Inventors:
Gary C. Jorgensen - Phoenix AZ
Michael D. Harper - Phoenix AZ
Assignee:
Calsonic International, Inc. - Irvine CA
International Classification:
G05B 102
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for accurately and reliably positioning an actuator arm (12) is disclosed. The actuator arm (12) is driven by a conventional DC motor (38). The conductors which supply current to the motor (38) serve as primary windings (60) of a current transformer (58). The signal induced on secondary windings (62) of the transformer (58) responds to fluctuations in average current flowing in the motor (38). These fluctuations are amplified (64) and filtered (66) so that an AC burst (68) is produced in response to each commutation of the motor (38). The AC burst (68) triggers a one-shot timing circuit (72), which generates a pulse that remains active until the AC burst (68) has decayed. The pulse disappears prior to a subsequent commutation of the motor (38). Thus, one pulse is generated for each commutation of motor (38).