Multichannel pulse train transmitting apparatus

Abstract

In the multi-shaft driving apparatus, position command pulse trains for servomotors are generated from a motor controller and supplied to motor drivers for the respective servomotors via a multichannel pulse train transmitting apparatus. The multichannel pulse train transmitting apparatus converts the position command pulse trains supplied from the motor controller 6 to serial signals in a transmission-side converter, combines the resulting serial signals as a stream signal, and supplies the signal to a reception-side converter via a serial signal transmission path composed of a pair of signal wires. In the reception-side converter, motor position command pulse trains in the form of a serial signal is returned to multichannel pulse trains in the form of a parallel signal which are supplied to the motor drivers. The number of wires between the motor controller and the motor drivers can be reduced.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a multi-shaft driving apparatus in which the present invention is employed.

Claims

1. A multichannel pulse train transmitting apparatus for transmitting motor position command pulses from a motor controller to motor drivers for controlling the driving of each of a plurality of motors, said apparatus comprising: a transmission-side converter provided with a serialization circuit;a reception-side converter provided with a deserialization circuit;controller-side multichannel parallel signal transmission paths for connecting the motor controller and the transmission-side converter;driver-side multichannel parallel signal transmission paths for connecting the reception-side converter and the motor drivers; anda serial signal transmission path for connecting the transmission-side converter and the reception-side converter; whereinthe transmission-side converter collects motor position command pulse trains for the respective motors that are provided from the controller via the controller-side multichannel parallel signal transmission paths, converts the pulse trains to serial signals, and supplies the resulting serial signals to the reception-side converter via the serial transmission path; andthe reception-side converter returns the received serial-form motor position command pulse trains to multichannel pulse trains in the form of a parallel signal and supplies the resulting parallel signals to the motor drivers via the driver-side multichannel parallel signal transmission paths.