Actuator control method and control device
AssigneeMinolta Co., Ltd.
InventorsAkira Kosaka, Junichi Tanii, Shigeru Wada, Yoshihiro Hara
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Abstract
A control device for control an actuator comprises a ‘shape-memory alloy that recovers to prescribed memory dimensions’ and ‘a force application means that applies an external force to the shape-memory alloy and changes its dimensions’ has a pre-heating means that, prior to the control of a driven member by the actuator, pre-heats the shape-memory alloy to a temperature at which the shape-memory alloy begins to change its shape or to a slightly lower temperature relative thereto.
Claims14
A driving apparatus comprising:
- a driven member;
- a shape-memory alloy which is connected to the driven member and forces the driven member to a first direction with a return to a memory shape;
- a force application member which is connected to the driven member and forces the driven member to a second direction opposed to the first direction;
- a driver which supplies a current to the shape-memory alloy;
- and
- a controller which controls the driver to supply the current for pre-heating prior to an instruction to move the driven member.
A control device for controlling an actuator comprising a shape-memory alloy that recovers to prescribed memory dimensions and a force application means that applies an external force to the shape-memory alloy and changes its dimensions, the control device comprising:
- control means which position the actuator at a predetermined position;
- and
- pre-heating means that, prior to an instruction to start the control of a driven member by the control means, pre-heats the shape-memory alloy.
A control method for controlling an actuator comprising a shape-memory alloy that recovers to prescribed memory dimensions and a force application means that applies an external force to the shape-memory alloy and changes its dimensions, the control method comprising:
- positioning the actuator at a predetermined position;
- and
- pre-heating the shape-memory alloy to a temperature at which the shape-memory alloy begins to change its shape or to a slightly lower temperature relative thereto prior to an instruction to start the controlling step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.