US3720814A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Direct numerical control system
Assignee: Warner and Swasey Co
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Filing: 1970-09-18
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Granted: 1973-03-13
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Expires: 1990-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A control system for a plurality of numerically controlled machine tools having a coarse interpolator for generating from parametric data a plurality of signals defining the absolute magnitude of vector components along two orthogonal axes of a plurality of straight line segments closely approximating a mathematical curve defined by the parametric data. Multiplex hardware is provided for time-sharing the coarse interpolator among the plurality of machine tools, a digital computer supplies the coarse interpolator with the parametric data and acts as high-speed buffer storage to assist in time-sharing the coarse interpolator, and data link equipment is provided for transmitting signals between the controls of the plurality of the machine tools and the coarse interpolator or the computer.
Inventors
- 👤 J Klein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:30
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/418; G05B19/4181; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A control system for controlling a plurality of machines to effect movement in each machine of first and second members along orthogonal axes to effect relative motion of a tool and workpiece along desired curves, each machine including means for moving said members along said orthogonal axes in response to component signals repResenting vector components of straight line segments closely approximating portions of said curves with respect to said orthogonal axes, said system comprising data processing means comprising a programmable digital computer having storage means for storing for each of said machines parametric data defining desired curves, an interpolator for generating from parametric data defining a desired curve component signals representing vector components of straight line segments closely approximating a portion of said desired curve and for modifying the parametric data to provide modified parametric data defining the remainder of the desired curve, and means for transferring parametric data for the desired curve from said computer to said interpolator and for transferring said modified parametric data from said interpolator to said computer, and means responsive to a request from one of said machines for effecting a transfer of parametric data defining a desired curve from said computer to said interpolator and for transmitting said component signals to the requesting machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A control system for controlling a plurality of machines to effect movement in each machine of first and second members along orthogonal axes to effect relative motion of a tool and workpiece along desired curves, each machine including means for moving said members along said orthogonal axes in response to component signals repResenting vector components of straight line segments closely approximating portions of said curves with respect to said orthogonal axes, said system comprising data processing means comprising a programmable digital computer having storage means for storing for each of said machines parametric data defining desired curves, an interpolator for generating from parametric data defining a desired curve component signals representing vector components of straight line segments closely approximating a portion of said desired curve and for modifying the parametric data to provide modified parametric data defining the remainder of the desired curve, and means for transferring parametric data for the desired curve from said computer to said interpolator and for transferring said modified parametric data from said interpolator to said computer, and means responsive to a request from one of said machines for effecting a transfer of parametric data defining a desired curve from said computer to said interpolator and for transmitting said component signals to the requesting machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
210 words
A control system for controlling a plurality of machines to effect movement in each machine of first and second members along orthogonal axes to effect relative motion of a tool and workpiece along desired curves, each machine including means for moving said members along said orthogonal axes in response to component signals repResenting vector components of straight line segments closely approximating portions of said curves with respect to said orthogonal axes, said system comprising data processing means comprising a programmable digital computer having storage means for storing for each of said machines parametric data defining desired curves, an interpolator for generating from parametric data defining a desired curve component signals representing vector components of straight line segments closely approximating a portion of said desired curve and for modifying the parametric data to provide modified parametric data defining the remainder of the desired curve, and means for transferring parametric data for the desired curve from said computer to said interpolator and for transferring said modified parametric data from said interpolator to said computer, and means responsive to a request from one of said machines for effecting a transfer of parametric data defining a desired curve from said computer to said interpolator and for transmitting said component signals to the requesting machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
210 words
A control system for controlling a plurality of machines to effect movement in each machine of first and second members along orthogonal axes to effect relative motion of a tool and workpiece along desired curves, each machine including means for moving said members along said orthogonal axes in response to component signals repResenting vector components of straight line segments closely approximating portions of said curves with respect to said orthogonal axes, said system comprising data processing means comprising a programmable digital computer having storage means for storing for each of said machines parametric data defining desired curves, an interpolator for generating from parametric data defining a desired curve component signals representing vector components of straight line segments closely approximating a portion of said desired curve and for modifying the parametric data to provide modified parametric data defining the remainder of the desired curve, and means for transferring parametric data for the desired curve from said computer to said interpolator and for transferring said modified parametric data from said interpolator to said computer, and means responsive to a request from one of said machines for effecting a transfer of parametric data defining a desired curve from said computer to said interpolator and for transmitting said component signals to the requesting machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a system as defined in claim 1 wherein said interpolator comprises means for terminating the generation of said component signals when the line segment defined thereby is of a preselected length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a system as defined in claim 2 wherein said interpolator comprises first and second register means for accumulating first and second incremental changes along respective ones of said orthogonal axes during interpolation and third means responsive to the incrementation of said first and second register means for determining the length of the line segment represented by said component signals and for limiting the length thereof of said preselected values.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a system as defined in claim 1 wherein said storage means of said digital computer stores programs for execution by said machines, said programs including coded commands for controlling various functions of said machines independently of said interpolator and said system includes means for transmitting said coded commands to a machine upon request.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
A control system as defined in claim 4 wherein said storage means comprises an active storage and auxiliary memory means, said programs being stored in said auxiliary memory means, said computer including means for transferring portions of a program from said auxiliary memory means to said active storage when the program is requested by a machine, and means responsive to the execution of a portion of a program in said active storage to transfer a subsequent portion of the program to said active storage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A control system as defined in claim 3 wherein said interpolator comprises a length register for storing a number representing the sum of the squares of the absolute values of the displacements defined by the component signals being derived, and means for decrementing the number in said length register by the value 2(delta A)+ 1 for each incremental change in said first and second register means where delta A is the cumulative displacement for the register means incremented and means for terminating said interpolation when said length register is decremented to zero.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A control system as defined in claim 1 wherein said storage means comprises an active storage and auxiliary memory means for storing programs to be executed by said machines comprising coded parametric data, said computer including means for transferring portions of a program from said auxiliary memory means to said active storage when the program is requested by a machine, and means responsive to the execution of a portion of a program in said active storage to transfer a subsequent portion of the program to said active storage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a system for interpolating parametric data defining a curve extending between a beginning point and a terminating point to provide successive sets of component signals representing first and second components with respect to orthogonally rElated axes for defining successive linear segments closely approximating said curve, interpolating means for incrementally deriving the displacements along said axes for said components and registering the cumulative displacements along said axes for said components and means responsive to said cumulative displacements for limiting the length of each of said linear segments comprising means for computing the length of the segment defined by said components and terminating the interpolation when said length is equal to a preselected length.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a system for interpolating parametric data defining a curve extending between a beginning point and a terminating point to provide successive sets of component signals representing first and second components with respect to orthogonally rElated axes for defining successive linear segments closely approximating said curve, interpolating means for incrementally deriving the displacements along said axes for said components and registering the cumulative displacements along said axes for said components and means responsive to said cumulative displacements for limiting the length of each of said linear segments comprising means for computing the length of the segment defined by said components and terminating the interpolation when said length is equal to a preselected length.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-12 | 1976-09-11 | 1977-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-12 | 1980-09-11 | 1981-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-12 | 1984-09-11 | 1985-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |