SETTING DEVICE FOR SETTING AN EFFECTIVE VALUE OF AN ELECTRIC LOAD CURRENT AT A TIME-VARIANT LOAD

Abstract

A controller device for controlling an effective value of an electric load current at a time-variant load is provided. The controller device provides at the time-variant load a voltage pulse sequence having a duty cycle in at least one pulse phase of the voltage pulse sequence. A sample value of the electric load current is acquired at the time-variant load, to determine an actual effective value of the electric load current using a dependency stored in the controller device. The actual effective value is assigned to the sample value of the electric load current. A difference value between the actual effective value of the electric load current and a setpoint effective value of the electric load current is determined, and adapted duty cycle of the voltage pulse sequence is determined from the difference value, and provides at the time-variant load an adapted voltage pulse sequence having the adapted duty cycle.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A controller device for controlling an effective value of an electric load current at a time-variant load, wherein the controller device includes instructions for: providing at the time-variant load a voltage pulse sequence having a predetermined duty cycle; acquiring a sample value of the electric load current at the time-variant load in at least one pulse phase of the voltage pulse sequence; determining an actual effective value of the electric load current with a dependency stored in the controller device, wherein the actual effective value is assigned to the sample value of the electric load current; determining a difference value between the actual effective value of the electric load current and a setpoint effective value of the electric load current; determining an adapted duty cycle of the voltage pulse sequence from the difference value of the electric load current; and providing at the time-variant load an adapted voltage pulse sequence having the adapted duty cycle.

15. The controller device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the dependency is a characteristic-value table.

16. The controller device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the dependency is a characterizing function.

17. The controller device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising providing the voltage pulse sequence at a period of the voltage pulse sequence of 1.5 ms to 3.5 ms.

18. The controller device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising setting a pulse duration of less than 5*tau of the time-variant load, wherein tau is the time constant of the time-variant load, and determining, in a plurality of the pulse phases of the voltage pulse sequence, the duty cycle according to a sample value obtained in the corresponding pulse phase.

19. The controller device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising providing the voltage pulse sequence as a square wave signal.

20. The controller device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising acquiring the sample value of the electric load current at an acquisition period that is an integer multiple of the period of the voltage pulse sequence.

21. The controller device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the dependency is specific to the time-variant load.

22. The controller device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising acquiring the sample value of the electric load current in a final tenth of the pulse phase.

23. The controller device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising acquiring the sample value of the electric load current during a falling signal edge of a pulse of the voltage pulse sequence.

24. The controller device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the controller device comprises a power MOSFET.

25. The controller device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the controller device is located in a vehicle.

26. A method for controlling an effective value of an electric load current at a time-variant load comprising: providing with a controller device successively at a time-variant load a plurality of calibration voltage pulse sequences having a particular duty cycle; acquiring a sample value of the electric load current at the time-variant load in at least one pulse phase of the respective calibration voltage pulse sequences; acquiring from a sensor unit an actual effective value of the electric load current at the time-variant load for at least one period of the respective calibration voltage pulse sequences; transferring the actual effective value of the electric load current from the sensor unit to the controller device; generating and storing with the controller device a dependency, in which the respective sample values of the electric load current and the respective duty cycles of the calibration voltage pulse sequences are assigned the corresponding actual effective value of the electric load current; providing with the controller device at the time-variant load a voltage pulse sequence having the duty cycle; acquiring with the controller device the sample value of the electric load current at the time-variant load in at least one pulse phase of the voltage pulse sequence; determining with the the dependency stored in the controller device the actual effective value of the electric load current, which value is assigned to the sample value of the electric load current and to the duty cycle of the voltage pulse sequence; determining with the controller device a difference value between the actual effective value of the electric load current and the setpoint effective value of the electric load current; determining with the controller device an adapted duty cycle of the voltage pulse sequence from the difference value of the electric load current; and the controller device provides at the time-variant load an adapted voltage pulse sequence having the adapted duty cycle.

27. The method claim 26, wherein the dependency is one of a characteristic-value table and a characterizing function.

28. The method claim 26, further comprising providing the voltage pulse sequence at a period of the voltage pulse sequence of 1.5 ms to 3.5 ms.

29. The method claim 26, further comprising setting a pulse duration of less than 5*tau of the time-variant load, wherein tau is the time constant of the time-variant load, and determining, in a plurality of the pulse phases of the voltage pulse sequence, the duty cycle according to a sample value obtained in the corresponding pulse phase.

30. The method claim 26, further comprising acquiring the sample value of the electric load current at an acquisition period that is an integer multiple of the period of the voltage pulse sequence.

31. The method claim 26, wherein the dependency is specific to the time-variant load.

32. The method claim 26, further comprising acquiring the sample value of the electric load current during one of: a final tenth of the pulse phase and a falling signal edge of a pulse of the voltage pulse sequence.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below. In this respect:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a controller device 1;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a curve of the load current I;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a further curve of the load current I;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows current-curves I according to the corresponding duty cycle X;

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a dependency 4; and

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a possible sequence of a method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In the exemplary embodiment explained below, the described components of the embodiment each represent individual features that should be considered independently of one another, and therefore also be considered to be part of the invention individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the embodiment described can also be supplemented by further features that have already been described.

[0038] In the figures, elements with the same function are each provided with the same reference signs.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a controller device 1, which is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a time-variant load 2. The controller device 1 may comprise a smart FET, for example. The time-variant load 2 may be a solenoid valve for governing a hydraulic flow in power assisted steering of a vehicle 3. The controller device 1 can be designed to provide a voltage pulse sequence 4 in order to provide at the time-variant load 2 an electric load current 5 having a predetermined setpoint effective value 6. The voltage pulse sequence 4 may be designed as a square wave function, for instance, and may have a period 7. The voltage pulse sequence 4 can comprise pulses 8 having a pulse duration 9. The ratio between the pulse duration 9 and the period 7 can be specified by the duty cycle 10. The time-variant load 2 may be the solenoid valve, for example, where a degree of opening of the solenoid valve can depend on an actual effective value 11 of the electric load current flowing through the time-variant load 2. The time-variant load 2 can comprise inductances, as a result of which the load current 5 can rise exponentially or fall exponentially. By the controller device 1 adjusting the duty cycle 10, it can be possible to adjust the actual effective value 11 of the electric load current to the setpoint effective value of the electric load current 5.

[0040] The controller device 1 can be used in power assisted steering in the vehicle 3. A required engine power can depend here on an extent of the intervention by the power assisted steering. The extent of the intervention of the power assisted steering can be adjusted by means of a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve may be a proportional valve, which is actuated and/or controlled by the controller device 1. The solenoid valve can behave as follows in this process. The valve can be closed when there is a high electric load current 5 through the valve. This can minimize a hydraulic flow in a hydraulic circuit of the power assisted steering. The extent of the power assisted steering is at a minimum for this position. When there is a low electric load current 5 through the solenoid valve, the solenoid valve can be open, and the hydraulic flow in the hydraulic circuit of the power assisted steering is at a maximum. The extent of the power assisted steering can be at a maximum for this position.

[0041] The position of the solenoid valve depends on the actual effective value 11 of the electric load current. The effective value is the root mean square value of the electric load current 5. The actual effective value 11 of the electric load current is inversely proportional to the degree of opening of the solenoid valve. A pulse-width modulated voltage pulse sequence 4 is used to actuate the solenoid valve. This means that the actual effective value 11 of the electric load current is controlled by means of the pulse width of the voltage pulse sequence 4. A sensor unit 24 for determining the actual effective value 11 can be connected to the controller device 1 and the time-variant load 2 in an electrically conductive manner for the duration of the calibration of the controller device 1. The sensor unit 24 can be removed after the calibration.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a curve of the load current 5. The voltage pulse sequence 4, which may be a square wave function, can be applied to the time-variant load 2 by the controller device 1. The voltage pulse sequence 4 can have two voltage levels 12 and 13, where the value of the voltage U can have the upper voltage level 13 during a pulse 8, and the lower voltage level 12 outside a pulse 8. The pulse 8 can have the pulse duration 9, and the voltage pulse sequence 4 can have the period 7. The pulse duration 9 can be bounded by a time of a rising edge 14 and a time of a falling edge 15. From the time of the rising edge 14 onwards, the value of the load current 5 can rise. From the time of the falling edge 15 onwards, the load current 5 flowing through the time-variant load 2 can fall exponentially. The actual effective value 11 of the electric load current flowing through the time-variant load 2 can be defined by defining the duty cycle 10, and thus the ratio between the period 7 and the pulse duration 9.

[0043] In order to be able to determine the exact value of the actual effective value 11 of the electric load current, in the prior art it is necessary to perform an integration over the curve of the load current 5 by means of an analog circuit or software. The two methods have the disadvantage that this involves effort, and additional components must be provided.

[0044] In the method presented, it can be provided for the purpose of determining the actual effective value 11 of the electric load current that instead of integrating over the load current 5, a sample value 16 of the electric load current is acquired during at least one pulse 8 of the voltage pulse sequence 4. For example, it can be provided that the controller device 1 acquires the sample value 16 of the electric load current in a final tenth of the phase of the pulse 8. The controller device 1 can determine the actual effective value 11 of the electric load current by the controller device 1 retrieving the actual effective value 11 of the electric load current, which value is stored for the particular sample value 16 in a dependency 17. The dependency 17 may be a function or a characteristic-value table, for instance, which can be stored in the controller device 1. The sampling time 18 for the sample value 16 can lie in a final tenth of the phase of the pulse 8.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a further possible curve of a load current 5. It shows a further voltage pulse sequence 4, in which the lower voltage level 12 and the upper voltage level 13 can be identical to those in FIG. 2. The voltage pulse sequences 4 shown in FIG. 3 can have a smaller duty cycle 10 than the voltage pulse sequence 4 in FIG. 2. The pulse duration 9 can be shorter, for instance, which means that the actual effective value 11 of the electric load current can have a smaller value than the actual effective value 11 of the electric load current in FIG. 2. The sampling time 18 for the sample value 16 can take place at the same phase angle as in FIG. 2. As a result of the shorter pulse duration 9, the sample value 16 in FIG. 3 can have a smaller value than the sample value 16 in FIG. 2.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows curves of the electric load current 5 according to the corresponding duty cycle 10. The depicted curves of the electric load current 5 can be produced by respective calibration voltage pulse sequences 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, which can have identical lower voltage levels 12 and identical upper voltage levels 13, and which can differ from one another in terms of their duty cycle 10. The duty cycles 10 of the associated calibration voltage pulse sequences 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 can equal 12%, 24%, 36%, 48% and 60% for example. The sample value 16 of each curve of the load current 5 is acquired in the final tenth of the pulse phase 8. It can be seen that both the curve of the load current 5 and the value of the sample value 16 of the electric load current rise according to the selected duty cycle 10. Thus, overall a relationship is obtained between the sample value 16 and the actual effective value 11 of the electric load current. This relationship is used to generate the dependency 17 stored in the controller device 1. In order to produce the dependency 17, the calibration voltage pulse sequences 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 can be provided successively at the time-variant load 2.

[0047] The controller device 1 can acquire the relevant sample value 16 for each of the calibration voltage pulse sequences 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. The actual effective value 11 of the electric load current is determined by a sensor unit 24. The actual effective value 11 of the electric load current can be transferred by the sensor unit 24 to the controller device 1, where it can assigned to the corresponding acquired sample value 16 in the dependency 17. It may be provided, for example, that the controller device 1 creates a characterizing function as the dependency 17, which can be used to calculate for the acquired sample value 16 of the electric load current the associated actual effective value 11 of the electric load current. Alternatively, it can be provided that the dependency 17 is a characteristic-value table, in which are stored the respective actual effective values 11 of the electric load current and the associated corresponding sample values 16.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a dependency 17. The dependency 17 may be a characteristic-value table, for instance. An example of a characteristic-value table is shown, in which are assigned to the respective sample values 16 the corresponding actual effective value 11 of the electric load current.

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a possible sequence of a method. The method can be performed by a control device or controller device 1, for example, in order to provide a setpoint effective value 6 of an electric load current at a time-variant load 2. In a first step S1, the controller device 1 can provide a voltage pulse sequence 4 having a predetermined duty cycle 10, as a result of which an electric load current can flow through the time-variant load 2 and the controller device 1. The controller device 1 can acquire a sample value 16 of the load current at a predetermined sampling time 18.

[0050] In a step S2, the controller device 1 can determine the actual effective value 11 of the electric load current, where this can be achieved, for example, by means of a dependency 17 in the form of a characterizing function or characteristic-value table. In this process, the controller device 1 can calculate or retrieve for the sample value 16 the associated actual effective value 11 of the electric load current.

[0051] In a step S3, it can be provided that the controller device 1 compares the determined actual effective value 11 of the electric load current with the setpoint effective value 6 to be achieved for the electric load current, in order to determine a difference value 25 of the electric load current.

[0052] In a step S4, it can be provided that the controller device 1 calculates an adapted duty cycle 26 for the voltage pulse sequence 4 according to the difference value 25 of the electric load current. The controller device 1 can modify the duty cycle 10 of the voltage pulse sequence 4, whereby the voltage pulse sequence 4 can be replaced by an adapted voltage pulse sequence 27 having the adapted duty cycle 26.

[0053] The method can be performed at least once. In a further step, it can be provided that the method is repeated from step S1. Overall, the example shows how the invention can make it possible to reduce the number of components for controlling an effective value of a load current.

[0054] The foregoing preferred embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the structural and functional principles of the present invention, as well as illustrating the methods of employing the preferred embodiments and are subject to change without departing from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the scope of the following claims.