Structure for and method of pattern tracing control

Claim 2

A control circuit for tracing apparatus comprising means for developing a pair of direct current electrical feed signals proportional to deflection of a tracing probe along two mutually perpendicular axes, means connected to the means for developing a pair of feed signals for developing an electrical signal proportional to the total deflection of the tracing probe in three mutually perpendicular directions, means for developing a reference signal, means connected to all of the aforesaid means for combining the feed signals, the total probe deflection signal and reference signal to provide a pair of error signals, and means for driving a tracing cutter in the two mutually perpendicular directions in accordance with the feed and error signals.

Claim 3

Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for developing the feed signals each includes a separate electrical sensor for providing a signal proportional to the deflection in one of the two perpendicular directions, a vector operator receiving the two signals representative of the deflection of the probe in the two perpendicular directions and providing an output signal which is the square root of the sum of the squares of the signals proporTional to the deflection in the two directions and separate dividers for dividing each of the signals proportional to the deflection in the two directions by the signal which is the square root of the sum of the squares of these signals.

Claim 4

Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the dividing means contains means for multiplying the output signal.

Claim 5

Structure as set forth in claim 2 and further including means operably connected to the dividing means for taking a proportion of each of the divided signals to provide a resultant vector signal which is perpendicular to the direction of deflection of the tracing probe.

Claim 6

Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for developing a signal proportional to the total deflection of the tracing probe comprises a vector operator receiving a signal which is the square root of the sum of the squares of the perpendicular signals in the two directions and a signal which is proportional to the deflection of the probe in a third mutually perpendicular direction and for providing an output signal which is equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the signals in the three mutually perpendicular directions.

Claim 7

Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for providing a reference signal is manually adjustable and provides a signal representative of a reference tracing probe deflection.

Claim 8

Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the error signals includes means for first subtracting the signal proportional to the probe deflection in three mutually perpendicular directions from the reference signal and means for subsequently multiplying the subtracted signal and the feed signals.

Claim 9

A control circuit for tracing apparatus comprising means for sensing deflection of a tracing probe in three mutually perpendicular directions and for developing signals proportional to the sensed deflections, means operably connected to the means for sensing the deflection of the probe in two of the three mutually perpendicular directions for providing a pair of feed signals representing the direction the probe should be driven in the two mutually perpendicular directions to maintain a predetermined probe deflection error, means connected to the means for providing the feed signals and to the means for developing the signals proportional to the sensed deflections for developing a signal proportional to the total deflection of the probe in the three mutually perpendicular directions, means for developing a reference signal, means connected to the means for developing a signal proportional to the total deflection of the probe in the three mutually perpendicular directions, to the means for providing feed signals and to the means for developing a reference signal for providing error signals representative of the magnitude of the total probe deflection error in three mutually perpendicular directions, means for combining the feed and error signals to provide axis drive signals in the two mutually perpendicular directions, and means for driving a cutter associated with the tracing probe in the two mutually perpendicular directions in accordance with the axis drive signals.

Claim 10

A control circuit for tracing apparatus comprising means for sensing deflection of a tracing probe in three mutually perpendicular directions and for developing signals proportional to the sensed deflections, means operably connected to the means for sensing the deflection of the probe in two of the three mutually perpendicular directions for providing a pair of feed signals representing the direction the probe should be driven in the two mutually perpendicular directions to maintain a predetermined probe deflection error, means connected to the means for providing the feed signals and to the means for developing the signals proportional to the sensed deflections for developing a signal proportional to the total deflection of the probe in the three mutually perpendicular directions, means for developing a reference signal, means connected to the means for developing a signal proportional to the total deflection of the probe in the three mutually perpendicular directions, to the means for providing feed signals and to the means for developing a reference signal for providing error signals representative of the magnitude of the total probe deflection error in three mutually perpendicular directions, means for combining the feed and error signals to provide axis drive signals in the two mutually perpendicular directions, and means for driving a cutter associated with the tracing probe in the two mutually perpendicular directions in accordance with the axis drive signals.

Claim 11

Structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein the means for providing a pair of feed signals comprises a pair of demodulators for receiving the signals proportional to the deflection of the probe in the two mutually perpendicular directions and providing direct current output signals proportional thereto, a vector operator connected to the demodulators for providing an output signal which is the vector sum of the signals from the demodulators, a pair of dividers one for dividing the signal from each demodulator by the output signal of the vector operator and a pair of potentiometers connected to receive the output of the pair of dividers proportioned to provide output signals therefrom having a resulting vector perpendicular to the output signal from the vector operator.

Claim 12

Structure as set forth in claim 9 wherein tHe means for providing the error signals comprises means for subtracting the signal from the means for developing a signal proportional to the total deflection of the probe in the three mutually perpendicular directions from the reference signal, and means for multiplying the resulting subtracted signal by the output of each of the dividers.

Claim 13

Structure as set forth in claim 10 wherein the means for providing axis drive signals comprises a separate servo amplifier operable to receive the error and feed signals corresponding to each of the two mutually perpendicular directions and to provide output signals which correspond thereto in magnitude and direction.

Claim 16

The method set forth in claim 8, wherein providing a pair of feed signals includes receiving the signals proportional to the deflection in the two mutually perpendicular directions and providing direct current output signals proportional thereto, providing a vector sum signal of the signals in the two mutually perpendicular directions, dividing each of the signals proportional to the deflection in the two mutually perpendicular directions by the vector sum signal to provide a quotient signal and providing output feed signals therefrom having a vector sum signal perpendicular to the vector sum of the signals in the two mutually perpendicular directions.

Claim 17

The method set forth in claim 13 wherein providing the error signals includes subtracting the signal proportional to the total deflection of the probe in the three perpendicular directions from the reference signal and multiplying the resulting subtracted signal by the quotient signals.

Claim 18

The method set forth in claim 14 wherein providing an axis drive signal includes passing the feed and error signals corresponding to the two mutually perpendicular directions through separate servo amplifiers to provide output signals which are proportional to the feed and error signals in direction and magnitude.