Dual mode motion control system and method for piezo motor

1. A motion control system for operating a stick-slip piezo motor comprising:

an analog hardware circuit for providing a high speed waveform at high operating speeds;

an analog driver for driving the analog hardware circuit;

a digital-to-analog converter for converting digital signals into analog signals for providing a low speed waveform at low operating speeds;

a mode switch for selecting one of an output from the analog hardware circuit and an output from the digital-to-analog converter,

an electronic controller in communication with the analog driver, the analog hardware circuit, the digital-to-analog converter, and the mode switch, the electronic controller configured to:

control the digital-to-analog converter to output a low speed waveform,

control the analog driver to drive the analog hardware circuit to output a high speed waveform, and

control the mode switch to provide the high speed waveform from the analog hardware circuit to the piezo motor or to provide the low speed waveform from the digital-to-analog converter to the piezo motor.

2. The motion control system according to claim 1 , wherein the analog hardware circuit includes

a current source,

a reference capacitor connected to the current source, and

a discharge switch for discharging the reference capacitor,

wherein the current source and the discharge switch are controlled by the analog driver.

3. The motion control system according to claim 2 , wherein the analog hardware circuit includes

an inverter having an input connection between the current source and the reference capacitor; and

a motion direction switch having a first input connected between the current source and the reference capacitor, the motion direction switch having a second input connected to an output of the inverter, and an output of the motion direction switch is connected to an input of the mode switch.

4. The motion control system according to claim 3 , further including:

an amplifier configured to receive an output of the mode switch, and

a piezo motor for receiving an output of the amplifier, the control system controlling the piezo motor for movement of a mechanical device.

5. The motion control system according to claim 4 , the analog hardware circuit including a voltage level sensor for providing a feedback control signal to the analog driver, the voltage level sensor having an input connection connected between the current source and the reference capacitor.

6. The motion control system according to claim 4 , wherein the motion control system includes a position encoder for providing position feedback for the mechanical device to the electronic controller, and wherein the motion control system is a closed loop system.

7. The motion control system according to claim 4 , wherein the motion control system is an open loop system free from a position encoder.

8. The motion control system according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller includes a processor and a non-transitory memory, and wherein the electronic controller receives commands from a user interface.

9. The motion control system according to claim 8 , wherein the processor processes commands received from the user interface to generate a motion profile, and selectively provides drive signals to either the analog driver or the digital-to-analog converter to drive the piezo motor.

10. The motion control system according to claim 1 , wherein the low speed waveform has slope that is less than a slope of the high speed waveform.

11. A method for controlling a stick-slip piezo motor with an electronic controller and an analog driver for moving a mechanical device when movement is selected, the method comprising:

operating in a digital circuit mode with the electronic controller to move the stick-slip piezo motor at a low speed; and

selectively operating in an analog circuit mode with the electronic controller and the analog driver to move the stick-slip piezo motor at a high speed,

wherein the electronic controller operates in the digital circuit mode at start-up of the piezo motor.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the electronic controller operates in the digital circuit mode before stopping of the piezo motor.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the electronic controller transitions from the digital circuit mode to the analog circuit mode automatically without a user input at a predefined operating speed for the stick-slip piezo motor.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein in the analog circuit mode, the controller provides driver instructions to the analog driver that drives an analog hardware circuit to power the stick-slip piezo motor.

15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the method transitions from the digital circuit mode to the analog circuit mode when the piezo motor is driven at a first predefined speed, and wherein the method transitions from the analog circuit mode to the digital circuit mode when the piezo motor is driven in the analog circuit mode at a second predefined speed that is less than the first predefined speed.

16. The method according to claim 11 , including a position encoder for providing position feedback for the mechanical device to the electronic controller, and wherein a motion control system for controlling the piezo motor is a closed loop system.

17. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the electronic controller includes a processor and a non-transitory memory, and wherein the electronic controller receives commands from a user interface.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein operating in the analog circuit mode, the analog driver drives an analog hardware circuit, the analog hardware circuit including a current source, a reference capacitor connected to the current source, and a discharge switch for discharging the reference capacitor, wherein the current source and the discharge switch are controlled by the analog driver.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein operating in the digital circuit mode, the electronic controller controls a digital-to-analog converter for converting digital signals into analog signals to provide a low speed waveform at low operating speeds.

20. The method according to claim 19 , including an amplifier configured to receive the analog signals and provide an output to a piezo motor for moving a mechanical device.