New Scale’s newly-patented drive technology is embodied in the NSD2101 piezo motor drive IC, shown next to a SQUIGGLE motor.
In-situ calibration of motor drive frequency adjusts for variations in manufacturing, temperature and load to ensure optimized and consistent performance
Victor, NY — July 17, 2014— New Scale Technologies, Inc. has received its fourteenth U.S. patent for miniature piezoelectric motion innovations. This latest patent covers the company’s unique methods for automatically finding and operating at a piezo motor’s optimum drive frequency under varying conditions. This technology has been used in New Scale’s miniature motion systems since 2009 and is a core feature of its M3 all-in-one smart stages. motion modules and actuators.
US Patent 8,698,374 for issued April 15, 2014 to inventors Qin Xu, Tom Guidarelli, Rob Culhane, and Conrad Hoffman.
All piezoelectric motors have an optimal operating frequency corresponding to the resonant frequency of the mechanical structure. Matching the frequency of the electrical drive signals to this resonant frequency maximizes the vibration amplitude, giving the motor its maximum speed and force.
Individual motors within any product line will have different resonant frequencies due to manufacturing variances, even with very tight manufacturing tolerances. In addition, the resonant frequency of a specific motor will vary during operation as a function of temperature and operating load. New Scale’s patented drive technology enables in-situ calibration of motor drive frequency to ensure optimized and consistent performance of every motor, at all times.
New Scale’s patented piezo motor drive technique measures current versus frequency. The peak current value corresponds to the motor resonant frequency. The electrical drive circuit automatically adjusts to the measured frequency. The technique is embodied in the NSD2101 driver IC manufactured by ams and used in New Scale’s miniature motion systems. The technique is used to optimize performance of New Scale’s SQUIGGLE motors, UTAF ultra-thin actuator family motors, and custom piezoelectric motors.
Growing patent portfolio
Since its founding in 2002, New Scale has secured fourteen US patents and corresponding international patents for piezoelectric motors and all-in-one motion systems with unmatched miniaturization, micrometer-scale resolution and fully-integrated electronics. The company applies this technology to develop standard and custom smart motion systems for original equipment manufacturers in optical, medical, scientific, aerospace, defense and other markets.
About New Scale Technologies
New Scale Technologies develops small, precise and smart motion systems for critical adjustments of optics, and many other micro positioning applications. Our all-in-one micro-stages, actuators and focus modules deliver best-in-class performance in imaging systems, scientific instruments, medical devices, aerospace and defense systems, miniaturized consumer products and more. Our customers benefit from simple and elegant motion solutions that are tailored to their unique requirements and easily integrated into their next-generation instruments.
SQUIGGLE is a registered trademark, and New Scale Pathway and UTAF are trademarks of New Scale Technologies, Inc.
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