Actuator control circuit

1. An actuator comprising:

a single actuator housing containing within it a motor, a controller, a memory, and a position sensor having an output;

a user interface for causing a first threshold value to be stored in said memory; and

said controller configured and arranged to stop said motor as a function of said position sensor output and said first threshold value.

2. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said user interface comprises a first threshold set switch, and wherein said controller is configured and arranged to store a measured first threshold into said memory as a function of said first threshold switch, said measured threshold having a magnitude that is a function of said position sensor output.

3. The actuator as set forth in claim 2 , wherein

said user interface further comprises a second threshold set switch,

said controller is configured and arranged store a second measured threshold into said memory, and

said controller is configured to stop said motor as a function of said position sensor output, said first threshold value, and said second threshold value.

4. The actuator as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said first threshold is a forward limit threshold, and said second threshold is a reverse limit threshold.

5. The actuator as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said first threshold set switch comprises a first threshold set position, a second threshold set position, and a normal operation position.

6. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said user interface comprises an indicator.

7. The actuator as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said indicator is a light or an audio alarm.

8. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said position sensor is connected to a motor transmission.

9. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said motor is a permanent split capacitor motor.

10. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , and further comprising a motor driver within said housing.

11. The actuator as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said motor driver comprises a thyristor.

12. The actuator as set forth in claim 10 , and further comprising a safety circuit configured and arranged to verify that the controller is operational before the motor driver can be engaged.

13. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , and further comprising a brake.

14. The actuator as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said brake is a fail safe brake comprising a spring, and wherein said brake is configured and arranged to brake said motor in the absence of power.

15. The actuator as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said controller is configured and arranged to cause said brake to brake said motor as a function of said position sensor output and said first threshold value.

16. The actuator as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said brake is configured and arranged such that regenerative power from said motor is not transferred to said brake.

17. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of soft thresholds in said memory, and wherein said controller is configured and arranged to temporarily stop said motor when said position sensor output equals one of said soft thresholds.

18. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , and further comprising an output terminal for providing an output signal external to said housing, said output signal being a function of said position sensor output.

19. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said user interface comprises an input terminal for receiving a manually entered threshold.

20. The method of controlling an actuator comprising the steps of:

providing an actuator having a single actuator housing containing within it a motor, a controller, a memory, a position sensor having an output, and a user interface for causing a first threshold value to be stored in said memory;

receiving a signal over said user interface;

storing a threshold value in said memory;

reading a position sensor output;

calculating a current position value, said position value being a function of said position sensor output; and

preventing said motor from moving as a function of said current position value and said threshold value stored in said memory.

21. The method of controlling an actuator as set forth in claim 20 , wherein said step of preventing a motor from moving comprises the step of stopping said motor when said current position value is greater than said first threshold.

22. The method of controlling an actuator as set forth in claim 20 , and further comprising the step of storing a second threshold value in said memory, and wherein said step of preventing a motor from moving comprises the step of stopping said motor when said current position value is greater than said first threshold or less than said second threshold.

23. The method of controlling an actuator as set forth in claim 20 , wherein said user interface comprises a switch having a current state, said current state one state out of a set of multiple possible states, and wherein said step of receiving a signal comprises the step of sensing a change of said current state.

24. The method of controlling an actuator as set forth in claim 20 , wherein said step of storing a threshold value comprises the steps of calculating a current position value that is a function of said position sensor output; and storing said current position value into said memory.

25. The method of controlling an actuator as set forth in claim 20 , and further comprising the step of setting said threshold value with an external programmer.

26. The method of controlling an actuator as set forth in claim 20 , wherein said actuator housing further contains within it a brake, said brake configured and arranged to prevent said motor from moving when said brake does not receive an electrical power, and allow said motor to move when said brake receives an electrical power.

27. The method of controlling an actuator as set forth in claim 26 , and further comprising the step of providing said brake an electrical power for disengaging said brake as a function of said current position value and said threshold value stored in said memory.

28. The method of controlling an actuator as set forth in claim 27 , wherein said step of preventing said motor from moving comprises the step of cutting said electrical power for disengaging said brake.