Dual-motor control apparatus
First Claim
1. A vehicle control system (16), comprising:
- first and second drive motors (12,14);
an accelerator (28) adapted to produce first command motor speed signals;
an accelerator transducer means (40) for receiving said first command motor speed signals and generating first digital numbers in response to said received signals;
a steerable wheel (35) adapted to produce second command motor speed signals;
a steerable wheel tranducer means (48) for receiving said second command motor speed signals and generating second digital numbers in response to said received signals;
programmable data processor means (56) for generating first and second pulse trains in response to receiving said first and second digital numbers;
first and second power switching means (68,78) for coupling power to respective first and second drive motors (12,14); and
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first and second controllable means (64,74) for controllably operating said first and second power switching means (68,78) in response to receiving respective first and second pulse trains.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention pertains to a control circuit (10) for controlling the speed of a pair of motors (12,14), including a pair of switching elements (68,74) coupling power to the motors (12,14), a pair of controllable circuits (64,74) for driving the switching elements (68, 74), a circuit (36) for generating digital numbers representing the same command speed for each of the motors (12,14), a circuit (38) for generating digital numbers representing differential command speeds for the motors (12,14), and a data processor (56) for controlling the pair of controllable circuits (64,74) in response to the digital numbers. By utilizing digital and integrated circuit technology, prior, essentially linear, control apparatus, which are relatively unreliable, expensive and slow, need not be used.
45 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A vehicle control system (16), comprising:
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first and second drive motors (12,14); an accelerator (28) adapted to produce first command motor speed signals; an accelerator transducer means (40) for receiving said first command motor speed signals and generating first digital numbers in response to said received signals; a steerable wheel (35) adapted to produce second command motor speed signals; a steerable wheel tranducer means (48) for receiving said second command motor speed signals and generating second digital numbers in response to said received signals; programmable data processor means (56) for generating first and second pulse trains in response to receiving said first and second digital numbers; first and second power switching means (68,78) for coupling power to respective first and second drive motors (12,14); and
;first and second controllable means (64,74) for controllably operating said first and second power switching means (68,78) in response to receiving respective first and second pulse trains. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle control system (16), comprising:
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(a) first and second drive wheels (20,22); (b) first and second electrical drive motors (12,14) being connected to respective first and second drive wheels (20,22); (c) an accelerator pedal (28) being movable to any one of a plurality of positions and adapted to produce a first command speed signal; (d) a steerable wheel (35) being movable to any one of a plurality of positions and adapted to produce a second command speed signal; (e) first means (36) for generating first digital numbers in response to receiving said first command speed signal; (f) second means (38) for generating second digital numbers in response to receiving said second command speed signal; (g) programmed data processor means (56) for generating first and second pulse trains in response to receiving said first and second digital numbers, said first and second pulse trains having substantially the same waveforms in response to said received second digital numbers having magnitudes in a first predetermined range and having different waveforms in response to said received second digital numbers having magnitudes in a second predetermined range exclusive of said first range; (h) a vehicle power source (69); (i) first power switching means (68) for coupling power from said vehicle power source (69) to said first drive motor (12); (j) second power switching means (78) for coupling power from said vehicle power source (69) to said second drive motor (14); (k) first controllable means (64) for controllably operating said first power switching means (68) in response to receiving said first pulse train; and
,(l) second controllable means (74) for controllably operating said second power switching means (78) in response to receiving said second pulse train.
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11. A vehicle control system (16), comprising:
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first and second drive motors (12,14); a accelerator (28) adapted to produce first command motor speed signals; an accelerator tranducer meaas (40) for receiving said first command motor speed signals and generating first digital numbers in response to said received signals; a steerable wheel (35) adapted to produce second command motor speed signals; a steerable wheel transducer means (48) for receiving said second command motor speed signals and generating second digital numbers in response to said received signals; programmable data processor means (56) for producing respective third and fourth digital numbers in response to receiving said first and second digital numbers; converter means (88) for generating first and second pulse trains in response to receiving said third and fourth digital numbers; first and second power switching means (68,78) for coupling power to respective first and second drive motors (12,14); and
,first and second controllable means (64,74) for controllably operating said first and second power switching means (68,78) in response to receiving respective first and second pulse trains. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification