ACTUATOR WITH ELECTRIC MOTOR AND MOTOR CONTROLLER
First Claim
1. An actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
- ) comprising an electric motor (12) and a motor controller (11), whereinthe actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) is configurable to operate as a master or a slave to another actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) which is coupled mechanically to the actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) for driving a common load (L);
the motor controller (11) is configured, for the case where the actuator (1M) is set as the master, to receive on an input terminal (Y3) an external position control signal (pC), to generate based on the position control signal (pC) a motor control signal (sC), to control the motor (12) by supplying the motor control signal (sC) to the motor (12), and to control a slave by supplying the motor control signal (sC) to an output terminal (U5); and
the motor controller (11) is further configured, for the case where the actuator (1S, 1S′
) is set as the slave, to receive on the input terminal (Y3) the motor control signal (sC) supplied by the master, and to control the motor (12) by supplying the motor control signal (sC) from the master to the motor (12).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator (1M, 1S) with a motor (12) and a motor controller (11) is configurable to operate as a master or a slave to another actuator which is coupled mechanically for driving a common load. For the case where the actuator (1M) is set as the master, the motor controller (11) receives on an input terminal (Y3) an external position control signal (pC), generates a motor control signal (sC) for controlling the motor (12) based on the position control signal (pC), and supplies the motor control signal (sC) to an output terminal (U5) for controlling a slave. For the case where the actuator (1S) is set as the slave, the motor controller (11) controls the motor (12) by supplying to the motor (12) the motor control signal (sC) received from the master. Controlling the actuators with a master improves workload balancing and reduces damages to transmission mechanics of the actuators.
17 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
- ) comprising an electric motor (12) and a motor controller (11), wherein
the actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) is configurable to operate as a master or a slave to another actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) which is coupled mechanically to the actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) for driving a common load (L);the motor controller (11) is configured, for the case where the actuator (1M) is set as the master, to receive on an input terminal (Y3) an external position control signal (pC), to generate based on the position control signal (pC) a motor control signal (sC), to control the motor (12) by supplying the motor control signal (sC) to the motor (12), and to control a slave by supplying the motor control signal (sC) to an output terminal (U5); and the motor controller (11) is further configured, for the case where the actuator (1S, 1S′
) is set as the slave, to receive on the input terminal (Y3) the motor control signal (sC) supplied by the master, and to control the motor (12) by supplying the motor control signal (sC) from the master to the motor (12). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- ) comprising an electric motor (12) and a motor controller (11), wherein
-
13. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored therein computer program code which directs a processor of an actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
- ) to;
control the actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) to operate as a master or a slave to another actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) which is coupled mechanically to the actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) for driving a common load (L),whereby, for the case where the actuator (1M) is set as the master, the processor receives on an input terminal (Y3) of the actuator (1M) an external position control signal (pC), generates based on the position control signal (pC) a motor control signal (sC), controls a motor (12) of the actuator (1M) by supplying the motor control signal (sC) to the motor (12), and controls the slave by supplying the motor control signal (sC) to an output terminal (U5) of the actuator (1M); and whereby, for the case where the actuator (1, 1S, 1S′
) is set as the slave, the processor receives on the input terminal (Y3) the motor control signal (sC) supplied by the master, and controls the motor (12) by supplying the motor control signal (sC) from the master to the motor (12).
- ) to;
-
14. A method for operating an actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
- ) which comprises an electric motor (12) and a motor controller (11), the method comprising;
configuring the actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) to operate as a master or a slave to another actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) which is coupled mechanically to the actuator (1, 1M, 1S, 1S′
) for driving a common load (L);whereby, for the case where the actuator (1M) is configured as the master; receiving on an input terminal (Y3) of the actuator (1M) an external position control signal (pC), generating based on the position control signal (pC) a motor control signal (sC), controlling a motor (12) of the actuator (1M) by supplying the motor control signal (sC) to the motor (12), and controlling the slave by supplying the motor control signal (sC) to an output terminal (U5) of the actuator (1M); and whereby, for the case where the actuator (1, 1S, 1S′
) is configured as the slave;receiving on the input terminal (Y3) the motor control signal (sC) supplied by the master, and controlling the motor (12) by supplying the motor control signal (sC) from the master to the motor (12).
- ) which comprises an electric motor (12) and a motor controller (11), the method comprising;
Specification