User interface actuator for a pilot-by-wire system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016152259-A1
Application number	US-201514951497-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 25, 2015
Priority date	Nov 28, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A user interface actuator for a pilot-by-wire system comprises a rotary electric motor having an output shaft suitable to be connected to a rotating user interface, a first absolute angular sensor for detecting in direct drive the number of revolutions of the shaft and a second absolute angular sensor redundant with respect to the first absolute angular sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A user interface actuator for a pilot-by-wire system comprising:
a rotary electric motor having an output shaft suitable to be connected to a rotating user interface; a first angular sensor for detecting in direct drive the number of revolutions of the output shaft; and a second angular sensor, which is redundant with respect to the first angular sensor, wherein the first angular sensor and second angular sensor are absolute angular sensors; by comprising a transmission having a non-unitary gear ratio and connected to the electric motor; in that the first angular sensor and the second angular sensor are connected to each other by the transmission and coupled according to the non-unitary gear ratio, the transmission being suitable to connect the electric motor to the rotating user interface in a rotational manner; in that the transmission comprises an endless flexible member; and an electronic control unit programmed to detect a deviation from the non-unitary gear ratio of first and second absolute angular sensor and generate a signal when the deviation is above a threshold.

2 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is programmed to combine respective signals from the absolute angular sensors to obtain an absolute angular signal of the rotating user interface over a range of several revolutions, calculated by dividing the least common multiple of “m” teeth of a pinion and “n” teeth of a pulley of the transmission by the “m” teeth of the pinion.

3 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is controllable to apply at least one of a braking and a blocking torque of the transmission in response to a rotation of the rotating user interface.

4 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is controllable to apply a driving torque on the rotating user interface and to bring the rotating user interface back to a given position.

5 . The actuator according to claim 1 , further comprising a steering column driven by the electric motor.

6 . The actuator according to claim 1 , further comprising a casing for housing at least the rotary motor and the absolute angular sensors.

7 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the absolute angular sensors is integrated in a bearing.

Assignees

• Donetti Luca
• Lambertino Franco
• Pepe Fortunato
• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Donetti Luca
• Lambertino Franco
• Pepe Fortunato

Classifications

• B62D5/0481

  monitoring the steering system, e.g. failures · CPC title

• B62D5/006 Primary

  power actuated · CPC title

• B62D5/0409

  Electric motor acting on the steering column · CPC title

• B62D15/0215

  by measuring on the steering column · CPC title

• B62D5/049

  detecting sensor failures · CPC title