Vibration Wave Drive Device Deceleration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vibration motors face issues with sudden load fluctuations leading to device breakage due to inadequate deceleration mechanisms, causing the driven body to continue rotating and become inclined, resulting in mechanical stress and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A drive control device equipped with detectors to monitor electric current and relative positions/speeds of the vibration body and contact body, enabling a control mode that decelerates the vibration wave drive device based on detection results, thereby preventing excessive load fluctuations and maintaining mechanical integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the vibration motor operates at high speed to improve productivity, then the driving efficiency is improved, but the risk of device breakage increases due to sudden load fluctuations and inadequate deceleration mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving efficiencyVSAvoiddevice breakage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit detects sudden load fluctuations in advance by monitoring electric current changes and proactively decelerates the vibration motor before mechanical damage can occur. This preliminary detection and response prevents the driven body from continuing to rotate and become inclined, thereby avoiding device breakage while maintaining high-speed operation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors electric current consumption and relative positions/speeds of the vibration body and contact body, providing real-time feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the motor speed and deceleration timing to prevent load fluctuations from causing mechanical damage, thus resolving the contradiction between high-speed operation and device reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If the driven body moves quickly to improve speed, then the operational speed is improved, but the mechanical stress increases causing potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriven body movement speedVSAvoidmechanical stress

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the vibration motor speed based on real-time detection of load fluctuations and relative positions. When the driven body approaches the stopper or abnormal load is detected, the control unit automatically decelerates the motor, thereby reducing mechanical stress while allowing high-speed operation under normal conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The solution effectively decelerates the vibration wave drive device in response to load fluctuations, preventing device breakage by promptly stopping or controlling the motor, thus ensuring safe operation and extending the lifespan of the equipment.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration body including an electro-mechanical energy conversion element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

an AC signal, which has a frequency corresponding to a resonance frequency of the vibration body, to generate vibrations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 3

a vibration body that causes an ultrasonic vibration body to generate a vibration wave

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 4

move a contact body, which is in contact with the ultrasonic vibration body, with use of friction force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11476779B2Drive control device, electronic equipment, drive control method, and computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 CANON KK

AI summary

A drive control device includes: a vibration wave drive device that includes an elastic body, a vibration body including an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and a contact body in contact with the vibration body, and a control unit of the vibration wave drive device. The drive control device includes: a first detector configured to detect an electric current that is supplied to the vibration wave drive device or consumed electric power, and a second detector configured to detect relative positions or relative speed of the vibration body and the contact body. A control mode in which the vibration wave drive device is decelerated on a basis of a detection result obtained by the first and/or the second detector is included.