Remote controlled actuator and antenna adjustment actuator and electronic control and digital power converter

• US 20020097183A1
• Filed: 08/20/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weinbrenner Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Weinbrenner Incorporated
• Inventors: Weinbrenner, Richard L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,445,353 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/359
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/11 Driving means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/005 using remotely controlled antenna positioning or scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/02 using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/32 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/36 with variable phase-shifters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A remote controlled actuator system has a motor with a drive or screw shaft. The motor drives a sliding element propelled by the screw shaft. The control circuit may include steering diodes to minimize wires where there is sensing or more than one actuator. A remote controller may direct motor movement of individual actuators without a local controller. The remote actuator may be used to sense remote position through the steering diodes. There is a bipolar and bi-level drive circuit providing the step voltage to achieve high performance motor movement. The guideway may have an internal keyway along with an anti-rotation sliding bearing protected against rotation by the keyway. This anti-rotation sliding bearing restricts the piston to linear travel along the driving motor lead screw thread. The position sensor may include a resistive element sliding contact mounted to the sliding piston. A special coaxial mechanical coupling method simplifies installation.

Claims

1. An actuator for repositioning a device to be actuated linearly, comprising:

a motor with a drive shaft;

an electrical controller circuit for controlling said motor;

a sliding element engaged to said drive shaft, said sliding element moving in a linear pattern upon said motor energizing and driving said drive shaft;

a linear resistive element electrically engaged to said electrically controller circuit; and

a sliding contact on said sliding element for varying electrical resistance of said resistive element as sensed in said electrical controller circuit as a function of said sliding element position.

2. The actuator of claim 1, comprising:

an anti-rotation bearing on said sliding element in contact with said linear resistive element;

a guideway containing said sliding element, said anti-rotation bearing, and said drive shaft; and

said guideway having a keyway along which said anti-rotation bearing rides.

4. The actuator of claim 1, wherein:

said sliding contact bridges between two tracks on said linear resistive element to create an electrical potentiometer whose resistance is a function of position of said sliding element.

5. The actuator of claim 2, wherein:

said sliding element has an internal thread on an end opposite said end engaged to said drive shaft;

said internal thread on said sliding element for engagement to a thread on a control rod of the device to be actuated;

said guideway having a thread for engagement to a fixed body of the device to be actuated; and

said internal thread of said sliding element and said thread of said guideway having identical threading per unit distance.

3. The actuator of claim 3, comprising:

said keyway being internal to said guideway.

6. An actuator in combination with a device to be actuated in a linear path, comprising:

a motor with a drive shaft;

an electrical controller circuit for controlling said motor;

a sliding element engaged to said drive shaft, said sliding element moving in a linear pattern upon said motor energizing and driving said drive shaft;

a linear resistive element electrically engaged to said electrically controller circuit;

a sliding contact on said sliding element for varying electrical resistance of said resistive element as sensed in said electrical controller circuit as a function of said sliding element position;

an anti-rotation bearing on said sliding element in contact with said linear resistive element;

a guideway containing said sliding element, said anti-rotation bearing, and said drive shaft;

said guideway having a keyway along which said anti-rotation bearing rides;

said sliding element has an internal thread on an end opposite said end engaged to said drive shaft;

said internal thread on said sliding element engages to a thread on a control rod of said device to be actuated;

said guideway having a thread engaged to a fixed body of said device to be actuated; and

said internal thread of said sliding element and said thread of said guideway having identical threading per unit distance.

7. The actuator and device to be actuated combination of claim 6, wherein:

said sliding element of said actuator is made of non-metallic material.

8. A system of actuators for repositioning individual devices, comprising:

a single electronic controller circuit;

at least two actuators, each engaged to individual devices to be actuated, and each actuator comprised of;

a motor with a drive shaft;

a coil driving wire from said electrical controller circuit electrically engaged to each motor coil of said motor;

a sliding element engaged to said drive shaft, said sliding element moving in a linear pattern upon said motor energizing and driving said drive shaft;

a linear resistive element electrically engaged to said electrically controller circuit; and

a sliding contact on said sliding element for varying electrical resistance of said resistive element as sensed in said electrical controller circuit as a function of said sliding element position;

said electrical controller having a common motor return wire engaged electrically to each of said actuators;

said electrical controller having a sensing wire engaged electrically to each of said actuators; and

said resistive elements of each actuator electrically engaged along with steering diodes to said coil driving wires of each said motor and said sensing wires of each actuator.

9. The system of actuators of claim 10, wherein:

wherein said electrical controller circuit contains a bi-polar, multi-level power converter sub-circuit;

said bi-polar multi-level power converter sub-circuit varies voltage levels to said motor coils passing a higher initial voltage and reducing said voltage following initial voltage application; and

wherein said bi-polar multi-level power converter sub-circuit has a single voltage power supply.

10. The actuator system of claim 8, wherein:

said electrically controller circuit measures individual actuator position remotely from said actuators by applying a low voltage signal through a coil driving wire an actuator to be measured, sensing resistance of said linear resistivity element level as a result of relative position of sliding contact position through said sensing wire for said actuator to be measured, and comparing sensed resistance with predetermined values to determine actuator and device to be actuated position.

11. The actuator system of claim 9, wherein:

said electrically controller circuit measures individual actuator position remotely from said actuators by applying a low voltage signal through a coil driving wire an actuator to be measured, sensing resistance of said linear resistivity element level as a result of relative position of sliding contact position through said sensing wire for said actuator to be measured, and comparing sensed resistance with predetermined values to detenmine actuator and device to be actuated position.

13. The actuator antenna combination of claim 12, comprising:

an anti-rotation bearing on said sliding element in contact with said linear resistive element;

a body containing said sliding element, said anti-rotation bearing, and said drive shaft; and

said body having a keyway along which said anti-rotation bearing rides.

14. The actuator antenna combination of claim 13, comprising:

said keyway being internal to said body.

15. The actuator antenna combination of claim 12, wherein:

said sliding contact bridges between two tracks on said linear resistive element to create an electrical potentiometer whose resistance is a function of position of said sliding element and said antenna.

16. The actuator antenna combination of claim 12, wherein:

said sliding element has an internal thread on an end opposite said end engaged to said drive shaft;

said internal thread on said sliding element engaged to a thread on a control rod of said antenna;

said body having a thread for engagement to a fixed body of said antenna; and

said internal thread of said sliding element and said thread of said body having identical threading per unit distance.

19. The system of actuators of claim 18, wherein:

wherein said electrical controller circuit contains a bi-polar, multi-level power converter sub-circuit;

said bi-polar multi-level power converter sub-circuit varies voltage levels to said motor coils passing a higher initial voltage and reducing said voltage following initial voltage application; and

wherein said bi-polar multi-level power converter sub-circuit has a single voltage power supply.

12. An actuator for linearly repositioning an antenna in combination with an antenna, comprising:

a motor with a drive shaft;

an electrical controller circuit for controlling said motor;

a sliding element engaged to said drive shaft, said sliding element moving in a linear path upon said motor energizing and driving said drive shaft;

said sliding element engaged to an antenna for repositioning said antenna;

a linear resistive element electrically engaged to said electrically controller circuit; and

a sliding contact on said sliding element for varying electrical resistance of said resistive element as sensed in said remote electrical controller circuit as a function of position of said sliding element.

17. An actuator in combination with an antenna, comprising:

a motor with a drive shaft;

an electrical controller circuit for controlling said motor;

a sliding element engaged to said drive shaft, said sliding element moving in a linear pattern upon said motor energizing and driving said drive shaft;

a linear resistive element electrically engaged to said electrically controller circuit;

a sliding contact on said sliding element for varying electrical resistance of said resistive element as sensed in said electrical controller circuit as a function of said sliding element position;

an anti-rotation bearing on said sliding element in contact with said linear resistive element;

a guideway containing said sliding element, said anti-rotation bearing, and said drive shaft;

said guideway having a keyway along which said anti-rotation bearing rides;

said sliding element has an internal thread on an end opposite said end engaged to said drive shaft;

said internal thread on said sliding element engages to a thread on a control rod of an antenna;

said guideway having a thread engaged to a fixed body of said antenna; and

said internal thread of said sliding element and said thread of said guideway having identical threading per unit distance.

18. A system of actuators for repositioning down tilt angles of cellular antennas in combination with antennas, comprising:

a single electronic controller circuit;

at least two actuators, each engaged to individual antennas to have down angle changed, and each actuator comprised of;

a motor with a drive shaft;

a coil driving wire from said electrical controller circuit electrically engaged to each motor coil of said motor;

a sliding element engaged to said drive shaft, said sliding element moving in a linear path upon said motor energizing and driving said drive shaft;

said sliding element engaged to an individual antenna a linear resistive element electrically engaged to said electrically controller circuit; and

a sliding contact on said sliding element for varying electrical resistance of said resistive element as sensed in said electrical controller circuit as a function of said sliding element position;

said electrical controller having a common motor return wire engaged electrically to each of said actuators;

said electrical controller having a sensing wire engaged electrically to each of said actuators;

said resistive elements of each actuator electrically engaged along with steering diodes to said coil driving wires of each said motor and said sensing wires of each actuator; and

said electrically controller circuit measures individual actuator and antenna position remotely from said actuators and antennas by applying a low voltage signal through a coil driving wire an actuator to be measured, sensing resistance of said linear resistivity element level as a result of relative position of sliding contact position through said sensing wire for said actuator to be measured, and comparing sensed resistance with predetermined values to determine individual actuator and antenna position.

20. A bi-polar multi-level power converter circuit for supplying a load, comprising:

a controller for varying duty cycle of transistors of a transistor bridge sub-circuit;

a first transistor of said transistors of said transistor bridge electrically engaged to a positive voltage rail to apply a portion of said positive voltage rail dependent on said varied duty cycle of said first transistor;

a second transistor of said transistors of said transistor bridge electrically engaged to a negative voltage rail to apply a portion of said negative voltage rail dependent on said varied duty cycle of said second transistor;

said output of said transistor bridge directed to a load through a filter;

a charge rebalancing sub-circuit electrically engaged at an outlet of said transistor bridge, comprising;

a transformer aligned to invert the output of the transistor bridge through one of two diodes, one engaged to said positive voltage rail and one engaged to said negative voltage rail.

21. The multi-level power converter circuit of claim 20, comprising:

said filter on said output of said transistor bridge is an LC filter.

22. The multi-level power converter circuit of claim 21, comprising:

a single power source to said voltage rails engaged directly only to said positive voltage rail.

23. The multi-level power converter circuit of claim 21, comprising:

a single power source to said voltage rails engaged directly only to said negative voltage rail.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein:

said electrically controller circuit measures individual actuator position remotely from said actuators by applying a low voltage signal from said bi-polar, multi-level power converter through a coil driving wire an actuator to be measured, sensing resistance of said linear resistivity element level as a result of relative position of sliding contact position through said sensing wire for said actuator to be measured, and comparing sensed resistance with predetermined values to determine actuator and device to be actuated position.

24. A system of actuators for repositioning individual devices, comprising:

a single electronic controller circuit;

at least two actuators, each engaged to individual devices to be actuated, and each actuator comprised of;

a motor with a drive shaft;

a coil driving wire from said electrical controller circuit electrically engaged to each motor coil of said motor;

a sliding element engaged to said drive shaft, said sliding element moving in a linear pattern upon said motor energizing and driving said drive shaft;

a linear resistive element electrically engaged to said electrically controller circuit; and

a sliding contact on said sliding element for varying electrical resistance of said resistive element as sensed in said electrical controller circuit as a function of said sliding element position;

said electrical controller having a sensing wire engaged electrically to each of said actuators;

said resistive elements of each actuator electrically engaged along with steering diodes to said coil driving wires of each said motor and said sensing wires of each actuator;

said electrical controller circuit having one bi-polar multi-level power converter sub-circuit engaged to provide driving power to each said coil driving wire;

said bi-polar, multi-level power converter comprised of;

a controller for varying duty cycle of transistors of a transistor bridge sub-circuit;

a first transistor of said transistors of said transistor bridge electrically engaged to a positive voltage rail to apply a portion of said positive voltage rail dependent on said varied duty cycle of said first transistor;

a second transistor of said transistors of said transistor bridge electrically engaged to a negative voltage rail to apply a portion of said negative voltage rail dependent on said varied duty cycle of said second transistor;

said output of said transistor bridge directed to a load through a filter;

a charge rebalancing sub-circuit electrically engaged at an outlet of said transistor bridge, comprising;

a transformer aligned to invert the output of the transistor bridge through one of two diodes, one engaged to said positive voltage rail and one engaged to said negative voltage rail.

26. An actuator for linearly repositioning an antenna in combination with an antenna, comprising:

a motor with a drive shaft;

an electrical controller circuit for remotely controlling said motor, said electrical controller circuit having a bi-polar multi-level power converter sub-circuit engaged to each motor coil of said motor for providing power;

said bi-polar, multi-level power converter comprised of;

a controller for varying duty cycle of transistors of a transistor bridge sub-circuit;

a first transistor of said transistors of said transistor bridge electrically engaged to a positive voltage rail to apply a portion of said positive voltage rail dependent on said varied duty cycle of said first transistor;

a second transistor of said transistors of said transistor bridge electrically engaged to a negative voltage rail to apply a portion of said negative voltage rail dependent on said varied duty cycle of said second transistor;

said output of said transistor bridge directed to a load through a filter;

a charge rebalancing sub-circuit electrically engaged at an outlet of said transistor bridge, comprising;

a transformer aligned to invert the output of the transistor bridge through one of two diodes, one engaged to said positive voltage rail and one engaged to said negative voltage rail;

a sliding element engaged to said drive shaft, said sliding element moving in a linear path upon said motor energizing and driving said drive shaft;

said sliding element engaged to an antenna for repositioning said antenna;

a linear resistive element electrically engaged to said electrically controller circuit; and

a sliding contact on said sliding element for varying electrical resistance of said resistive element as sensed in said remote electrical controller circuit as a function of position of said sliding element and antenna.