Position feedback system and method for use thereof
First Claim
1. A machine comprising:
- at least two closed paths defined by at least two separate guide members spaced from one another;
at least two magnetostrictive sensors disposed on each path;
at least one movable element mounted for movement on each path;
at least one programmable controller operatively associated with each sensor and each movable element, wherein the controller receives at least one signal from one of the sensors which is representative of at least one control variable of at least one of the associated movable elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a machine with a position feedback system and a method for use thereof. The machine includes at least one movable element mounted for movement on a path and at least one programmable controller. The machine further includes at least two absolute or magnetostrictive sensors or the machine includes an absolute sensor and a non-absolute sensor. The programmable controller uses positional information from the sensors to determine the position of the movable elements on the path and control the movable elements. The method includes determining a known position for the movable elements, linking at least two magnetostrictive sensors into one virtual sensor, and/or performing commutation alignment for the movable elements. Determining the position and commutation alignment can occur when the movable elements are stationary or moving.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A machine comprising:
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at least two closed paths defined by at least two separate guide members spaced from one another;
at least two magnetostrictive sensors disposed on each path;
at least one movable element mounted for movement on each path;
at least one programmable controller operatively associated with each sensor and each movable element, wherein the controller receives at least one signal from one of the sensors which is representative of at least one control variable of at least one of the associated movable elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A machine comprising:
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at least two closed paths defined by at least two separate guide members spaced from one another;
at least one magnetostrictive sensor disposed on each paths;
at least one non-absolute sensor disposed on each paths;
at least one movable element mounted for movement on each path;
at least one programmable controller operatively associated with each sensor and each movable element, wherein the controller receives at least one signal from one of the sensors which is representative of at least one control variable of at least one of the associated movable elements. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for using at least two magnetostrictive sensors on each of at least two closed paths defined by at least two separate guide members spaced from one another, comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one moveable element for each path, that is movable on the path, and each movable element includes at least one magnet;
providing at least two magnetostrictive sensors on each path for outputting positional information on each movable element, each magnetostrictive sensor is operatively associated with the at least one magnet;
providing a first programmable controller electrically connected to the sensors; and
using the positional information from each sensor so that the first programmable controller links the sensors into a single, continuous, virtual sensor on each path. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for using positional information on at least one movable element disposed on a closed path defined by a guide member, comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one movable element that is movable on the path, and each movable element includes at least one magnet;
providing at least one magnetostrictive sensor on the path for outputting positional information on each movable element, each magnetostrictive sensor is operatively associated with the at least one magnet;
providing a first programmable controller electrically connected to each sensor;
using the positional information from each sensor; and
wherein the step of providing at least one movable element further includes providing a servo-motor with each movable element, and the step of using the positional information includes performing commutation alignment on each servo-motor using the positional information from each sensor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification