Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
Coordinate positioning apparatus comprising a first and a second component drive means for imparting to a driven member a movement defined by a curve adapted to connect first and second linear paths, the member having first and second velocities along the first and second linear paths, respectively, (a) means for determining a pair of component velocities in respect to each of the first and second velocities: (b) means for establishing the difference between one corresponding pair of component velocities, (c) means for establishing the difference between another corresponding pair of component velocities, (d) means for establishing which of said differences is the greater and which is the lesser, (e) means for establishing a first velocity profile between corresponding component velocities having the greater said difference on the basis of the corresponding component velocities, and a constant absolute value for rate of change of acceleration, (f) means for establishing a second velocity profile between the corresponding component velocities having the lesser said difference, the second velocity profile being a scaled version of the first velocity profile, (g) means for generating drive signals defining said first and second velocity profiles, and (h) means for applying the said drive signals to said drive means thereby to produce a resultant movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
Coordinate positioning apparatus comprising a first and a second component drive means for imparting to a driven member a movement defined by a curve adapted to connect first and second linear paths, the member having first and second velocities along the first and second linear paths, respectively, (a) means for determining a pair of component velocities in respect to each of the first and second velocities: (b) means for establishing the difference between one corresponding pair of component velocities, (c) means for establishing the difference between another corresponding pair of component velocities, (d) means for establishing which of said differences is the greater and which is the lesser, (e) means for establishing a first velocity profile between corresponding component velocities having the greater said difference on the basis of the corresponding component velocities, and a constant absolute value for rate of change of acceleration, (f) means for establishing a second velocity profile between the corresponding component velocities having the lesser said difference, the second velocity profile being a scaled version of the first velocity profile, (g) means for generating drive signals defining said first and second velocity profiles, and (h) means for applying the said drive signals to said drive means thereby to produce a resultant movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first velocity profile is generated by a function generator including: (a) means for determining one half of a time period corresponding to said first velocity profile, means for determining a number of time intervals being fractions of said half time period, (b) means for determining an array, whose size is equal to said number, of discrete signals corresponding to velocity values which increase progressively at an increasing rate from the value of one of said velocity components, (c) means for determining an array, whose size is equal to said number, of signals corresponding to discrete velocity values which increase progressively at a decreasing rate between the value of one of the velocity components, and the value of the other of the components.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
221 words
The method of operating a machine having two coordinate drives cooperating to produce a resultant movement of a driven member, comprising: (a) determining first and second velocities for movement of the driven member along respective paths having a point of intersection; (b) determining in respect of each velocity a pair of component velocities; (c) determining a first velocity profile between one component of the first velocity and the corresponding component of the second velocity and determining a corresponding second velocity profile being a scaled version of the first velocity profile; (d) a resultant velocity profile of the first and second velocity profiles defining a curve joining said paths, and having a start point and an end point; (e) the resultant velocity profile having at said start point a first pair of component velocities the same as those of the first velocity; (f) the resultant velocity profile having at said end point a second pair of component velocities the same as those of the second velocity; (g) defining a start point and an end point on the respective paths at which the curve is joinable thereto; and (h) actuating said coordinate drives sequentially in accordance with the component velocities of the first velocity, with the first and second velocity profiles of the curve, and with the component velocities of the second velocity.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
221 words
The method of operating a machine having two coordinate drives cooperating to produce a resultant movement of a driven member, comprising: (a) determining first and second velocities for movement of the driven member along respective paths having a point of intersection; (b) determining in respect of each velocity a pair of component velocities; (c) determining a first velocity profile between one component of the first velocity and the corresponding component of the second velocity and determining a corresponding second velocity profile being a scaled version of the first velocity profile; (d) a resultant velocity profile of the first and second velocity profiles defining a curve joining said paths, and having a start point and an end point; (e) the resultant velocity profile having at said start point a first pair of component velocities the same as those of the first velocity; (f) the resultant velocity profile having at said end point a second pair of component velocities the same as those of the second velocity; (g) defining a start point and an end point on the respective paths at which the curve is joinable thereto; and (h) actuating said coordinate drives sequentially in accordance with the component velocities of the first velocity, with the first and second velocity profiles of the curve, and with the component velocities of the second velocity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 3, further comprising: determining said first velocity profile on the basis of the velocity difference, between corresponding components of the first and second velocities, which is greatest.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of operating a coordinate positioning machine to accelerate a head of the machine, the method comprising the steps of: determining, on the basis of first and second velocities and a predetermined acceleration function, a time interval required to accelerate the head from the first to the second velocity; determining on the basis of the time interval a curved velocity profile for accelerating the head from the first to the second velocity; and driving the head according to the curved velocity profile.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of operating a coordinate positioning machine to accelerate a head of the machine, the method comprising the steps of: determining, on the basis of first and second velocities and a predetermined acceleration function, a time interval required to accelerate the head from the first to the second velocity; determining on the basis of the time interval a curved velocity profile for accelerating the head from the first to the second velocity; and driving the head according to the curved velocity profile.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein determining the curve velocity profile further comprises the step of: generating, on the basis of the magnitude of the time interval, a series of position demand coordinates for driving the head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein the magnitude of the time interval is determined by equating the integral of the acceleration function between limits determined by the time interval to the difference in velocity between the first and second velocities.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of operating position drives of a coordinate positioning machine, to accelerate a head of the machine through a change in velocity from a first velocity to a second velocity, comprising the steps of: determining on the basis of the first and second velocities, and of a constant absolute value for rate of change of acceleration, a time interval required to accelerate the head from the first to the second velocity; determining on the basis of the time interval a velocity profile for accelerating the head from the first to the second velocity; generating a drive signal representing the velocity profile; and applying the drive signal to the positioning drives of the coordinate positioning machine, thereby to accelerate the head from the first to the second velocity.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of operating position drives of a coordinate positioning machine, to accelerate a head of the machine through a change in velocity from a first velocity to a second velocity, comprising the steps of: determining on the basis of the first and second velocities, and of a constant absolute value for rate of change of acceleration, a time interval required to accelerate the head from the first to the second velocity; determining on the basis of the time interval a velocity profile for accelerating the head from the first to the second velocity; generating a drive signal representing the velocity profile; and applying the drive signal to the positioning drives of the coordinate positioning machine, thereby to accelerate the head from the first to the second velocity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second velocities are in different directions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second velocities are in the same direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of: generating on the basis of the magnitude of the time interval, a series of position demand coordinates; generating a periodic clock pulse having a constant period; generating drive signals representing position demand coordinates; and applying the drive signals to the positioning drive at a frequency equal to the clock pulse.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the position demand coordinates are generated by a predetermined function of the incremental value of the clock pulses over a period of time equal to the time interval.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the time interval is equal to: 2(DV/K).sup.1/2 where: DV is the change in velocity from the first velocity to the second velocity; and K is the constant absolute value of rate of change of acceleration.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of controlling positioning drives of a coordinate positioning machine, to drive a head of the machine from a first velocity to a second velocity, comprising the steps of: determining on the basis of the first and second velocities and a constant absolute value for rate of change of acceleration, a series of position demand coordinates; and controlling the positioning drives so that they drive the head of the machine through the position demand coordinates.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of controlling positioning drives of a coordinate positioning machine, to drive a head of the machine from a first velocity to a second velocity, comprising the steps of: determining on the basis of the first and second velocities and a constant absolute value for rate of change of acceleration, a series of position demand coordinates; and controlling the positioning drives so that they drive the head of the machine through the position demand coordinates.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of determining on the basis of the first and second velocities and said constant value for the rate of change of acceleration, a time interval, and wherein said position demand coordinates are determined on the basis of said time interval.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: generating a periodic clock pulse having a constant period; generating drive signals representing position demand coordinates; and applying the drive signals to the positioning drives at a frequency equal to the clock pulse.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the time interval is equal to: 2(DV/K).sup.1/2 where: DV is the change in velocity from the first velocity to the second velocity; and K is the constant absolute value of rate of change of acceleration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the position demand coordinates are generated by a predetermined function of the incremental value of the clock pulses over a period of time equal to the time interval.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for operating positioning drives of a coordinate positioning machine, to accelerate a head of the machine through a change in velocity from a first velocity to a second velocity, comprising: means for determining on the basis of the first and second velocities, and of a constant absolute value for rate of change of acceleration, a time interval required to accelerate the head from the first to the second velocity; means for determining on the basis of the time interval a velocity profile for accelerating the head from the first to the second velocity; means for generating a drive signal representing the velocity profile; and means for applying the drive signal to the positioning drives of the coordinate positioning machine, thereby to accelerate the head from the first to the second velocity.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for operating positioning drives of a coordinate positioning machine, to accelerate a head of the machine through a change in velocity from a first velocity to a second velocity, comprising: means for determining on the basis of the first and second velocities, and of a constant absolute value for rate of change of acceleration, a time interval required to accelerate the head from the first to the second velocity; means for determining on the basis of the time interval a velocity profile for accelerating the head from the first to the second velocity; means for generating a drive signal representing the velocity profile; and means for applying the drive signal to the positioning drives of the coordinate positioning machine, thereby to accelerate the head from the first to the second velocity.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for controlling positioning drives of a coordinate positioning machine, to drive a head of the machine from a first velocity to a second velocity, comprising: means for determining on the basis of the first and second velocities and a constant absolute value for rate of change of acceleration, a series of position demand coordinates; and means for controlling the positioning drives so that they drive the head of the machine through the position demand coordinates.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for controlling positioning drives of a coordinate positioning machine, to drive a head of the machine from a first velocity to a second velocity, comprising: means for determining on the basis of the first and second velocities and a constant absolute value for rate of change of acceleration, a series of position demand coordinates; and means for controlling the positioning drives so that they drive the head of the machine through the position demand coordinates.