Pulse transfer system for manual pulse generator

• US 5,247,295 A
• Filed: 07/15/1991
• Issued: 09/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanda, Kunio
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US07/720,844
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.57, 340/825.65, 340/825.69, 377/15, 377/16, 377/1, 377/44, 364/136, 364/167.01, 364/188, 364/190, 364/474.01, 364/474.1, 364/474.11, 364/474.22, 341/173, 341/176, 341/187
• US Class Current: 340/12.18
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35459 Knob, handle, handwheel delivers pulses, electronic handwheel, digipot
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35545 Serial to parallel conversion

Abstract

A pulse transfer system is provided by which a pulse signal output from a manual pulse generator unit is transferred to a numerical control apparatus through a wireless channel. Pulses are generated in accordance with the rotation of a knob of the manual pulse generator and are counted from a reference time by a counter. A numerical value of the counter is modulated by a modulation circuit, amplified by a power amplifier circuit, and transferred as a coded signal from an antenna to a numerical control apparatus at each predetermined time. The numerical control apparatus receives the coded signal through the wireless channel and recognizes the pulses from the manual pulse generator. The coded signal transferred from the manual pulse generator unit through the wireless channel is a signal as an absolute position using time as a reference, and thus even if an error occurs during the transfer, the correct number of pulses can be recognized.

Claims

1. A pulse transfer system where an output pulse signal from a manual pulse generator unit can be transferred to a numerical control apparatus through a wireless channel, comprising:

a manual pulse generator unit including

a manual pulse generator control capable of generating pulses in response to manual operation thereof;

a clock means for sequentially determining predetermined periods of time;

counter means for counting the pulses generated during each of the predetermined periods of time to produce a numerical count value; and

a signal transfer means for transferring the numerical count value for each of the predetermined periods of time to transmit a coded signal over the wireless channel; and

a numerical controller apparatus including signal receiving means for receiving the coded signal from the wireless channel and for counting the pulses coded in said coded signal.

2. A pulse transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said signal transfer means for transferring includes means for supplementing the coded signal with a cyclic redundancy check signal as a data check signal based on a content of the numerical count.

3. A pulse transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said signal transfer means for transferring includes a low power FM transmitter for transmitting the coded signal on the wireless channel and said signal receiving means includes a low power FM receiver for receiving the coded signal from the wireless channel.

4. A pulse transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said signal receiving means of said numerical control apparatus and said signal transfer means of said manual pulse generator unit comprise means for searching a plurality of the wireless channels to select an unoccupied channel and establish an interconnection.

5. A pulse transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said manual pulse generator control comprises a manually rotatable knob.