US 3,932,795 AGranted

Servo control positioning apparatus including a standing wave detector

OwnerJans Kliphuisinventor

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Abstract

Apparatus for effecting relative positioning between two mechanical members in accordance with digital (or analog) commands includes a standing wave supporting, electrical wave propagating structure terminated other than by its iterative impedance. The wave structure is mechanically fixed to one mechanical member, and a probe is coupled to the wave structure and fixed for translation with the other mechanical member. A voltage controlled oscillator excites the wave structure developing a standing electrical wave therein -- the wave pattern node positioning being determined by the input digital command. Feedback servomechanism apparatus then responds to the potential induced in the probe (or, by superposition, that on the wave structure) for positioning the probe at the requisite standing wave null point. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the wave propagating structure is sealed, and the probe disposed external thereto, to preserve measuring accuracy.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In combination in automated positioning apparatus, an electrical wave propagating structure having a characteristic impedance, means terminating said wave propagating structure in other than its characteristic impedance, probe means coupled to said electric wave propagating structure and adapted for relative movement with respect thereto, a voltage controlled oscillator for supplying an electrical wave to said wave propagating structure, said voltage controlled oscillator thereby impressing a standing wave on said wave propagating structure, first feedback means, including input command means, for controlling the output frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator, thereby also determining node positioning for said standing wave pattern, and second feedback loop means for positioning and maintaining said probe means at a standing wave pattern node, said second feedback means including means for detecting the position of said probe relative to a node of said standing wave pattern, and actuator means responsive to the output of said detecting means for selectively moving said probe means relative to said electric wave propagating structure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.