Keith Charles Nicholas

US Patent:

6900610, May 31, 2005

Filed:

May 20, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/441386

Inventors:

Gary L. Deck - Bethel PA, US
Douglas S. Pfautz - Landisville PA, US
Keith L. Nicholas - Harrisburg PA, US

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Corporation - Middletown PA

International Classification:

G05B001/06
F16H037/12
H01C017/28

US Classification:

318652, 74 52, 74137, 74140, 74141, 29619, 29621, 29837, 29857, 29 33 M, 29748

Abstract:

The invention is a system for controlling the position of a movable member moved by a prime mover by monitoring the position of the movable member; generating position information based upon this monitoring; and controlling the prime mover based upon the position information by providing a counter force to the movable member substantially equal to an opposing force opposing the movement of the movable member. The invention may include a movable member, such as a ram used for fastening a terminal to a wire; a spring; a DC planetary gear motor for providing a force to the movable member opposing the spring; a position detector, such as an linear voltage displacement transducer, to detect the position of the movable member and generate position information; and a controller, which may include a logic board or microprocessor and memory, for controlling the force from the motor in response to the position information.