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Position control and monitoring circuit and method for an electric motor

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-09-23
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Granted: 2000-02-29
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Expires: 2016-09-23
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Abstract

Abstract A position control and monitoring circuitry is provided for an electric motor having a plurality of coils and a movable element. A drive circuit generates a square wave drive signal of variable mark/space ratio to drive the coils to position the movable element. A monitoring circuit modulates square wave transitions at a sub-harmnonic of the drive signal frequency and generates a monitoring signal for injection into the coils. A sensor senses the monitoring signal from the coils to determine the position of the movable element. A difference circuit drives the drive circuit with a difference between an input signal and an output signal of the sensor.

Inventors

  • 👤 Roger Charles Hey Sidey

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 12:18
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/19; G05B19/27; G05B19/31; G05B19/311; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/37; G05B2219/37019; G05B2219/37133; G05B2219/37529; G05B2219/41; G05B2219/41337; G05B2219/42; G05B2219/42237

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 118 words
A position control and monitoring circuitry for an electric motor having a plurality of coils and a movable element, comprising: drive means generating a square wave drive signal of variable mark/space ratio to drive the coils to position the movable element, the square wave drive signal having a drive signal frequency; monitoring means for modulating square wave transitions at a sub-harmonic of the drive signal frequency to generate a monitoring signal for supply to the coils; sensing means for sensing the monitoring signal from the coils to thereby determine the position of the movable element; and difference means for driving the drive means with a difference between an input signal and an output signal of the sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 118 words
A position control and monitoring circuitry for an electric motor having a plurality of coils and a movable element, comprising: drive means generating a square wave drive signal of variable mark/space ratio to drive the coils to position the movable element, the square wave drive signal having a drive signal frequency; monitoring means for modulating square wave transitions at a sub-harmonic of the drive signal frequency to generate a monitoring signal for supply to the coils; sensing means for sensing the monitoring signal from the coils to thereby determine the position of the movable element; and difference means for driving the drive means with a difference between an input signal and an output signal of the sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
A circuitry according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring means modulates the square wave transitions at half of the drive signal frequency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
A circuitry according to claim 1, wherein the square wave transitions are, in a first sense, modulated by the drive means, and the square wave transitions are, in a second sense opposite to the first sense, modulated by the monitoring means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
A circuitry according to claim 2, wherein the square wave transitions are, in a first sense, modulated by the drive means, and the square wave transitions are, in a second sense opposite to the first sense, modulated by the monitoring means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 117 words
A position control and monitoring method for control and monitoring an electric motor having a plurality of coils and a movable element, comprising the steps of: with a drive circuit, generating a square wave drive signal of variable mark/space ratio to drive the coils to position the movable element, the square wave drive signal having a drive signal frequency; modulating square wave transitions at a sub-harmonic of the drive signal frequency to generate a monitoring signal for supply to the coils; sensing the monitoring signal from the coils to thereby determine the position of the movable element; and driving the drive circuit with a difference between an input signal and an output signal of the sensing step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 117 words
A position control and monitoring method for control and monitoring an electric motor having a plurality of coils and a movable element, comprising the steps of: with a drive circuit, generating a square wave drive signal of variable mark/space ratio to drive the coils to position the movable element, the square wave drive signal having a drive signal frequency; modulating square wave transitions at a sub-harmonic of the drive signal frequency to generate a monitoring signal for supply to the coils; sensing the monitoring signal from the coils to thereby determine the position of the movable element; and driving the drive circuit with a difference between an input signal and an output signal of the sensing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein the step of modulating the square wave transitions is performed with a sub-harmonic having half of the drive signal frequency.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 47 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein the step of modulating is performed by modulating the square wave transitions in a first sense by the drive circuit, and by modulating the square wave transitions in a second sense opposite to the first sense by the monitoring signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 47 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of modulating is performed by modulating the square wave transitions in a first sense by the drive circuit and by modulating the square wave transitions in a second sense opposite to the first sense by the monitoring signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB1381125A Cited
GB2088589A Cited
GB2134731A Cited
GB2142452A Cited
EP0295710A1 Cited
EP0457389A1 Cited
EP0515974A2 Cited
EP0602977A2 Cited
WO1995008214A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-02-28 2003-08-30 2004-02-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-02-28 2007-08-30 2008-02-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-02-28 2011-08-30 2012-02-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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