Patent · US Expired

Position control system for use with micromechanical actuators

US6087743A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
21References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 10, 1998
Grant dateJul 11, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 10, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02K33/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A positioning system adapted for use with micromechanical actuators provides feedback control of the position of the movable element of the actuator utilizing a low Q sensing coil. The effective inductance of the sensing coil changes with position of the movable element to change the frequency of oscillation of a variable oscillator. The output of the variable oscillator is compared in a phase detector to a reference oscillator signal. The phase detector provides a pulsed output having a pulse duty cycle related to the phase or frequency difference between the oscillator signals. The output of the phase detector is provided to a drive coil which applies a magnetic force to the movable element which balances the force of a spring. The movable element can be displaced to a new position by changing the frequency of the reference oscillator.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.