Actuator controller to controllably supply dc power to a bi-directional electromechanical actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016129864-A1
Application number	US-201514933360-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 5, 2015
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An actuator controller to controllably supply DC power to a bi-directional electromechanical actuator is provided. The controller includes a first circuit to receive power and direction command signals from a remote electronic control unit through a vehicle-based bus. Control logic is operative to determine a vehicle system failure and to generate a failsafe position command signal in the event of the failure. A failsafe power circuit controllably stores electrical power and supplies the stored electrical power based on the failsafe position command signal. A power switching and supply circuit supplies DC power of a desired polarity to the electromechanical actuator in response to the power and direction command signals in the absence of the failure and supplies the stored electrical power to the electromechanical actuator in the event of the failure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An actuator controller to controllably supply DC power to a bi-directional electromechanical actuator, the controller comprising:
a first circuit to receive power and direction command signals from a remote electronic control unit through a vehicle-based bus; control logic operative to determine a vehicle system failure and to generate a failsafe position command signal in the event of the failure; a failsafe power circuit to controllably store electrical power and supply the stored electrical power based on the failsafe position command signal; and a power switching and supply circuit to supply DC power of a desired polarity to the electromechanical actuator in response to the power and direction command signals in the absence of the failure and to supply the stored electrical power to the electromechanical actuator in the event of the failure.

2 . The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is a transmission electronic control unit.

3 . The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the failure is unexpected loss of electrical power.

4 . The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the failure is loss of communication with the remote electronic control unit.

5 . The controller as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a second circuit to receive a position feedback signal, the power switching and supply circuit supplying DC power in response to the position feedback signal.

6 . The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the failsafe power circuit includes a storage capacitor and a boost circuit to receive a battery voltage and to charge the storage capacitor from the battery voltage.

7 . The controller as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the failsafe power circuit includes an output capacitor and a buck circuit coupled to the storage capacitor to charge the output capacitor which supplies the stored electrical power.

8 . An actuator controller to controllably supply DC power to a bi-directional electromechanical actuator, the controller comprising:
a microcontroller including a first circuit to receive power and direction command signals from a remote electronic control unit through a vehicle-based bus and control logic operative to determine a vehicle system failure and to generate a failsafe position command signal in the event of the failure; a failsafe power circuit coupled to the microcontroller to controllably store electrical power and supply the stored electrical power based on the failsafe position command signal; and a power switching and supply circuit coupled to the microcontroller to supply DC power of a desired polarity to the electromechanical actuator in response to the power and direction command signals in the absence of the failure and to supply the stored electrical power to the electromechanical actuator in the event of the failure.

9 . The controller as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the electronic control unit is a transmission electronic control unit.

10 . The controller as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the failure is unexpected loss of electrical power.

11 . The controller as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the failure is loss of communication with the remote electronic control unit.

12 . The controller as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the microcontroller further includes a second circuit to receive a position feedback signal, the power switching and supply circuit supplying DC power in response to the position feedback signal.

13 . The controller as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the failsafe power circuit includes a storage capacitor and a boost circuit to receive a battery voltage and to charge the storage capacitor from the battery voltage.

14 . The controller as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the failsafe power circuit includes an output capacitor and a buck circuit coupled to the storage capacitor to charge the output capacitor which supplies the stored electrical power.

15 . The controller as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a voltage regulator coupled to the failsafe power circuit to provide a regulated voltage to the microcontroller.

Assignees

• Means Ind Inc

Inventors

• Essenmacher Ryan W

Classifications

• F16D27/14 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• B60R16/033 Primary

  characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) · CPC title

• F16D2027/002

  Electric or electronic circuits relating to actuation of electromagnetic clutches · CPC title

• F16D41/125

  the pawl movement having an axial component · CPC title

• F16D28/00

  Electrically-actuated clutches (arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02; clutches actuated directly by means of an electromagnet F16D27/00; automatic clutches F16D43/00 - F16D45/00; external control F16D48/00) · CPC title