Oscillator for non-sinusoidal movements

Claim 2

A mechanical oscillator for generating a non-sinusoidal oscillatory motion by harmonic synthesis of a plurality of substantially sinusoidal oscillations, the oscillator comprising a plurality of mechanically intercalated resilient oscillatory systems each comprising respective exciter drive means (15) drivingly coupled to a mechanically oscillatable element (16), each oscillator system having a respective natural frequency chosen in accordance with Fourier analysis of the oscillatory motion to be synthesized.

Claim 3

An oscillator as claimed in claim 1, comprising a mechanically oscillatable element having a natural frequency corresponding to the frequency of the fundamental component of the motion to be synthesized, and at least one further element having a respective natural frequency corresponding to an odd multiple of the frequency of the fundamental component.

Claim 4

An oscillator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wave form of the motion is substantially triangular.

Claim 5

An oscillator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wave form of the motion is substantially rectangular.

Claim 6

An oscillator as claimed in claim 1, comprising a mechanically oscillatable element having a natural frequency corresponding to the frequency of the fundamental component of the motion to be synthesized, and at least one further mechanically oscillatable element, the or each further element having a respective natural frequency corresponding to an even multiple of the fundamental component.

Claim 7

An oscillator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wave form of the motion is substantially saw-toothed.

Claim 8

An oscillator as claimed in claim 1, comprising a. a plurality of transducers each responsive to the oscillation of a respective one of the mechanically oscillatable elements to provide an electrical signal; b. a signal generator to generate an electrical signal having a wave form corresponding to the motion to be synthesized; and c. means for comparing the signals derived from the respective transducers with the reference signal to provide a plurality of control signals for controlling the drive means associated with the respective mechanically oscillatable elements.

Claim 9

An oscillator as claimed in claim 7, comprising a. amplifier means having input means connected to the transducer responsive to the mechanically oscillatable element corresponding to the fundamental component; b. output means connected to the respective drive means associated with that element to provide feedback to reduce any deviation of the mechanical oscillation from the theoretically necessary fundamental component of the oscillatory motion to be synthesized; c. wave form shaping means connected to the output means of the amplifier means; d. a first differential amplifier means having first input means connected to the output means of the amplifier means and second input means connected to output means of the shaping means; and e. at least one further differential amplifier means, the or each further differential amplifier means corresponding to a respective overtone component of the motion to be synthesized and having first input means connected to the output means of the preceding differential amplifier, second input means connected to output means of a respective one of the transducers corresponding to the respective overtone component, and output means connected to the drive means associated with the mechanically oscillatable element corresponding to the overtone component.

Claim 10

An oscillator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the wave form shaping means comprises a phase shift network, a trigger element and integrator means.