Patent · US Active

Control device for a swing

US7905791B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
87References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 11, 2008
Grant dateMar 15, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02P3/08
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention include a motor system for driving a swing and controlling the speed and/or amplitude of the swing. In one embodiment, the motor system includes a DC motor, a swing velocity sensor system, and a swing velocity control circuit. The DC motor drives the swing through at least one fill swing cycle, and then the motor is allowed to free-wheel for at least a half swing cycle. During the free-wheeling half cycle, the swing velocity sensor system measures the velocity of the swing and compares the measured velocity to a goal velocity. The control circuit increases or decreases the velocity depending on this comparison. In other embodiments, the system includes a swing amplitude sensor system that measures the amplitude of the swing and a swing amplitude control circuit that compares the measured amplitude to a goal amplitude.

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