Double solenoid linear motion actuator

Details Double solenoid linear motion actuator Double solenoid linear motion actuator

2000-08-03

2001-06-12

Leja, Ronald W. (Department: 2836)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Control circuits for electromagnetic devices

For relays or solenoids

C385S018000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06246565

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to object-positioning devices, such as those employed for controllably positioning light beam deflectors with respect to light beam paths of a fiber optic communication system, and is particularly directed to a dual solenoid-based linear motion actuator, that is configured to require no more than a single electrical input for supplying both electrical power and positioning signals for operating the actuator.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Accompanying the very rapid expansion of the telecommunication industry has been the increasing use of optical subsystems and components therefor including, but not limited to fiber optic devices that provide substantially increased bandwidth capabilities in comparison with conventional metallic (copper) wire systems. In optical systems, switching of light signal paths is customarily accomplished by physically displacing some form of light beam deflector, such as a mirror, relative to a light beam path of interest. As a result, a fiber optic-based telecommunication switch, such as may be employed in a multi-network telecommunication system handling tens of thousands of signal transport paths, can be a very hardware intensive piece of equipment.
This hardware complexity is not only associated with the relatively large physical installation volume occupied by the switch per se, but is due to the connectivity complexity that is associated with the very large number of wires required to operate all of the optical cross-points. In addition, conventional solenoid-based optical switches customarily require that power be applied continuously, in order to maintain a mirror actuator in position against the mechanical action of a spring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, these shortcomings of conventional light beam switching systems are effectively obviated by a dual solenoid-based linear motion actuator, that is configured to require no more than a single input for supplying both electrical power and positioning signals for operating the actuator. A non-limiting example of an optical system environment in which the dual solenoid-based linear motion actuator of the present invention may be employed is detailed in the U.S. Patent to Young et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,687, issued May 11, 1999, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein.
As will be described, the dual solenoid-based linear motion actuator of the present invention employs a binary control signal that alternates between respective first and second voltage levels, one of which (e.g., some voltage differential (+/−V) relative to ground (GND)) is used for powering the dual solenoid actuator and its control electronics, and for controllably displacing a movable element to a first actuator position. The moveable element may be arranged to displace a light beam deflector such as a mirror, and the like and is magnetically coupled with a pair of solenoid coils of a dual coil arrangement and is translatable between a first position terminated by a first stop and a second position terminated by a second stop. The moveable element is electrically coupled to the second voltage level (GND), and is arranged to cause the second electrical voltage level to be applied to control logic circuitry, in response to coming in contact with either of the stops.
The actuator's input terminal is coupled to an electrical energy storage circuit, such as a battery and/or capacitor in parallel with the battery, that serves as the power supply for the actuator, extracting and storing power necessary for operating the control circuitry and energizing the solenoid coils. The actuator's input terminal is further coupled to the control circuit, which includes a comparator section and a switch control section. The comparator section includes a pair of complementary referenced threshold comparators, whose outputs are used to control logic circuits and driver circuits for respective solenoid coils.
The duty cycle of the control signal is such that the duration of its electrical state associated with the power supply voltage level is longer than the duration required to sufficiently energize an actuator coil to fully translate the movable shaft from one position to another. The remaining portion of the duration of the first electrical state is used to charge the energy storage element(s) of the electrical energy storage device, and replenish charge that was used to previously translate the movable element.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4790621 (1988-12-01), Calaby et al.
patent: 5099384 (1992-03-01), Chin
patent: 5490534 (1996-02-01), Van Rens
patent: 5711347 (1998-01-01), Sturman et al.
patent: 5903687 (1999-05-01), Young et al.
patent: 5959756 (1999-09-01), Keyworth et al.

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