Bus configured latching solenoid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10829967-B2
Application number	US-201515507543-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2015
Priority date	Sep 4, 2014
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

A latching solenoid ( 100, 200, 300 ) includes a coil ( 114 ) and an armature ( 120 ). The armature ( 120 ) moves between latch position and a rest position in response to momentary energization of the coil ( 114 ) without moving in response to de-energization of the coil ( 114 ). A solenoid controller ( 140 ) is operable to receive messages from a vehicle bus ( 108, 410 ) and output control signals that cause energization of the coil ( 114 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A latching solenoid comprising:
a coil;
an armature, wherein the armature moves between a latch position and a rest position in response to momentary energization of the coil without moving in response to de-energization of the coil;
a solenoid controller that is operable to receive messages from a vehicle bus and output control signals that cause energization of the coil;
a memory that is associated with the solenoid controller; and
a device ID that is stored in the memory, wherein at least some of the messages include the device ID and cause the solenoid controller to output the control signals.

2. The latching solenoid of claim 1 , wherein the coil is energized by the control signals from the solenoid controller and the solenoid controller is powered by the vehicle bus.

3. The latching solenoid of claim 1 , further comprising:
a switching component that supplies electrical power to the coil in response to the control signals for energization of the coil.

4. The latching solenoid of claim 3 , wherein electrical power is received at the switching component from a power supply associated with a vehicle.

5. The latching solenoid of claim 4 , further comprising:
a coil;
an armature, wherein the armature moves between a latch position and a rest position in response to momentary energization of the coil without moving in response to de-energization of the coil;
a solenoid controller that is operable to receive messages from a vehicle bus and output control signals that cause energization of the coil;
a switching component that supplies electrical power to the coil in response to the control signals for energization of the coil; and
a power supply circuit that receives and stores electrical power from the vehicle bus, wherein the electrical power is received at the switching component from the power supply circuit.

6. The latching solenoid of claim 1 , further comprising:
a magnet to hold the armature in the latch position; and
a spring that exerts a force on the armature in a direction away from the magnet.

7. A vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle bus;
a vehicle power supply that supplies electrical power to the vehicle bus;
a central control unit connected to the vehicle bus for transmitting messages via the vehicle bus; and
a plurality of separately addressable latching solenoids connected to the vehicle bus for receiving the messages from the central control unit, each of the latching solenoids having:
a coil,
an armature, wherein the armature moves between a latch position and a rest position in response to momentary energization of the coil without moving in response to de-energization of the coil, and
a solenoid controller that is operable to output control signals that cause energization of the coil in response to the messages from the vehicle bus.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising:
a memory that is associated with the solenoid controller; and
a device ID that is stored in the memory, wherein at least some of the messages include the device ID and cause the solenoid controller to output the control signals.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the coil is energized by the control signals from the solenoid controller and the solenoid controller is powered by the vehicle bus.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising:
a switching component that supplies electrical power to the coil in response to the control signals for energization of the coil.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein electrical power is received at the switching component from a power supply associated with a vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising:
a power supply circuit that receives and stores electrical power from the vehicle bus, wherein electrical power is received at the switching component from the power supply circuit.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising:
a magnet to hold the armature in the latch position; and
a spring that exerts a force on the armature in a direction away from the magnet.

14. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the messages from the central control unit include commands that cause one or more of the solenoids from the plurality of separately addressable latching solenoids to move between the rest position and the latched position.

15. The latching solenoid of claim 5 , further comprising:
a memory that is associated with the solenoid controller; and
a device ID that is stored in the memory, wherein at least some of the messages include the device ID and cause the solenoid controller to output the control signals.

16. The latching solenoid of claim 5 , wherein the coil is energized by the control signals from the solenoid controller and the solenoid controller is powered by the vehicle bus.

17. The latching solenoid of claim 5 , further comprising:
a magnet to hold the armature in the latch position; and
a spring that exerts a force on the armature in a direction away from the magnet.

18. The latching solenoid of claim 5 , further comprising:
a bus interface connected to the vehicle bus to facilitate receipt of the messages by the solenoid controller from the vehicle bus and output of the control signals to energize the coil.

19. The latching solenoid of claim 18 , wherein the bus interface and the solenoid controller are configured as separate devices.

20. The latching solenoid of claim 19 , wherein the bus interface is connected to the solenoid controller.

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc

Inventors

• Mott Philip J

Classifications

• H01F7/121 Primary

  Guiding or setting position of armatures, e.g. retaining armatures in their end position · CPC title

• E05B77/48 Primary

  by electrical means · CPC title

• H01F7/1607

  Armatures entering the winding · CPC title

• E05B81/56

  Control of actuators · CPC title

• E05B81/08 Primary

  using electromagnets or solenoids · CPC title