JP2006211813A - Drive unit and method of controlling drive source - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drive unit, which can suppress the displacement according to the quantity of a mechanical dead zone in a motive power transmitting mechanism by stopping the drive of a plurality of drive sources with mutually different timing, and a method of controlling the drive sources. <P>SOLUTION: This drive unit has the plurality of drive sources (1-1 and 1-2), the motive power transmitting mechanisms (2-1, 2-2, and 4) which synthesize the driving force from these drive sources and transmit it to a driven member, and a control means (8) which controls the drive of each drive source. The above control means outputs signals for stopping the drive of the above drive sources with mutually different timing to the above plurality of drive sources. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a drive device that drives a driven member by combining drive forces from a plurality of drive sources.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a drive device that takes out a driving force (rotational force) of a vibration type motor via an output gear provided on a rotation shaft of the vibration type motor and drives a driven member. Some of these driving devices have other gears that mesh with an output gear provided on the rotation shaft of the vibration type motor, and rotate the other gears by the driving force of the vibration type motor. Also, there is a rack that meshes with an output gear (pinion gear) provided on a rotating shaft of a vibration type motor, and moves the rack straight by the driving force of the vibration type motor.

On the other hand, a gear provided on the rotation shaft of each vibration type motor among a plurality of vibration type motors is connected to one output gear, and a driven member is driven by synthesizing driving forces from the plurality of vibration type motors. There is a drive device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the configuration of this drive device, a detector such as a rotary encoder for detecting the rotation angle of the vibration type motor is provided on the rotation shaft of at least one vibration type motor among the plurality of vibration type motors. And the drive of a vibration type motor is stopped based on the angle information obtained from a detector.
JP 2001-205190 A (paragraph numbers 0016 to 0021, FIG. 3 etc.)

  In the conventional drive device having a plurality of vibration type motors, the following problems are caused by backlash generated between the gears provided on the rotation shaft of the vibration type motors and the output gears meshed with these gears. May occur.

  That is, when driving of a plurality of vibration type motors is stopped, the output gear may vibrate due to a reaction at the time of stopping. In addition, after the driving of the plurality of vibration motors is stopped, if an external force is applied, the output gear may rotate by an amount corresponding to the angle range corresponding to the backlash.

  Here, in the case where the rotation angle of the vibration type motor is detected using a detector such as a rotary encoder, if the above-described problem occurs, the rotation angle information obtained by the detector does not correspond to the output gear angle. Therefore, the accuracy of position control based on the detection result of the detector is lowered.

  The drive device according to the first invention of the present application includes a plurality of drive sources, a power transmission mechanism that synthesizes drive forces from these drive sources and transmits them to a driven member, and control means for controlling the drive of each drive source. The control means outputs a signal for stopping driving of the driving source to the plurality of driving sources at different timings.

  The second invention of the present application is applied to a drive device having a plurality of drive sources and a power transmission mechanism that synthesizes drive forces from these drive sources and transmits them to the driven member, and controls the drive of each drive source. In this control method, the driving of the plurality of driving sources is stopped at different timings.

  According to the present invention, by stopping the driving of a plurality of drive sources at timings different from each other, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of misalignment according to the mechanical dead band amount in the power transmission mechanism.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a drive apparatus that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The driving apparatus of the present embodiment has two vibration type motors, and drives the driven member by synthesizing the driving forces of these vibration type motors.

  A gear 2-1 and a rotary encoder (detection means) 3 are attached to the rotation shaft of the first vibration type motor 1-1. The rotary encoder 3 outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the rotation of the rotation shaft in the first vibration type motor 1-1. On the other hand, a gear 2-2 is attached to the rotation shaft of the second vibration type motor 1-2.

  Each of the vibration type motors 1-1 and 1-2 includes a vibrating body composed of a piezoelectric element (electro-mechanical energy conversion element) and an elastic body, and a contact body that presses against the vibrating body under pressure from a pressurizing mechanism. have. Here, when frequency signals having different phases (periodically changing signals) are applied to the piezoelectric element, a progressive vibration wave is generated in the vibrating body, and the contact body is caused by the frictional force between the vibrating body and the contact body. Rotates. And a rotating shaft rotates with a contact body.

  In addition, the vibrating body can be configured with only a piezoelectric element. The vibration type motor may be of any type such as a so-called ring type or rod type.

  The gears 2-1 and 2-2 mesh with the gear 4, and the gear 4 is provided with an output shaft 5. The rotational forces of the first and second vibration motors 1-1 and 1-2 are transmitted to the gear 4 via the gears 2-1 and 2-2, respectively. Since the output shaft 5 rotates with the rotation of the gear 4, the combined rotational force is output from the output shaft 5.

  Here, the first and second vibration motors 1-1 and 1-2 include power transmission mechanisms including gears 2-1, 2-2, and 4 (configurations other than the gears 4, 2-1, and 2-2). Is connected to the driven member 9 through (not shown). For this reason, the driven member 9 operates by receiving the driving force (the combined driving force) from the first and second vibration motors 1-1 and 1-2 via the power transmission mechanism.

  As the driven member 9, for example, a driving unit of an electric head device that turns a mounted TV camera or the like, an electric stage that performs a linear operation in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and a photographing lens in a photographing optical system in the optical axis direction. There are a drive unit to be moved and a photosensitive drum in the image forming apparatus.

  The pulse count discriminating circuit 7 counts the number of pulses based on the output of the rotary encoder 3 and outputs this information to the drive control circuit (control means) 8. The drive control circuit 8 detects the rotational speed of the first vibration type motor 1-1 based on the output from the pulse count determination circuit 7.

  Then, the drive control circuit 8 compares the detected rotational speed (detected speed) of the first vibration type motor 1-1 with the target speed, and the first vibration so that the detected speed reaches the target speed. The driving of the mold motor 1-1 is controlled. That is, the drive control circuit 8 changes the frequency of the frequency signal applied to the first vibration type motor 1-1 through the first drive voltage generation circuit 6-1 to thereby change the first vibration type motor 1. -1 rotation speed is controlled.

  Further, the drive control circuit 8 changes the frequency of the frequency signal applied to the second vibration type motor 1-2 via the second drive voltage generation circuit 6-2 based on the output of the pulse count determination circuit 7. By doing so, the rotational speed of the second vibration type motor 1-2 is controlled.

  Here, in the first and second vibration type motors 1-1 and 1-2, the maximum rotation speed is obtained when the frequency of the frequency signal becomes the resonance frequency of each vibrating body, and the frequency of the frequency signal is obtained. The rotational speed decreases as the distance from the resonance frequency increases. And when drive control of vibration type motor 1-1, 1-2 is performed, the frequency is changed within the range of the high frequency side rather than the resonance frequency.

  The first and second drive voltage generation circuits 6-1 and 6-2 receive the control signal from the drive control circuit 8 and are applied to the first and second vibration type motors 1-1 and 1-2. The frequency of the frequency signal to be determined is determined, and the frequency signal having the determined frequency is output.

  The drive control circuit 8 monitors the rotation angle (rotation position) of the first vibration type motor 1-1 based on the output signal of the rotary encoder 3, and when the desired rotation angle is reached, The driving of the first and second vibration motors 1-1 and 1-2 is stopped via the first and second drive voltage generation circuits 6-1 and 6-2.

  Here, in the conventional driving device, when the vibration type motor is stopped at a desired rotation angle, the pulse counting determination circuit 7 counts the pulses of the rotary encoder 3 and when the number of pulses reaches a predetermined value. The pulse discrimination signal is changed from low level to high level. The drive control circuit 8 receives the high level pulse discrimination signal, and thereby outputs the energization command signal output to the first and second drive voltage generation circuits 6-1 and 6-2 from the high level to the low level. (See FIG. 5).

  Here, when the energization command signal is at a high level, the vibration type motors 1-1 and 1-2 are in a driving state, and the energization command signal is switched to a low level so that the vibration type motors 1-1 and 1 are switched. -2 can be stopped.

  However, as shown in FIG. 5, even if the control for stopping the driving of the vibration motors 1-1 and 1-2 is performed at the same timing as the timing at which the pulse determination signal changes from the low level to the high level, the gear 2 -For the backlash (play) existing between the gears 1 and 2-2 and the gear 4, the stop angles of the vibration type motors 1-1 and 1-2 (stop angles of the gears 2-1 and 2-2) The stop angle of the gear 4 may not correspond.

  That is, even if the gears 2-1 and 2-2 stop at a predetermined angle, the gear 4 may rotate by the amount of play between the gears 2-1 and 2-2 and the gear 4. If the gear 4 is rotated by the amount of play in this way, the position accuracy is deteriorated in the position control based on the output of the rotary encoder 3.

  In order to suppress such problems, in this embodiment, the driving of the first and second vibration motors 1-1 and 1-2 is stopped by the method described below. Hereinafter, the operation of stopping the driving of the first and second vibration type motors 1-1 and 1-2 in the driving apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is performed in the drive control circuit 8.

  In step S11, the first and second vibration motors 1-1 and 1-2 are driven at a predetermined speed. Specifically, the frequency corresponding to the target speed for the first and second vibration motors 1-1 and 1-2 via the first and second drive voltage generation circuits 6-1 and 6-2. Are applied to drive the first and second vibration motors 1-1 and 1-2.

  In step S12, the pulse determination signal output from the pulse count determination circuit 7 is monitored to determine whether or not the pulse determination signal has changed from a low level to a high level. Here, the pulse count determination circuit 7 counts the pulses output from the rotary encoder 3, and changes the pulse determination signal from low level to high level when the number of pulses reaches a predetermined value.

  If the pulse discrimination signal remains at the low level in step S12, the operation in step S11 is continued. On the other hand, if the pulse discrimination signal has changed to a high level, the process proceeds to step S13.

  In step S13, the driving of the first vibration type motor 1-1 provided with the rotary encoder 3 is stopped. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the energization command signal output to the first drive voltage generation circuit 6-1 is changed from a high level to a low level. Further, when driving of the first vibration motor 1-1 is stopped, time measurement is started using the timer 8a in the drive control circuit 8. At this stage, the second vibration type motor 1-2 is in a driving state.

  In step S14, it is determined whether or not the time measured by the timer 8a has reached the delay time T. If the measurement time reaches the delay time T, the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S15, the driving of the second vibration type motor 1-2 is stopped. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the energization command signal output to the second drive voltage generation circuit 6-2 is changed from the high level to the low level.

  When the first and second vibration motors 1-1 and 1-2 are stopped at the same time, backlash between the gear 2-1 and the gear 4 or between the gear 2-2 and the gear 4 (mechanical Since there is a dead zone), the gear 4 rotates by this amount of backlash. In such a state where the gear 4 can rotate, even if the vibration type motor is stopped at the target position (rotation angle) based on the output of the rotary encoder 3, the accuracy of the stop position is lowered due to the rotation of the gear 4. .

  In this embodiment, since the second vibration type motor 1-2 is driven by the delay time T even if the driving of the first vibration type motor 1-1 is stopped as described above, the gear 4 Rotates in response to the rotational force from the gear 2-2. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, the tooth surface of the gear 4 comes into contact with the tooth surface of the gear 2-1. Then, after the delay time T has elapsed, the driving of the second vibration type motor 1-2 is stopped, so that the tooth surface of the gear 2-2 also remains in contact with the tooth surface of the gear 4.

  Here, the delay time T is set so that the gear 4 can be rotated by an amount corresponding to the play (maximum value) between the gear 2-1 and the gear 4.

  As described above, the position of the rotational angle of the gear 4 is obtained by bringing the tooth surface of the gear 2-1 in the first vibration type motor 1-1 provided with the rotary encoder 3 into contact with the tooth surface of the gear 4. Can be made to correspond to the angular position of the first vibration type motor 1-1 in the stopped state. Therefore, positional accuracy can be improved.

  Here, at the stage where only the second vibration type motor 1-2 is driven, the driving force of the second vibration type motor 1-2 generates the holding torque of the first vibration type motor 1-1 in the stopped state. I do not exceed it. Specifically, a frequency signal having a frequency substantially equal to the frequency of the frequency signal applied to the first vibration type motor 1-1 immediately before stopping the driving of the first vibration type motor 1-1 is set to the second frequency signal. It is applied to the vibration type motor 1-2.

  Thereby, it can suppress that the 1st vibration type motor 1-1 in a stopped state rotates with the driving force of the 2nd vibration type motor 1-2.

  On the other hand, if the gear 4 is rotated by an amount larger than the amount of play between the gear 2-1 and the gear 4 by the driving of the second vibration type motor 1-2, the tooth surface of the gear 4 is changed. The first vibration type motor 1-1 can be pressed against the tooth surface of the gear 2-1. Thereby, even when external force is received, it can suppress that the gears 2-1 and 2-2 and the gear 4 rotate.

  In this embodiment, the case where two vibration motors are used has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to the case where three or more vibration motors are used. Here, in the case of using three or more vibration type motors, when A is the number of vibration type motors that stop driving first and B is the number of vibration type motors that stop driving later, “A ≧ B ”is set so as to satisfy the relational expression.

  When A is less than B, the holding torque of the vibration type motor in the stopped state becomes smaller than the driving force of the vibration type motor in the driven state, and the vibration type motor in the stopped state may rotate. There is. Therefore, by setting as described above, it is possible to suppress the vibration type motor in the stopped state from being rotated by the vibration type motor in the driving state.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the case where the vibration type motor is used as the drive source has been described. However, other drive sources such as a DC motor may be used. Further, the operation shown in FIG. 4 can be executed by a computer based on a program. This program is recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk, CD-R, CD-ROM, flexible disk, DVD disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, IC card, ROM, RAM, etc. be able to.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the drive device which is Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the drive stop method of the vibration type motor in Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of a part of power transmission mechanism in the drive device of Example 1. 3 is a flowchart illustrating drive control of the vibration type motor in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the drive stop method of the vibration type motor in the past.

Explanation of symbols

1-1, 1-2: Vibration type motors 2-1 and 2-2: Gear 3: Rotary encoder 7: Pulse count discrimination circuit 8: Drive control circuit 9: Driven member

Claims (9)

Multiple drive sources;
A power transmission mechanism that combines the driving forces from these driving sources and transmits them to the driven member;
Control means for controlling the driving of each driving source,
The control device outputs a signal for stopping driving of the driving source to the plurality of driving sources at different timings.   The control unit drives the other drive source by a drive amount corresponding to at least the maximum mechanical dead zone amount of the power transmission mechanism after stopping the drive of at least one of the plurality of drive sources. The drive device according to claim 1.   The drive apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a position detection unit that detects a drive position of the at least one drive source. The control unit stops driving of a predetermined number of driving sources among the plurality of driving sources, and then stops driving of other driving sources,
4. The driving device according to claim 1, wherein the number of the other driving sources is equal to or less than the predetermined number. 5.   The drive source is a vibration type actuator that relatively drives a vibrating body that excites vibration by applying a frequency signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element and a contact body that contacts the vibrating body. The drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The control means includes
After stopping driving of at least one of the plurality of driving sources at a first timing, stopping driving of another driving source at a second timing,
During the period from the first timing to the second timing, the other driving source is used by using a frequency signal having a frequency substantially equal to the frequency of the frequency signal at the first timing with respect to the at least one driving source. The drive device according to claim 5, wherein the drive device is driven. A drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 6;
And a driven member that operates in response to a driving force from the driving device. A control method applied to a drive device having a plurality of drive sources and a power transmission mechanism that synthesizes drive forces from these drive sources and transmits them to a driven member, and controls the drive of each drive source,
A control method characterized by stopping driving of the plurality of drive sources at different timings. A first step of stopping driving of at least one of the plurality of driving sources;
9. The control according to claim 8, further comprising a second step of driving another drive source by a drive amount corresponding to at least a maximum mechanical dead zone amount of the power transmission mechanism after the first step. Method.

Images