Actuator, motor unit and controller unit

• US 20050212475A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kakutani, Kazushige, Kataoka, Shinya, Tojo, Naoto
• Granted Patent: US 7,166,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/567
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/522 for generally annular cores with salient poles

Abstract

An actuator, which allows a controller to be commonly applied to a plurality of models without requiring complicated setting operation of control parameters, and is superior in cost effectiveness, reusability and expandability, is provided. And further, a motor unit and a controller unit constituting the actuator are provided. The motor unit is equipped with a motor, a motor drive circuit and a parameter memory, which stores characteristic parameters necessary for controlling the motor. A controller unit, which is adapted so as to be detachable to the motor unit, is provided with a motor control circuit and a communication control circuit. When the controller unit is attached to the motor unit, characteristic parameters stored in the parameter memory are loaded via a communication connector, and used for setting control parameters for the motor control circuit.

Claims

1. A motor-driving actuator, comprising:

a motor unit including a drive circuit for driving a motor,

a storage device storing characteristic parameters necessary for controlling the drive of said motor,

a controller unit including an operation circuit for operating control commands to be given to said drive circuit, which is detachably attached to said motor unit, and

a communication unit for communicably connecting said motor unit and said controller unit, wherein

the communication unit, in case that the controller unit is attached to the motor unit, communicates among said arithmetic circuit, said drive circuit and said storage device so as to allow a signals to be transmitted and received thereamong.

2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein, when a loading of characteristic parameters stored in the storage device to a memory is not completed within a predetermined period of time, the operation of said controller unit is prohibited.

3. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic parameters include rated output, rated and maximum torque, rated and maximum current, rotational inertia, torque constant, and torque-revolution characteristics, or number of slit holes with respect to said motor.

4. The actuator according to claim 2, wherein the characteristic parameters include rated output, rated and maximum torque, rated and maximum current, rotational inertia, torque constant, and torque-revolution characteristics, or number of slit holes with respect to said motor.

5. A motor unit, comprising a motor, a drive circuit of the motor and a storage device, wherein

the storage device stores characteristic parameters necessary for controlling the drive of said motor.

6. A controller unit, comprising an arithmetic circuit detachably attached to a motor unit according to claim 5, wherein

the arithmetic circuit calculates control commands to be given to said drive circuit.