Positioning system
AssigneeSpeedline Technologies, Inc.
InventorsThomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A positioning system for moving a device over an xy-plane has a drive mechanism with pivotable arms for moving a carriage over the xy-plane by driving it from one side. This drive mechanism allows the system to be made narrow along the other side.
Claims17
A system for positioning an object that performs a task in an at least two dimensional plane, the system comprising:
- a frame;
- a plate mounted to the frame for movement along a first axis relative to the frame;
- a carriage for holding the obiect that performs a task the carriage being mounted to the plate for movement relative to the plate along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis:
- a first block and a second block, each mounted to the frame and spaced apart along the second axis, each block being movable relative to the frame along the first axis:
- a first motor in electrical communication with a first rigid arm pivotallv connected to the first block and pivotally connected to the carriage to move the carriage along a first axis within the at least two dimensional plane:
- a second motor in electrical communication with a second rigid arm pivotally connected to the second block and pivotally connected to the carriage to move the carriaGe alone a first axis within the at least two dimensional plane:
- and a controller in electrical communication with the first and second motors.
A method for positioning an object that performs a task in an at least two dimensional plane, the method comprising the steps of:
- slidably connecting a plate to a frame for movement along a first axis relative to the frame;
- mounting a carriage for holding the object to the plate for movement relative to the plate along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- mounting a first block and a second block to the frame such that the first block and the second block are spaced apart alone the second axis, and such that each block is movable relative to the frame along the first axis;
- pivotally connecting a first rigid arm to the first block and the carriage;
- pivotally connecting a second rigid arm to the second block and the carriage;
- and
- separately operating a first and second drive mechanism for moving the respective first and second blocks along the first axis to move the carriage over a plane defined by the first and second axes.
A method for controlling the position of an object that performs a task in an at least two dimensional plane, the method comprising the steps of:
- sensing movement of the object along a first axis;
- utilizing a plurality of encoders to provide yaw information related to positioning the object;
- performing a coordinate transformation with information obtained from the plurality of encoders, and
- sending a number of position and velocity values to a process controller that positions the object.
A system for determining the position of an object that performs a task in an at least two dimensional plane, the system comprising:
- means for sensing movement of the object along a first axis;
- means for utilizing a plurality of encoders to provide yaw information;
- means for performing a coordinate transformation with information obtained from the plurality of encoders;
- and
- means for sending a number of position and velocity values to a process controller that positions the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.