Multiple axis path control for a manually controlled machine

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for moving a machine element along a straight line path in a plane defined by two orthogonal axes of motion. A switching device is provided for producing an input signal representing the slope of the straight line path which is defined by the tangent of the angle formed between the path and a first axis of motion. In accordance with mechanisms known in the prior art, first output pulses are generated for moving the machine element along the first axis of motion at an arbitrary velocity. The invention provides a counter circuit having a modulus as a function of the component of slope along the first axis of motion. Further in response to the input signal and each of the first output pulses, the counter circuit increments a number of times represented by the component of slope along the second axis of motion. Each time the counter circuit cycles through its modulus, a carry signal is generated which represents a second output pulse for incrementally moving the machine element along the second axis of motion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.