Animatronic System With Unlimited Axes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for controlling an electric stepping axis motor wherein the said electric stepping axis motor responds to a plurality of different control settings corresponding to binary words of a predetermined set of binary data, said apparatus including:
- a memory containing file for storing a plurality of said binary data;
a pulse source for issuing each of said plurality of binary words from said memory at predetermined evenly spaced time intervals;
an interface for decoding said binary words from said memory and controlling said electric stepping axis motor in accordance with the control settings corresponding to said binary words;
a manually actuable joystick unit for selecting control setting commands consistent with desired speed and direction of said electric stepping axis motor, said joystick unit including a feedback stepper motor for interacting mechanically within said joystick unit to cancel previous control setting commands, said feedback stepper motor including;
control wiring coupling said feedback stepper motor to rotate in unison with said electric stepping axis motor;
an encoder for encoding said control setting commands into binary words at evenly spaced intervals; and
switching means for saving said binary words to said file in said memory at said evenly spaced intervals.
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Abstract
In an animatronic system, recording and playing performances of individual axes of character movement involves, during recording, continually commanding speeds and rotational directions of a stepping axis motor in response to manual movement of a joystick. The joystick commands are modified by means of a feedback motor electrically coupled to the axis motor to mechanically interact with the joystick.
11 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling an electric stepping axis motor wherein the said electric stepping axis motor responds to a plurality of different control settings corresponding to binary words of a predetermined set of binary data, said apparatus including:
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a memory containing file for storing a plurality of said binary data; a pulse source for issuing each of said plurality of binary words from said memory at predetermined evenly spaced time intervals; an interface for decoding said binary words from said memory and controlling said electric stepping axis motor in accordance with the control settings corresponding to said binary words; a manually actuable joystick unit for selecting control setting commands consistent with desired speed and direction of said electric stepping axis motor, said joystick unit including a feedback stepper motor for interacting mechanically within said joystick unit to cancel previous control setting commands, said feedback stepper motor including; control wiring coupling said feedback stepper motor to rotate in unison with said electric stepping axis motor; an encoder for encoding said control setting commands into binary words at evenly spaced intervals; and switching means for saving said binary words to said file in said memory at said evenly spaced intervals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In an animatronic system, a method for recording and playing performances of individual axes of movement comprising:
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during recording, continually commanding speeds and rotational directions of a stepping axis motor in response to manual movement of a joystick; and modifying the joystick commands by means of a feedback motor electrically coupled to the axis motor to mechanically interact with the joystick. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An animatronic system comprising:
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a stepping axis motor responsive to variable control signals for controlling animation of a character; a memory for storing said control signals; means for activating each of said plurality of control signals in said memory at predetermined evenly spaced time intervals; an interface for decoding the activated control signals to control said stepping axis motor; a manually actuable joystick unit for selecting control setting commands consistent with desired speed and direction of said electric stepping axis motor, said joystick unit including a feedback stepper motor for interacting mechanically within said joystick unit to cancel previous control setting commands, said feedback stepper motor including; means coupling said feedback stepper motor to rotate in unison with said stepping axis motor; an encoder for encoding said control setting commands into command signals at evenly spaced intervals; and switching means for saving said command signals to said memory at said evenly spaced intervals. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification