System for control of an electromagnetic actuator
OwnerGary Bergstrominventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for controlling the force and/or motion of an electromagnetic actuator. The actuator could be a solenoid, relay, or levitating device. The drive to the coil can be linear or switching, voltage or current and the sensors measuring the system can be as simple as just a current sensor monitoring the coil current or a flux sensor. Continuous control of position can be achieved allowing magnetic levitation or the soft landing of the moving element.
Claims22
A measurement system for detecting translational position of a moving element of an electrically actuated electromagnetic transducer, said measurement system comprising:
- drive means, for setting an electrical drive signal that is applied to a coil of said transducer, said drive signal having a known response to an input signal, and said drive signal causing an electromagnetic actuation force on said moving element;
- sense means, for sensing a single electromagnetic parameter of said transducer, wherein said single electromagnetic parameter is responsive to said electromagnetic actuation force and to said position;
- and
- computation means, for determining a measure of said position from said drive signal and said single electromagnetic parameter.
A system for actuation and control of a mechanical motion in an electromagnetic transducer, said system comprising:
- drive means, responsive in a known way to an input signal by setting an electrical drive signal that is applied to said transducer, causing an electromagnetic actuation force;
- sense means, for sensing a single electromagnetic parameter of said transducer responsive to said electromagnetic actuation force and said mechanical motion;
- computation means for determining, from said electrical drive signal and said single electromagnetic parameter, a measure of said mechanical motion;
- control means, utilizing said measure of said mechanical motion to generate said input signal, for controlling said mechanical motion;
- an error function, based on proper operation of said system in conjunction with a specific instance of said transducer, said error function describing a departure of a computed parameter of said system from a value of said computed parameter that is consistent with said proper operation;
- and,
- means for correcting said computed parameter to reduce the magnitude of said error function.
A system for actuation and control of a mechanical motion in an electromagnetic transducer, said system comprising:
- drive means, responsive in a known way to an input signal by setting an electrical drive signal that is applied to said transducer, causing an electromagnetic actuation force;
- sense means, for sensing a single electromagnetic parameter of said transducer responsive to said electromagnetic actuation force and said mechanical motion;
- computation means for determining, from said electrical drive signal and said single electromagnetic parameter, a measure of said mechanical motion;
- control means, utilizing said measure of said mechanical motion to generate said input signal, for controlling said mechanical motion;
- a mechanical limit of said mechanical motion;
- detection means, for determining a value of said input signal when said mechanical motion approaches said mechanical limit under approximate force-balance conditions;
- and,
- latching means, for holding said mechanical motion in the vicinity of said mechanical limit with a fixed said input signal based on said value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.