Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #03607



To: beam@corp.sgi.com
From: Wouter Brok w.j.m.brok@stud.tue.nl
Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 11:24:09 +0200
Subject: [alt-beam] Fast Bicore, not wasting energy.


Hello List,

I've a question for you, of which the answer probably is quite simple and
already known to you, so then I don't have to think about it (pretty lazy he).

Suppose one makes a suspended bicore with quite a fast period of
oscillation (say one kiloHertz) and connects a motor to its outputs.
Instead of the resistor the circuit has two phodiodes and thus has a
duty-cycle dependent on the difference in light falling on those
photodiodes. This basicly is the circuit which has been used by quite a few
of you to make a head point towards the light.

The problem is that there is an alternating current flowing through the
motor, which, most of the time, doesn't result in motion (except when the
dut-cycle differs from 50%), but is just dissipated, which I find a
terrible waste (I don't need the warmth resulting since I have other
machines which make my room warm for me). What can be done against this?
For example, does it help to put a capacitor across the motor-inputs, or
capacitors between the outputs of the circuit and the inputs of the motor
... or are there ways to store the energy and use it again?

How do you guys do that ... I mean, loads of you built heads and must have
thought about the problem and solved it (and I don't feel like inventing
the wheele for the second time).

I'm curious for any reply !!!

Wouter Brok



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