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US 2014/0195056 A1Published application
Actuator Apparatus with Control Device
AssigneeEppendorf AG
InventorsAndreas Schirr, Andreas Graff
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AssigneeEppendorf AG
InventorsAndreas Schirr, Andreas Graff
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to an actuator apparatus (1) for generating the motion of a tool, in particular for the work on biological cell material, which provides at least one electrically controlled actuator element (3), a motion section (3a), at which a tool can be arranged and which is linked to the at least one actuator element, an electrical control device (11) for controlling the at least one actuator element, an electrical measurement device (12), which is configured to perform a measuring method for measuring at least one electrical capacitance quantity of the at least one actuator element, wherein the capacitance quantity is usable to provide information on the status of the actuator apparatus. Further, a corresponding method for obtaining and utilizing said information on the actuator apparatus is provided.
Actuator apparatus (1) for generating a motion of a tool (4), in particular for the work on biological cell material, providing
Actuator apparatus according to any of the previous claims characterized in that the actuator apparatus provides connector means which serve to connect the at least one actuator element to the control device, in particular, for applying an output voltage to the at least one actuator element.
Actuator apparatus according to any of the previous claims characterized in that a first status and a second status of the actuator apparatus are provided and that the control device provides means for changing the actuator apparatus from the first status to the second status in dependence on the result of said measuring.
Actuator apparatus according to any of the previous claims characterized in that the electrical capacitance quantity is a time period.
Actuator apparatus according to any of the previous claims characterized in that the measurement device comprises means to measure the charge of the at least one actuator element and that the measurement device comprises a comparator circuit which compares the charge of the at least one actuator element with a reference value.
Actuator apparatus according to any of the previous claims characterized in that the measurement device comprises a time measuring device for measuring time periods between electrical signals with a precision of, preferably, at least 1 ns, 10 ns or 100 ns.
Actuator apparatus according to any of the previous claims characterized in that the measurement device comprises means to measure the charge of the at least one actuator element and means to measure the time period, which is needed for the at least one actuator element to charge from a starting value of the charge to a reference value of the charge of the at least one actuator element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.