This product is particularly useful on Micro motors and Fractional HP motors which are too small or too inexpensive to justify the size or cost of an encoder. The system consists of:
1) Micro Processor -- contains the control program.
2) Drive Shaper -- interfaces processor to motor driver.
3) Motor Driver -- controls current flow to motor.
4) Motor - usually a brush motor with PM field.
5) Sampling Circuit -- interfaces motor to processor.
6) Reference Sensor -- provides a known mechanism position.
7) Power Supplies -- motor drivers may use 1 or 2 supply voltages.
SIGNALWARE's product itself consists of software, a design for hardware
to interface the processor with the motor and the motor driver device and
a prototype of the system. This hardware, drive shaper and sampling
circuit, is often quite minimal as the majority of the product is in the
software. The prototype includes the custom designs wired to the
processor, motor driver, motor, power supply, and reference sensor. The
customer furnishes the mechanism and mechanical parts to attach the motor
and sensor. SIGNALWARE integrates, tests and demonstrates the prototype
system. For production, SIGNALWARE licenses the use of the software and
circuit design to be incorporated in your product.
The Motor Control product is customized for each individual application. For a particular application SIGNALWARE must know the following:
1) The processor that would direct the motor control.
2) The required torques to start the load and achieve desired acceleration.
3) Motor information - If you have selected a motor, the motor specifications; otherwise the following is needed to propose a specific motor:
4) The positioning accuracy required in motor revolutions. (For non-linear situations this may be a range.)
5) The reference sensor specifications. (We usually use an optical sensor, either slot or reflective, which determines the position of the mechanism at one or more positions to provide a reference for the control algorithm.)
6) Number of motor revolutions from the reference point to the extreme position of the mechanism.
SIGNALWARE can provide a quotation for a particular application for a
one time licensing fee or a fixed fee plus per unit royalty.
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