern freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventor: Youichi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20040236453
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a trajectory used in precision lithography, includes receiving first input parameters for a first trajectory and second input parameters for a second trajectory, converting the first input parameters of the first trajectory into a first derivative-jerk and the second input parameters of the second trajectory into a second derivative-jerk. The first and second derivative-jerk are arranged with the first derivative-jerk overlapping the second derivative-jerk by a time interval, and then combining the first derivative-jerk and the second derivative-jerk together into a third derivative-jerk using a shorter period of time compared with the time to finish the combination of the first derivative-jerk and the second derivative-jerk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Gabor Szoboszlay
  • Patent number: 6823221
    Abstract: A motion control system and method are disclosed which provide improved pulse placement for smoother operation of a motion device such as a stepper motor. A placement of pulses may be determined for each of a plurality of time intervals such that the pulses are placed evenly across the plurality of time intervals, wherein the quantity of pulses in each of the time intervals is variable. The pulses may be generated and sent to the motion device to move the object to the desired position. A delay may be used to place each pulse at an arbitrary location within one of the time intervals. Where the desired step rate is fractional, time may be “borrowed” for one loop iteration from other loop iterations. In one embodiment, the step rate may be changed from one loop period to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Peck, Rodger Schorr, Neil Feiereisel
  • Publication number: 20040230326
    Abstract: A lithography system and method for calculating an optimal discrete time trajectory for a movable device is described. A trajectory planner of the lithography system calculates an optimal discrete time trajectory subject to maximum velocity and maximum acceleration constraints. The trajectory planner begins by calculating a continuous time, three-segment trajectory for a reticle stage, a wafer stage or a framing blade, including a first phase for acceleration at the maximum acceleration to the maximum velocity, a second phase for travel at the maximum velocity and a third phase for deceleration at the negative maximum acceleration to a final velocity. Next, the trajectory planner converts said continuous time, three-segment trajectory to a discrete time trajectory. The time of execution of the resulting trajectory is at most three quanta greater than the time of execution of the continuous time trajectory. One advantage of the system is the reduction of scanning times of a lithography system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventor: Roberto B. Wiener
  • Patent number: 6809489
    Abstract: There is provided a print control unit capable of transferring and stopping an object to be controlled at a target position when unexpected load is applied to the object. A print control unit includes: a selection control part, operating at a predetermined timing, to select and set the control parameters in accordance with the target speed, to judge as to whether the object is located within a target range, based on the output of the position detecting part, if located, the selection control part selecting and operating the third control part, while if the object is not located within the target range, the selection control part selecting and operating the first or the second control part based on the physical value corresponding to the speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Yoshida, Hitoshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 6807463
    Abstract: A system of intelligent appliances coupled by common household power lines or wireless links. One or more of the appliances serves as a system controller and may include a further communications interface for coupling to an external communications network, such as the telephone network. The system can thus be accessed and controlled remotely. The system can also communicate with and obtain information from remote sources such as Internet-based facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen Cunningham, Kenneth R. Parker, Timothy E. Woods, Stephen J. Zwonitzer, Evan T. Ward, Maureen E. Carroll, John Hamann, JoAnne Lala, Lily Kunz, Mike Swieboda, Mark Devine, Jim Montagnino
  • Publication number: 20040204777
    Abstract: High precision position control apparatus. An object supported on a frame of reference is moved by an actuator. A position sensor generates a position signal and an acceleration sensor affixed to the frame of reference generates an acceleration signal. A control system responds to the position signal and the acceleration signal to control the actuator to move the object to follow a commanded trajectory with reduced following error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Alon Harpaz
  • Patent number: 6799079
    Abstract: There is provided a finite type rolling guide deviation correcting method and system capable of detecting the deviation in relative position between a rolling guide and a movable body if the deviation in relative position increases, and automatically carrying out a correcting operation for returning the deviation in relative position to a normal positional relationship. The finite type rolling guide deviation correcting method corrects a relative positional relationship between a finite type rolling guide for guiding a reciprocating motion of a movable body and the movable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Serizawa, Katsuji Gakuhari, Kazushi Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 6792330
    Abstract: A drive control system having constituent devices such as control unit for drive control, servo amplifier for driving motor by receiving a command from the control unit, spindle amplifier, and input and output unit, with these constituent devices connected so as to communicate with each other, in which a memory is provided in each constituent device, the constituent devices are synchronized with each other, a communication unit is provided for transferring memory data between arbitrary constituent devices, and the memory is shared between arbitrary constituent devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouki Matsumoto, Daisuke Kawai, Shizuo Kumekawa
  • Publication number: 20040176861
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a position of a mass, such as, for example, a substrate holder in a lithographic apparatus, is presented herein. The control system comprises a first input to receive a desired position of the mass, a second input signal to receive a feedback signal indicative of the actual position of the mass, a control unit that produces a signal indicative of the required control force based on the difference between the desired mass position and the actual mass position, and an estimator unit that calculates an estimated relation between the control force and mass status information indicative of at least one of a position of said mass, a velocity of said mass, and an acceleration of said mass, and a third input to receive a feed-forward signal indicative of the desired mass acceleration. The control system then determines the control force needed to accelerate the mass and move it to a desired position based on the estimated relation and the desired mass acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventor: Hans Butler
  • Publication number: 20040167641
    Abstract: It is judged whether a motion state of leg bodies 2 is a single stance state or a double stance state. When it is the single stance state, a floor reaction force F acting on the leg body 2 touching the ground is estimated based on the equation of motion for the center of gravity G0 of a bipedal walking moving body 1. When it is the double stance state, floor reaction forces Fr, Ff respectively acting on the leg bodies 2 are estimated based on the equation of motion for the center of gravity G0 of the bipedal walking moving body 1, and the expression of relation between components of the floor reaction forces Fr, Ff on the respective leg bodies 2 and positions of ankle portions 12 of the leg bodies 2 relative to the center of gravity G0 of the bipedal walking moving body 1. Further, based on an inverse dynamics model using estimated values of the floor reaction forces Fr, Ff, moments acting on a knee joint 10 and a hip joint 8 of each leg body 2 are estimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Masakazu Kawai, Yasushi Ikeuchi, Hisashi Katoh
  • Patent number: 6778866
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for teaching a person how to perform a specific body motion in a consistent manner is based on electronically measuring one or more parameters of an actual body motion, comparing the one or more measured parameters with corresponding parameters of a target body motion, and providing a sensible feedback to the user based on a degree of correspondence between the one or more measured parameters and the corresponding target parameters. In a particular embodiment, the feedback is audible. More specifically the feedback is a musical tune that has a particular characteristic (such as rhythm) that is particularly suited to a particular body motion (such as a golf swing). The feedback may be in the form of electronically causing the musical tune to go off-key in proportion to a discrepancy between the actual body motion and the target body motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Ted S. Bettwy
  • Publication number: 20040158335
    Abstract: A position is obtained from a command movement for a controlled axis. The position of a virtual axis with respect to time and an I/O signal are obtained. The position of the controlled axis and the state of the I/O signal are stored in association with the position of the virtual axis, and cam shape data and I/O signal state data are obtained. During an electronic cam operation, the virtual axis position is controlled by means of virtual axis control means. Corresponding to the position of the virtual axis, the position of the controlled axis or the I/O signal state is read from the cam shape data and the I/O signal state data and outputted, whereby the controlled axis is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: Fanuc Ltd. of
    Inventors: Kentaro Fujibayashi, Tetsuo Hishikawa
  • Patent number: 6772053
    Abstract: A surgical method and a control system is provided. The surgical method and the control system can advantageously be used in a minimally invasive surgical apparatus. The method includes generating a desired surgical instrument movement command signal. It further includes comparing the desired surgical instrument movement command signal with at least one preset surgical instrument movement limitation. Should the desired surgical instrument command signal transgress the preset surgical instrument movement limitation, the desired surgical instrument movement command signal is restricted to yield a restricted surgical instrument movement command signal. A surgical instrument is then caused to move in response to the restricted surgical instrument movement command signal. The method further provides for haptic feedback on a master control in response to restriction of the desired surgical instrument movement command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Visx, Incorporated
    Inventor: Günter D. Niemeyer
  • Patent number: 6757583
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for controlling motion in machine tools, industrial robots, and motion stages over a computer serial port. From a process or listing of coordinate data points which define the path of two (or more) servo axes, a computer outputs serial port data to distributed Control Modules which regulate an analog torque or velocity command signal to control each axes' servo drive in a manner that implements a precisely interpolated tool path. A digital I/O link is utilized to synchronize the initial serial port data stream and to compensate for the drift of the individual processor clocks within the separate Control Modules, thereby eliminating the need for network determinism and also reducing hardware costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventors: Joe Giamona, Larry Koler
  • Publication number: 20040088061
    Abstract: A speed adjustment control method includes determining an amount of variation in speed from a data table corresponding to |command speed−initial speed| and speed adjustment time, determining number of divisions of |command speed−initial speed| by dividing |command speed−initial speed| by the amount of variation in speed, determining number of divisions of the speed adjustment time by subtracting 1 from the number of divisions of |command speed−initial speed|, determining a speed variation interval by dividing the speed adjustment time by the number of divisions of the speed adjustment time, determining a value for speed that is obtained by adding the amount of variation in speed to previously determined speed for each speed variation interval after starting with a speed obtained by adding amount of variation in speed to the initial speed during acceleration, switching over to the command speed on attaining the command speed, and d
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Nakashima
  • Patent number: 6697683
    Abstract: A positioning system including a sensor, a drive sequencer and an actuator. The sensor senses the actuator position and provides position signals to drive the sequencer which responsively computes and drives the actuator in open loop moves containing dwell intervals of position. The actuator positions a mirror or other load means to reflect an optical beam as desired. Either preprogrammed or non-repeating sequences of actuator stopping positions can be synchronized with a laser. During dwell times, mirror position accuracy better than 10 microradians is suitable for tuning CO2 pulse burst or CW lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: J. Gilbert Tisue
  • Patent number: 6681672
    Abstract: The optimized band saw feed speed system of this invention is associated with a saw mill carriage reciprocable past a band saw by a power drive motor. The feed speed control system utilizes a first laser line arranged to allow video scanning of the diameter profile of a log on the carriage for measuring the impending depth of cut by the band saw blade as the carriage moves the log through the band saw. A second laser line is arranged to show on the band saw blade for detecting the lateral deviation of the blade from its path. A video camera is arranged to cover the diameter of a log on the carriage and to view the laser line projections and control the speed of the power drive motor of the carriage, to provide optimum speed of movement of the log through the band saw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Warren L. Myrfield
  • Patent number: 6668202
    Abstract: A position control system includes a PID controller for generating a current target value of a linear motor from a difference between a positional detected value and a positional command value, and a disturbance observer. The disturbance observer includes a signal processing unit comprising a filter for filtering a torque command value for a motor drive and an input torque estimating filter carrying out estimation for obtaining an estimated input load torque from the detected positional value. An inverse model of a motor torque constant calculates an estimated disturbance load torque from the difference between the filtered torque command value and the estimated input load torque and generates a correction value for the current target value so as to cancel a disturbance torque on the basis of the estimated disturbance load torque being calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Makino, Masayuki Yamamoto, Yoshiyuki Tomita
  • Publication number: 20030216822
    Abstract: Command path and command speed within a predetermined range are read. The predetermined range is time required for the object to move between two points on the command path. Speed command for each time is temporarily generated based on the read command path and the command speed. Frequency component that corresponds to mechanical vibration due to movement of the object and that is included in a speed command for the each time is calculated. Speed at which the frequency component becomes equal to or smaller than a preset reference value is determined as the permissible speed. Moving speed of the object is controlled so as not to exceed the calculated permissible speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomonori Sato
  • Publication number: 20030195643
    Abstract: An acceleration limiting electronic filter for a position motion control system is disclosed. The filter is used in conjunction with a position control system to precisely control the position of a device. The present invention limits the acceleration content of a position command signal to some value less than what the control system can execute so that the control system does not clip the acceleration and degrade control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Knirck, Paul A. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6606535
    Abstract: A machining program is read in and interpreted and a determination is made as to whether the amount of movement called for by a block of commands is larger or smaller than a minimum amount of movement that is established by a feed speed and a one sampling period of a numerical control apparatus. If the amount of movement called for is greater than the minimum amount of movement, feed control is performed in accordance with the current block. If the amount of movement called for by the current block of commands is smaller than the minimum movement amount, an immediate subsequent block of commands is concatenated with the current block, and this concatenation of command blocks is continued until a synthesized block calling for an amount of movement greater than the minimum amount of movement is obtained, this synthesized block then being used to perform feed control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Hamamura, Sadaji Hayama, Jun Fujita, Kazuhiro Shiba
  • Publication number: 20030100961
    Abstract: An electrical drive system for the synchronised adjustment of rotatable axles or linearly movable functional parts in particular for printing machines, in terms of their position, speed or acceleration. Drive units are controlled using computer assistance and are connected to one or more functional parts for their adjustment. A plurality of drive networks, which each have a plurality of the drive units as network nodes, are allocated to some or a group of the functional parts. Inside at least one of the drive networks, its nodes or drive units are arranged in accordance with the master/slave principle and are respectively connected to one another in a ring structure through communication channels and/or a communication system. At least one node of a drive network is coupled in a ring structure with one node of another drive network, likewise in accordance with the master/slave principle, through inter-communication channels and/or an inter-communication system or network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Mathias Monse, Harold Meis, Harald Mainka
  • Publication number: 20030050716
    Abstract: In relation to a vibration isolation system, which comprises at least one vibration isolation device that can be assigned to an isolation element, the fact that a method of recording the system with the aid of a closed-loop and/or open-loop control device is provided, in which a closed-loop and/or open-loop control structure can be predefined and in which signals and/or variables related to the isolation system are picked up, processed and/or provided, and in which, on the basis of the definable structures and variables, at least one isolation system characteristic data set for assessing the vibration isolation system is formed, means that for the first time the indicative fundamentals for an open system for evaluation, closed-loop and open-loop control are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: Peter Heiland
  • Patent number: 6532397
    Abstract: An object is to reduce damage to the mechanical parts of a moving mechanism unit 5 for moving a retaining mechanism unit 7 and electric power consumption in an apparatus for taking out a molded product. The apparatus comprises a time measuring unit 4 for measuring a return time elapsing between a start of the returning operation of the retaining mechanism unit 7 in a preceding process and the next start of the penetrating operation for taking out a molded product; an arithmetic operation unit 11 for calculating a return moving speed distribution for a process succeeding the preceding process such that the returning operation terminates upon elapse of the return time measured by the time measuring means 4; and a control unit 12 for activating the moving mechanism unit 5 in such a way that the returning operation is carried out according to the return moving speed distribution in the succeeding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yushin Seiki
    Inventor: Koji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020188356
    Abstract: Method for processing parameters of a spatiotemporal trajectory (1) of movement of a moving body (2), this method being characterized in that:
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: TORNOS SA
    Inventor: Cedric Paroz
  • Patent number: 6456901
    Abstract: A hybrid control system is provided for controlling the movement of a robot. The hybrid control system includes a singularity detector; a task level controller that receives a motion plan and determines a first set of control commands which are defined in a task space; and a joint level controller that receives the motion plan and determines a second set of control commands which are defined in a joint space. The singularity detector monitors the movement of the robot and detects robot movement in a region about a singularity configuration. When robot movement occurs outside of this region, the task level controller is operable to issue the first set of control commands to the robot. When the robot movement occurs inside of this region, the joint level controller is operable to issue the second set of control commands to the robot. In this way, the hybrid control system ensures feasible robot motion in the neighborhood of and at kinematic singularity configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Inventors: Ning Xi, Jindong Tan