IP Library Granted Patent US 10,488,851
Granted Patent B2
US 10,488,851 · App. 14/698,110 · Granted Nov 26, 2019

Scalable motion control system

Inventors: Martin Hosek (Lowell, MA); Stuart Beale (Lowell, MA); Roumen Botev (Groton, MA); Matthew Coady (Hollis, NH); Christopher Hofmeister (Hampstead, NH); Mark Ives (Merrimack, NH); Jairo Moura (Marlboro, MA); Robert Caveney (Windham, NH)
Assignee: BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.
G05B19/4185G05B19/4148G05B2219/31207G05B2219/33277Y02P90/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,488,851
App. No.
14/698,110
Granted
Nov 26, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control system includes a clustered architecture having a master controller, a central control section including one or more first remote controllers under direct control of the master controller, and a distributed control section including a cluster controller controlled by the master controller. The cluster controller controls the activities of one or more second remote controllers. Each of the first and second remote controllers are utilized to drive one or more axes.

Claims (14)

1. A method for controlling an axis of a control system comprising:

calculating an operating parameter value describing a predetermined trajectory of the end effector of the axis and defining a predetermined force value of the end effector of the axis along at least a continuous portion of the predetermined trajectory generated in a first mode of axis operation, which predetermined force value is different than a corresponding predetermined force value of the end effector along at least the continuous portion of the predetermined trajectory generated in a second mode of axis operation; and

generating a motion profile for an individual joint of the axis such that a motion profile for the end effector along the at least continuous portion of the predetermined trajectory does not exceed the predetermined force value of the end effector in the first mode of axis operation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter value is a maximum velocity.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter value is a maximum torque.

4. A method for controlling an axis comprising:

calculating, with a controller, a velocity and a torque for a position of the axis describing a predetermined trajectory of the end effector of the axis;

calculating, with the controller, a predetermined first maximum time period during which an axis velocity along the predetermined trajectory may exceed the calculated velocity along the predetermined trajectory;

calculating, with the controller, a predetermined second maximum time period during which an axis torque along the predetermined trajectory may exceed the calculated torque along the predetermined trajectory; and

disabling, with the controller, the axis if one or more of the predetermined first maximum time period and the predetermined second maximum time period is exceeded along the predetermined trajectory.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising disabling the axis if the calculated velocity exceeds a predetermined maximum velocity.

6. The method of claim 5 , comprising disabling the axis if the calculated torque exceeds a predetermined maximum torque.

7. The method of claim 4 , comprising disabling the axis upon failure to receive a periodic communication from the axis.

8. The method of claim 4 , comprising disabling the axis upon failure to receive a periodic communication from an axis controller.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 038891/0765 Recorded Nov 4, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AZENTA, INC. (F/K/A BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.); AZENTA USA, INC. (F/K/A BIOSTORAGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.)
Reel/Frame 073446/0080 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 044142/0258 Recorded Nov 4, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: AZENTA, INC. (F/K/A BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.); AZENTA US, INC. (F/K/A BROOKS LIFE SCIENCES, INC., F/K/A BIOSTORAGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.)
Reel/Frame 073514/0609 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: BROOKS AUTOMATION US, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 058950/0146 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: BROOKS AUTOMATION US, LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 058945/0748 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2021
From: BROOKS AUTOMATION HOLDING, LLC
To: BROOKS AUTOMATION US, LLC
Reel/Frame 058482/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2021
From: BROOKS AUTOMATION,INC
To: BROOKS AUTOMATION HOLDING, LLC
Reel/Frame 058481/0740 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2019
From: BEALE, STUART; BOTEV, ROUMEN; COADY, MATTHEW; HOFMEISTER, CHRISTOPHER; IVES, MARK; MOURA, JAIRO; CAVENEY, ROBERT; HOSEK, MARTIN
To: BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 050722/0878 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2017
From: BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.; BIOSTORAGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 044142/0258 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 31, 2016
From: BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.; BIOSTORAGE TECHNOLOGIES
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 038891/0765 →
Continuity (4)
Division 13011970 · Jan 24, 2011
Division 11178615 · Jul 11, 2005
Provisional Application 60688636 · Jun 8, 2005
Related Publication 20160018816A1 · Jan 21, 2016