Actuator Control Device with Monotonic Characteristic Line
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuator control systems require complex operations to achieve desired drive control characteristics, making them difficult for operators to obtain the desired settings.
Innovation Solution
An actuator control device that allows operators to designate the minimum and maximum operation amounts and maximum driving speed, using these parameters to define a characteristic line for drive control, enabling simple adjustment of dead zone, stroke, and driving speed, and preventing unintended operations by using a monotonically increasing line without inflection points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the drive control characteristic is changed by moving any point of the control characteristic curve displayed on a display unit, then a high degree of freedom in changing the drive control characteristic is achieved, but complicated operations are required to obtain the desired drive control characteristic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous characteristic curve into discrete key points (minimum operation amount point, maximum operation amount point, and maximum driving speed point) that define the drive control characteristic. By allowing operators to set only these specific points rather than adjusting the entire curve, the system maintains adaptability while significantly reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from adjusting the shape of the characteristic curve to simply setting parameter values (minimum operation amount, maximum operation amount, maximum driving speed). This parameter-based configuration method achieves the desired drive control characteristic with simple numerical inputs rather than complex graphical manipulations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the characteristic line includes inflection points or uses multiple straight lines with different inclinations, then the drive control characteristic can be highly customized, but the actuator may perform operations not intended by the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by explicitly preventing the characteristic line from having inflection points or multiple inclinations, which could cause unintended actuator operations. The control unit is configured to reject characteristic lines that do not meet the monotonicity requirement, thereby preventing potential operational errors before they can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simplified model of the characteristic line that copies only the essential behavior (monotonically increasing relationship between operation amount and driving speed) while eliminating complex features (inflection points, multiple inclinations) that could lead to unintended operations. This simplified copy maintains the necessary adaptability while ensuring reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator control device performs a reception process in which designations of a minimum operation amount and maximum operation amount of an operation unit for driving an actuator, and a maximum driving speed which is the actuator driving speed corresponding to the maximum operation amount are received. It also performs a determination process in which a function representing a characteristic line that links a first point, which corresponds to the minimum operation amount and the driving speed of 0, and a second point, which corresponds to the maximum operation amount and the maximum driving speed, is stored in a storage unit as a drive control characteristic and a drive control process in which, in response to operation of the operation unit, the actuator is driven at a driving speed corresponding to the operation amount specified by the drive control characteristic stored in the storage unit.