US4631681A — Microprocessor controlled d.c. motor and applicat…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 193 words

In combination with a postage meter including a rotary drum having a periphery adapted for feeding a sheet in a path of travel, an improvement comprising: (a) first means for sensing a time interval during which a sheet is linearly displaced a predetermined distance in the path of travel; (b) a d.c. motor coupled to the drum for rotation thereof; (c) second means for sensing angular displacement of the drum; and, (d) computer means coupled to the first and second sensing means and to the d.c. motor, the computer means comprising: (i) means responsive to the first sensing means for providing respective amounts representative of desired angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, (ii) means responsive to the second sensing means for providing respective amounts representative of actual angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, and (iii) means for compensating for the difference between desired and actual angular displacements and generating a d.c. motor control signal for controlling rotation of the motor to cause the linear displacement of the periphery of the drum to substantially match the linear displacement of the sheet during respective sampling time periods.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 193 words

In combination with a postage meter including a rotary drum having a periphery adapted for feeding a sheet in a path of travel, an improvement comprising: (a) first means for sensing a time interval during which a sheet is linearly displaced a predetermined distance in the path of travel; (b) a d.c. motor coupled to the drum for rotation thereof; (c) second means for sensing angular displacement of the drum; and, (d) computer means coupled to the first and second sensing means and to the d.c. motor, the computer means comprising: (i) means responsive to the first sensing means for providing respective amounts representative of desired angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, (ii) means responsive to the second sensing means for providing respective amounts representative of actual angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, and (iii) means for compensating for the difference between desired and actual angular displacements and generating a d.c. motor control signal for controlling rotation of the motor to cause the linear displacement of the periphery of the drum to substantially match the linear displacement of the sheet during respective sampling time periods.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the first sensing means comprises first and second sensing devices spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance for sensing successive arrivals of a sheet at two spaced apart locations in the path of travel.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The improvement according to claim 2, wherein the first sensing means comprises a mailing machine including said first and second sensing devices.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the motor has an output shaft, and the second sensing means comprises quadrature encoder means coupled to the output shaft.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

The improvement according to claim 4 including counting means for coupling the quadrature encoder means to the computer means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

The improvement according to claim 5, wherein the counting means comprises means for providing an output signal for the computer means which is representative of the angular displacement and direction of rotation of the motor drive shaft.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 63 words

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the computer means includes means for comparing amounts representative of the desired and actual angular displacements and generating an error signal representative of the differences therebetween, the compensation means responsive to said error signal for generating the motor control signal, and the motor control signal compensating for the difference between said desired and actual angular displacements.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The improvement according to claim 7, wherein the motor control signal comprises a pulse width modulated control signal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The improvement according to claim 7, wherein the motor control signal comprises a function of a regressive mathematical expression.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The improvement according to claim 7, wherein the motor control signal comprises a function of the error signal and a prior error signal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The improvement according to claim 7, wherein the motor control signal comprises a function of the error signal and a prior motor control signal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The improvement according to claim 11, wherein the prior motor control signal comprises a function of a prior error signal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

The improvement according to claim 1, including power amplifier means for coupling the computer means to the d.c. motor.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 47 words

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the drum has a cycle of rotation, and the motor control signal accelerating the periphery of the drum to the linear velocity of the sheet substantially coincident with the periphery of the drum engaging the leading edge of the sheet.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

The improvement according to claim 14 including the motor control signal decelerating the drum from said velocity thereof to rest subsequent to disengagement of the drum and sheet.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 172 words

In combination with a postage meter including a rotary drum, wherein the drum includes a periphery adapted for feeding a sheet in a path of travel, a process for controlling rotation of the drum as a function of the velocity of the sheet, the process comprising: (a) sensing a time interval during which a sheet is linearly displaced a predetermined distance in the path of travel and in response thereto providing amounts representative of respective desired angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods; (b) providing a d.c. motor for rotating the drum; (c) sensing angular displacement of the drum and in response thereto providing amounts representative of respective actual angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods; and (d) digitally compensating for the difference between desired and actual angular displacements and generating a motor control signal for controlling rotation of the drum to cause the linear displacement of the periphery of the drum to substantially match the linear displacement of the sheet during respective sampling time periods.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 172 words

In combination with a postage meter including a rotary drum, wherein the drum includes a periphery adapted for feeding a sheet in a path of travel, a process for controlling rotation of the drum as a function of the velocity of the sheet, the process comprising: (a) sensing a time interval during which a sheet is linearly displaced a predetermined distance in the path of travel and in response thereto providing amounts representative of respective desired angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods; (b) providing a d.c. motor for rotating the drum; (c) sensing angular displacement of the drum and in response thereto providing amounts representative of respective actual angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods; and (d) digitally compensating for the difference between desired and actual angular displacements and generating a motor control signal for controlling rotation of the drum to cause the linear displacement of the periphery of the drum to substantially match the linear displacement of the sheet during respective sampling time periods.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process according to claim 16, wherein step (a) includes the step of sensing successive arrivals of a sheet at two spaced apart locations in the path of travel.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The process according to claim 16, wherein step (c) includes the step of sensing the direction of angular displacement of the d.c. motor.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 61 words

The process according to claim 16, wherein step (d) includes the steps of: 1. comparing amounts representative of respective desired and actual angular displacements, 2. generating an error signal representative of the difference between respective desired and actual angular displacements and in response thereto generating a motor control signal which compensates for the difference between said desired and actual angular displacements.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 34 words

The process according to claim 16, wherein step (c) includes the step of accelerating the periphery of the drum to the velocity of the sheet substantially coincident with engagement of the drum and sheet.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The process according to claim 16, wherein step (d) includes the step of calculating the motor control signal from a function of a regressive mathematical expression.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

The process according to claim 16, wherein step (a) includes the step of generating respective counts representative of desired angular displacements of the drum.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

The process according to claim 16, wherein step (c) includes the step of generating respective counts representative of actual angular displacements of the drum.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 44 words

The process according to claim 16, wherein step (d) includes the steps of: 1. generating a pulse width modulated motor control signal, 2. amplifying said pulse width modulated control signal, and 3. applying the amplified pulse width modulated control signal to said d.c. motor.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process according to claim 20, wherein step (c) includes the step of decelerating the periphery of the drum to rest subsequent to disengagement of the drum and sheet.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-12-22	1990-06-23	1990-12-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-12-22	1994-06-23	1994-12-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-12-22	1998-06-23	1998-12-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Microprocessor controlled d.c. motor and application therefor

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