Segmented Drive Circuit for Piezoelectric Actuator Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for tracking and nutating light beams face challenges in efficiently managing high frequency vibrational disturbances and power consumption, particularly due to the need for high bandwidth and high power requirements in drive circuits for piezoelectric and electrostrictive actuators, which are difficult to implement effectively.
Innovation Solution
A drive circuit with multiple power paths operating at different supply voltages is employed, where one path provides low current and low frequency signals for position control and another path provides high current and high frequency signals for nutation, reducing overall power consumption and enabling efficient tracking and nutation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive circuit provides both position control and nutation signals to piezoelectric actuators, then the system can operate with simpler circuit architecture, but power consumption increases significantly due to the need to deliver high current for high frequency nutation signals through the same path used for low frequency position control
Solution Approach 1:
The drive circuit is segmented into two separate parallel paths: a first drive circuit path dedicated to position control signals and a second drive circuit path dedicated to nutation signals. This segmentation allows each path to be optimized independently, with the second path able to deliver high current pulses for nutation without affecting the first path's position control performance, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining functional capability.
2Device complexity
If high frequency nutation signals are delivered through the same drive circuit path as low frequency position control signals, then circuit implementation is simpler, but the bandwidth requirements and power delivery capabilities become difficult to achieve effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The drive circuit is divided into separate parallel paths where the second path is specifically designed for high frequency nutation signals with appropriate bandwidth and power delivery capabilities. This segmentation allows the nutation path to be optimized for high frequency operation without being constrained by the low frequency position control requirements of the first path, making bandwidth achievement reliable while keeping the overall implementation manageable.
3Measurement precision
If piezoelectric actuators are driven at high frequencies to suppress vibrational disturbances, then tracking accuracy improves, but the power consumption and difficulty of implementing the drive circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive circuit is segmented into two parallel paths, with the second path specifically dedicated to delivering high frequency nutation signals required for suppressing vibrational disturbances and improving tracking accuracy. This segmentation isolates the high power consumption associated with high frequency operation to only the second path, allowing the first path to operate efficiently at low frequencies, thereby achieving improved tracking accuracy while minimizing overall power consumption.
4Device complexity
If a single drive circuit path is used for both position control and nutation, then the device structure is simpler, but the ability to deliver high current for high frequency signals becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The drive circuit is segmented into two parallel paths where the second path is specifically designed with high current delivery capability for nutation signals. This segmentation allows the second path to be optimized for high power delivery without compromising the first path's position control functionality, thereby achieving the required current delivery capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through the parallel architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces power consumption by distributing the power requirements across multiple paths, allowing for effective tracking and nutation of light beams with improved bandwidth and accuracy, making high frequency electro-mechanical tracking and nutation more practical.
Implementation Method 1
for the various actuators that are employed in the art for this purpose, such as piezoelectric actuators
Data Source
AI summary
A reduced power consumption actuator drive circuit that includes separate circuit power paths for different portions of the signal spectrum for applications in which lower frequencies have high amplitudes. The low frequency circuit paths use higher power supply voltages at lower currents and the high frequency circuit paths use lower power supply voltages at higher currents. In one embodiment, the drive circuit drives a nutator that employs a resonating circuit that maintains actuator motion with reduced energy supplied by the power supply.