US 5,157,317 A · Method and apparatus for employing an unregulated power supply to power precision motors in a pen plotter

Abstract

This is a method and associated apparatus for employing a non-regulated voltage input to a DC driver normally outputting a voltage having a curve with a dead band and a variable slope which is a function of the non-regulated voltage input to produce an output to a DC precision positioner from the DC driver which has a constant slope and no deadband. It is particularly useful in pen plotters. The method comprises the steps of, sensing the position of the DC precision positioner and outputting a digital signal indicating the position; calculating the slope of the voltage output from the DC driver; obtaining a pre-established voltage compensation value on a compensation voltage curve which will force the voltage output from the DC driver to attain a value on a voltage curve having a constant slope and no deadband; and, inputting the pre-established voltage compensation value to the DC driver in combination with the non-regulated voltage input whereby the voltage output from the DC driver driving the DC precision positioner attains the value on the voltage curve having a constant slope and no deadband.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of employing a non-regulated voltage input to a DC driver normally outputting a voltage having a curve with a dead band and a variable slope which is a function of the non-regulated voltage input to produce an output to a DC precision positioner from the DC driver which has a constant slope and no deadband comprising the steps of:

a) sensing the position of the DC precision positioner and outputting a digital signal indicating the position;
b) calculating the slope of the voltage output from the DC driver;
c) obtaining a pre-established voltage compensation value on a compensation voltage curve which will force the voltage output from the DC driver to attain a value on a voltage curve having a constant slope and no deadband;
and,
d) inputting the pre-established voltage compensation value to the DC driver in combination with the non-regulated voltage input whereby the voltage output from the DC driver driving the DC precision positioner attains the value on the voltage curve having a constant slope and no deadband.

2 more elements

Apparatus for employing a non-regulated voltage input to a DC driver normally outputting a voltage having a curve with a dead band and a variable slope which is a function of the non-regulated voltage input to produce an output to a DC precision positioner from the DC driver which has a constant slope and no deadband comprising:

a) sensing means for periodically sensing the position of the DC precision positioner and for outputting a digital signal indicating said position;
b) slope calculation means for using said digital signal to calculate the slope of the voltage output from the DC driver;
c) lookup table means for storing a plurality of voltage compensation values on a compensation voltage curve which will force the voltage output from the DC driver to attain a value on a voltage curve having a constant slope and no deadband;
d) compensation logic means for using said slope of the voltage output from the DC driver to obtain a pre-established voltage compensation value from said lookup table means which will force the voltage output from the DC driver to attain a value on said voltage curve having a constant slope and no deadband;
and,
e) compensation application means for inputting said pre-established voltage compensation value to the DC driver in combination with the non-regulated voltage input whereby the voltage output from the DC driver driving the DC precision positioner attains said value on said voltage curve having a constant slope and no deadband.

3 more elements

In a pen plotter having a DC precision positioner driven by a DC driver normally outputting a voltage having a curve with a dead band and a variable slope which is a function of the voltage input thereto, the improvement for allowing a non-regulated voltage supply to be used as an input to the DC driver comprising:

a) sensing means for periodically sensing the position of the DC precision positioner and for outputting a digital signal indicating said position;
b) slope calculation means for using said digital signal to calculate the slope of the voltage output from the DC driver;
c) lookup table means for storing a plurality of voltage compensation values on a compensation voltage curve which will force the voltage output from the DC driver to attain a value on a voltage curve having a constant slope and no deadband;
d) compensation logic means for using said slope of the voltage output from the DC driver to obtain a pre-established voltage compensation value from said lookup table means which will force the voltage output from the DC driver to attain a value on said voltage curve having a constant slope and no deadband;
and,
e) compensation application means for inputting said pre-established voltage compensation value to the DC driver in combination with the non-regulated voltage input whereby the voltage output from the DC driver driving the DC precision positioner attains said value on said voltage curve having a constant slope and no deadband.

3 more elements

a) voltage curve determination means for periodically sensing and determining a present voltage curve for the voltage output from the DC driver;
and,
b) compensation voltage application means for inputting a compensation voltage to the DC driver in combination with voltage from the non-regulated voltage supply which will force the voltage output from the DC driver to attain a value on a voltage curve having a constant slope and no deadband.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for employing an unregulated power supply to power precision motors in a pen plotter

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for employing an unregulated power supply to power precision motors in a pen plotter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16