Abstract:
A movable barrier operator having improved safety and energy efficiency features automatically detects line voltage frequency and uses that information to set a worklight shut-off time. The operator automatically detects the type of door (single panel or segmented) and uses that information to set a maximum speed of door travel. The operator moves the door with a linearly variable speed from start of travel to stop for smooth and quiet performance. The operator provides for full door closure by driving the door into the floor when the DOWN limit is reached and no auto-reverse condition has been detected. The operator provides for user selection of a minimum stop speed for easy starting and stopping of sticky or binding doors.
Abstract:
A motor control system for controlling operation of an electric motor associated with a motor-operated vent in a vehicle. The system monitors and stores data relating to the operating current and detects occurrences of abnormal loads applied to the vent by determining whether the monitored operating current exceeds one of several predetermined thresholds. The predetermined thresholds are dynamically modified in accordance with monitored condition variations of the operating current. The dynamically modified thresholds are initially based on either a value associated with the stall current of the vent motor or the start spike current of the vent motor. In addition, an embodiment is provided for monitoring and storing data relating to ripple current waves associated with the operating current, so that occurrences of abnormal loads may be detected by determining whether the frequency of the monitored ripple current waves is less than a predetermined value.
Abstract:
A motor control system for controlling operation of an electric motor associated with a motor-operated vent in a vehicle. The system monitors and stores data relating to the operating current and detects occurrences of abnormal loads applied to the vent by determining whether the monitored operating current exceeds one of several predetermined thresholds. The predetermined thresholds are dynamically modified in accordance with monitored condition variations of the operating current. The dynamically modified thresholds are initially based on either a value associated with the stall current of the vent motor or the start spike current of the vent motor. In addition, an embodiment is provided for monitoring and storing data relating to ripple current waves associated with the operating current, so that occurrences of abnormal loads may be detected by determining whether the frequency of the monitored ripple current waves is less than a predetermined value.
Abstract:
In a circuit arrangement for the timed control of semiconductor switches (1-4) to each of which a freerunning diode (D1-D4) is connected in parallel and which are arranged in branches of a bridge, an ohmic-inductive load (5) of low loss power which lies in the diagonals of the bridge is to be acted on by a controlled average current value. For this purpose two semiconductor switches (for instance 1, 4) lying diagonally opposite each other in the bridge are closed in a current-application phase while in the following freerunning phase a freerunning current flows through the load. For the reduction of the loss power, at the start of the freerunning phase only one (1) of the two diagonally opposite semiconductors (1,4) is opened and a semiconductor switch (3) which lies in the bridge alongside the conductive semiconductor switch (4) is then closed. Before the start of a current-application phase which follows this, the semiconductor switch (3) which lies in the bridge alongside the closed semiconductor switch (4) is opened before the opened semiconductor switch ( 1) of the two diagonally opposite semiconductor switches (1,4) is closed again.
Abstract:
The invention provides a speed controller which detects the period of an AC signal containing information of the rotational speed of a motor and controls the rotational speed based on the detected period value and a reference speed value. More particularly, the speed controller computes the amount of the deviation of the AC signal based on continuously detected period values and the reference speed value, and then stores the computed deviation amount in a memory as a correction value. Using the correction value stored in the memory, the speed controller corrects the deviation of the period, and thus, the speed of the rotation of the motor can be controlled with extremely high precision.
Abstract:
A monitoring circuit for a door operating D.C. electric motor, the circuit comprises a first means for detecting a back EMF of the motor and producing a load signal indicative of the magnitude of the back EMF, a second means for detecting the time rate of change of the load signal and issuing an obstruction signal if the magnitude of the time rate of change of the load signal exceeds a predetermined value.
Abstract:
The user of a remotely controlled, powered manipulator is provided with audible feedback signals which provide useful information relating to the force and speed of the motor. An audio tone is generated and is frequency modulated by a signal which corresponds to motor speed. The tone is amplitude modulated by a signal corresponding to motor force thus providing the user with an intuitively interpretable feedback signal having a speed-proportional pitch and force-proportional volume. In the case of an electric motor, voltage and current can be monitored to provide speed and force signals respectively. Additional modulation means are disclosed for introducing a force-proportional warble component to said tone.
Abstract:
A speed monitoring circuit is disclosed for an automatic positioning system. This speed monitoring circuit composes a measurement of the actually present speed determined from measurement signals generated by an incremental position measuring device with the desired speed commanded by the positioning system. The difference between the actual and commanded speed is detected and, in the event of an excessive deviation, a warning or an automatic termination of operation of the positioning system is provided. In the disclosed system, the desired speed is determined by a controller in which a digital computer calculates the difference between the instantaneous position of one relatively movable machine component and the desired position of the movable component as established by programmed data.
Abstract:
A speed control circuit for a DC motor has a phase comparator to which is supplied a theoretical frequency, emitted by a clock pulse generator, and an actual frequency, emitted from a pulse transmitter connected to the drive shaft of the motor. A first rotation direction signal, obtained from a rotation direction indicator, and a second rotation direction signal, obtained from the comparator, are combined in a logic element, the output of which is supplied to a drive circuit for driving the DC motor. A reference voltage is also supplied to the drive circuit, the reference voltage being obtained from another output of the comparator and supplied to the drive circuit through a filter. The reference voltage is a DC voltage which is proportional to the amount of phase deviation detected by the comparator. This reference voltage is utilized by the drive circuit to set the proportional value of the current supplied to the DC motor.
Abstract:
A chopper control apparatus comprises a chopper connected between a d.c. power supply source and a load, and a computer for performing an arithmetic operation for controlling the duty factor of the chopper. The computer responds to a clock signal supplied thereto at a predetermined period and arithmetically determines a desired duty factor of the chopper for every period. A turn-on signal generated in synchronism with the clock signal and a turn-off signal generated with a delay of period of time based on the results of the arithmetic operation are sequentially supplied to the chopper. The conducting state of the chopper is detected and the result of the detection is fetched by the computer with a predetermined time delay. The computer executes a program for determining presence or absence of a commutation failure on the basis of the result of the conducting state detection in response to the clock signal serving as an interrupt request signal.