DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING AN ACTUATOR, IN PARTICULAR IN THE FORM OF A THROTTLE OR CLOSURE FLAP, OF AN AIR VENT, AN AIR VENT COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE AS WELL AS A METHOD FOR MANIPULATING AN ACTUATOR, IN PARTICULAR IN THE FORM OF A THROTTLE OR CLOSURE FLAP, OF AN AIR VENT

Abstract

A device for manipulating an actuator, designed in particular in the form of a throttle valve or closure flap, of an air vent, wherein the actuator is optionally designed as an air-directing element or as part of a package of air-directing elements. The device has a motor-operated, in particular electromotive, drive, which is or can be coupled mechanically to the actuator in such a way that the actuator can be adjusted relative to the housing of the air vent by activating the drive. The device also has a sensor system for, in particular, directly sensing a real actual position of the actuator relative to the housing of the air vent.

Claims

1. A device for manipulating an actuator, in the form of a throttle valve or closure flap, of an air vent, wherein the actuator is designed as an air-directing element or as part of a package of air-directing elements, and wherein the device comprises: a motor-operated drive, which is or can be coupled mechanically to the actuator in such a way that the actuator can be adjusted relative to a housing of the air vent by activating the motor-operated drive; and a sensor system for directly sensing a real actual position of the actuator relative to the housing of the air vent.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control apparatus is provided for actuating the motor-operated drive according to a command which has been defined previously or input manually via an interface and corresponds to a setpoint position of the actuator, wherein the control apparatus is designed in order to compare the actual position of the actuator, sensed by the sensor system, with the setpoint position and to actuate the motor-operated drive in such a way that the actual position corresponds to the setpoint position, if appropriate in a certain tolerance range.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an apparatus for performing functional monitoring of the motor-operated drive is provided, which apparatus is designed in order to interrupt actuation of the motor-operated drive or to cancel it or to act on actuation of the motor-operated drive if—after a predefined or definable time period has elapsed—the actual position of the actuator sensed by the sensor system does not correspond to a predefined setpoint position or does not occur in a predefined or definable tolerance range around the setpoint position, wherein the apparatus for performing functional monitoring is assigned an interface for optically and/or acoustically outputting a status message and/or warning message.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an apparatus for performing functional monitoring of the motor-operated drive is provided, which apparatus is designed in order to detect, with the aid of the sensor system, a manually effected adjustment of the actuator relative to the housing of the air vent.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a control apparatus is provided for actuating the motor-operated drive according to a command which has been defined previously or input manually via an interface and corresponds to a setpoint position of the actuator, wherein the control apparatus is designed in order to initiate automatically predefined or definable measures on the basis of the detection of a manual adjustment of the actuator relative to the housing of the air vent, and to actuate the motor-operated drive in such a way: that the actuator is reset into a predefined or definable setpoint position, either immediately or after a predefined or definable time period; or that the actuator is not reset into a predefined or definable setpoint position, with the result that the manual adjustment of the actuator relative to the housing of the air vent is accepted by the control apparatus, wherein the deactivation of automatic resetting of the actuator into the predefined or definable setpoint position applies until the deactivation of this function is cancelled by activating an operator control element.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control apparatus is designed in order to learn, in an initial learning process, the predefined or definable setpoint position of the actuator and/or the actuation of the motor-operated drive, which is necessary to reset the actuator into the predefined or definable setpoint position, by means of the detection, brought about with the aid of the sensor system, of a manually effected adjustment of the actuator relative to the housing of the air vent.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the apparatus is designed in order to perform functional monitoring of the motor-operated drive, to sense a manual movement of the motor-operated drive which is brought about during manual adjustment of the actuator, by sensing a voltage induced by the motor-operated drive, during a manual movement of said drive, or by sensing a corresponding current, and wherein the apparatus for performing functional monitoring of the motor-operated drive is also designed in order to determine an actual position of the actuator relative to the housing of the air vent on the basis of the voltage induced by the motor-operated drive, during a manual movement of said drive, and sensed by the apparatus for performing functional monitoring, or on the basis of the corresponding current.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor system has a rotary potentiometer which can be rotated through 360°, wherein an angle range which cannot be sensed by the rotary potentiometer corresponds to an angle range which is either not approached or traveled through by the actuator; and/or wherein the sensor system has a Hall sensor element which in turn has at least two Hall elements each with a measuring direction which is perpendicular to the other, and is attached to the side of a shaft, by means of which the motor-operated drive is mechanically coupled to the actuator, with the result that the shaft can transmit rotational movements past the at least two Hall elements, wherein the at least two Hall elements are positioned together or individually.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor system has a Hall sensor element which in turn has at least two Hall elements each with a measuring direction which is perpendicular to the other, and is attached to the side of a shaft, by means of which the motor-operated drive is mechanically coupled to the actuator, with the result that the shaft can transmit rotational movements past the at least two Hall elements, wherein the at least two Hall elements are positioned together or individually, and wherein the Hall sensor elements are designed in order to detect a magnet with respective North and South poles, wherein the magnet is located on or in the shaft or surrounds the shaft as an annular magnet, with the result that any position of the shaft can be recorded as an absolute value on the basis of the values acquired with the at least two Hall elements.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor-operated drive has a stepping motor, in the form of an electronically commutating electric motor which is connected to a gear mechanism which comprises a gear mechanism component for converting a rotary movement of the rotor of the stepping motor into a translatory movement, wherein the sensor system has an absolute value sensor which is designed in order to sense an advancing distance of the gear mechanism component, wherein the stepping motor is designed free of sensors, and wherein the absolute value sensor is connected to a control apparatus in order to determine a rotor position of the stepping motor from the absolute value information of the absolute value sensor.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device also has an activation element which can be activated manually, for the at least indirect manual activation of the actuator, wherein the sensor system is designed in order to convert a manual activation of the activation element and/or a manually set position of the activation element into a virtual position of the actuator relative to the housing and to actuate the motor-operated drive in such a way that the actual position of the actuator sensed with the sensor system corresponds to the virtual position of the actuator specified by means of the activation element.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein an evaluation apparatus is also provided which is designed in order to accept, on the basis of predefined or definable criteria, the virtual position of the actuator specified by means of the activation element, and to set, correct, or reset said position with the aid of the motor-operated drive, wherein the predefined or definable criteria depend on an operating mode of the air vent; and/or wherein a synchronization system is also provided for synchronizing an instantaneous position of the activation element with the position of the actuator which is set by the motor-operated drive.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor system has at least one absolute value sensor, and wherein the motor-operated drive is assigned an activating element which is coupled to the actuator which is to be manipulated, wherein, when the motor-operated drive is activated, an adjustment movement of the activating element can be forcibly brought about, and wherein the at least one absolute value sensor is designed in order to sense directly an absolute position of the activating element, and wherein the at least one absolute value sensor is designed as an absolute angle sensor or as an absolute travel sensor; and/or wherein the sensor system has at least one absolute value sensor which is arranged at or in the region of the actuator which is to be manipulated, and is designed in order to sense directly an absolute position of the actuator, and wherein the at least one absolute value sensor is designed as an absolute angle sensor or as an absolute travel sensor.

14. A ventilation system having at least one air vent, to which a device for manipulating an actuator, in the form of an air-directing element, is assigned, wherein the device for manipulating the actuator is a device as claimed in claim 1.

15. A method for manipulating an actuator, in the form of a throttle valve or closure flap, of an air vent, wherein the actuator is designed as an air-directing element or as part of a package of air-directing elements, and wherein the method comprises the following method steps: i) outputting a command for activating or starting a motor-operated drive, which is or can be mechanically coupled to the actuator in such a way that the actuator can be adjusted relative to the housing of the air vent by activating the motor-operated drive, and direct sensing of a real actual position of the actuator relative to the housing of the air vent with the aid of a sensor system; ii) interrogating a setpoint position of the actuator relative to the housing of the air vent from a memory device which is assigned to the control apparatus; and iii) comparing the sensed actual position of the actuator relative to the housing of the air vent with the interrogated setpoint position of the actuator relative to the housing of the air vent, wherein, when the result of the comparison in step iii) reveals that the actual position corresponds to the setpoint position, or corresponds at least substantially thereto, the motor-operated drive is stopped, and when the result of the comparison in step iii) reveals that the actual position does not correspond at least sufficiently to the setpoint position, a further stepping signal is output to the motor-operated drive and the step iii) is repeated until the actual position corresponds sufficiently to the setpoint position and the motor-operated drive is stopped; or wherein, in that in step iii) a number of possibly still necessary motor steps of the motor-operated drive is calculated or determined on the basis of the result of the comparison of the sensed actual position of the actuator with the interrogated setpoint position of the actuator, in order to make the actual position of the actuator correspond to the setpoint position of the actuator, or correspond at least substantially thereto, wherein the calculated number of possibly still necessary motor steps is subsequently output as a signal to the motor-operated drive, in order to manipulate the actuator correspondingly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] An exemplary embodiment of the solution according to the invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the drawings.

[0079] The following are shown:

[0080] FIG. 1 schematically and in an exterior view, an exemplary embodiment of an air vent according to the present invention;

[0081] FIG. 2 the exemplary embodiment of the air vent according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in an isometric view from the rear;

[0082] FIG. 3 a detailed view of an excerpt from FIG. 2;

[0083] FIG. 4 schematically and in an isometric view, an embodiment of a device for manipulating an actuator of an air vent;

[0084] FIG. 5A schematically, the functionality of a first embodiment of a Hall sensor element used as a sensor system in the device according to FIG. 4;

[0085] FIG. 5B schematically, the measurement values detectable with the Hall elements of the Hall sensor element according to FIG. 5A for identifying a clear position of a shaft of the device according to FIG. 4;

[0086] FIG. 5C schematically, the functionality of a second embodiment of a Hall sensor element used as a sensor system in the device according to FIG. 4;

[0087] FIG. 5D schematically, the measurement values detectable with the Hall elements of the Hall sensor element according to FIG. 5C for identifying a clear position of a shaft of the device according to FIG. 4;

[0088] FIG. 6 schematically, a flowchart for an indirect manual adjustment of the actuator of an air vent;

[0089] FIG. 7 schematically, a flowchart for a sequential motor control with error correction in the next step for adjusting the actuator of the air vent;

[0090] FIG. 8 schematically, a flowchart for a first embodiment of a sequential motor control with position control;

[0091] FIG. 9 schematically, a flowchart for a parallel motor control for adjusting the actuator of the air vent; and

[0092] FIG. 10 schematically, a flowchart for a second embodiment of a sequential motor control with position control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0093] A first exemplary embodiment of the air vent 3 according to the invention is described in greater detail in the following with reference to the drawings in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3.

[0094] The air vent 3 is equipped with a variant of the device according to the invention for manipulating airflow-directing or airflow-regulating actuators. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, these airflow-regulating or air-flow-directing actuators are actuators for bringing about air deflection.

[0095] As can be seen in particular in the drawings in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3, a motor-operated drive 1 in the form of an electric motor is used for this purpose, which is mechanically coupled with the airflow-directing or airflow-regulating actuators to be manipulated in such a way that the actuators can be adjusted relative to the housing 2 of the air vent 3 by activation of the drive 1.

[0096] In addition, a sensor system 4, which is to be described in greater detail below, is used, which is designed in order to sense a real actual position of the airflow-directing or airflow-regulating actuators relative to the housing 2 of the air vent 3.

[0097] In detail, in the embodiment shown, the electromotive drive 1 is coupled to corresponding activating elements via a gear mechanism, wherein these activating elements are further coupled to the airflow-directing or airflow-regulating actuators to be manipulated. The gearing mechanism can be seen in detail from the illustration in FIG. 3.

[0098] Specifically, the gearing mechanism comprises a first gearwheel 5, with which the electromotive drive 1 directly cooperates.

[0099] In addition, a second and a third gearwheel 6, 7 are used. Air deflection with the aid of the airflow-directing or airflow-regulating actuators in a first, for example horizontal direction can be realized via the second gearwheel 6, while air deflection using the airflow-directing or airflow-regulating actuators in a perpendicular second direction, for example a vertical direction, is possible via the third gearwheel 7.

[0100] For example, when the motor 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the first gearwheel 5 is driven accordingly. A brake 8 then generates a reaction torque as a result of which the drive 1 is also rotated with a lever 9, the brake 8, and the first gearwheel 5 in the direction of the arrow, and specifically until the small gearwheel of the drive element of the drive 1 drives the second gearwheel 6. The airflow-directing or airflow-regulating actuators, which can bring about air deflection in the first, for example horizontal direction, are thus shifted up or down accordingly.

[0101] In the exemplary embodiment, a sensor system 4 in the form of a potentiometer is further used, which senses the position of the second gearwheel 6 and thus also the adjusted air deflection.

[0102] The same applies to the rotation of the motor 1 counter to the arrow; however, a potentiometer on the other side is not shown here, for reasons of clarity.

[0103] FIG. 4 shows schematically and in an isometric view an exemplary embodiment of a device for manipulating an actuator, wherein the actuator itself is not shown in FIG. 4. The device overall comprises a housing 12 in which an electromotive drive is accommodated.

[0104] In FIG. 4, several output shafts 10 are discernible, which are guided out of the housing 12 of the device and coupled to the electromotive drive inside the housing 12.

[0105] Each shaft 10 is associated with a sensor system 4, via which the rotational position of the respective shaft 10 and thus a real actual position of an actuator operatively coupled to the shaft 10 can be detected.

[0106] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the sensor system 4 comprises a Hall sensor element, which in turn comprises at least two Hall elements 4a, 4b, each with a measuring direction which is perpendicular to the other. The Hall elements 4a, 4b are each attached to the side of the respective shaft 10, so that the shaft 10 can transmit rotational movements past the at least two Hall elements 4a, 4b.

[0107] It is provided that the Hall sensor element is designed in order to detect a magnet 11 (cf. FIG. 5A) with respective North and South poles, wherein the magnet 11 is located on or in the shaft 10 or surrounds the shaft 10 as an annular magnet, with the result that any position of the shaft 10 can be recorded as an absolute value on the basis of the values acquired with the at least two Hall elements 4a, 4b.

[0108] In FIG. 5A, the functionality of such a Hall sensor element is shown schematically. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, the magnet 11 is integrated in the shaft 10, wherein the magnetic field lines are indicated schematically with the aid of the arrows. Moreover, in FIG. 5A, the two Hall elements 4a, 4b are schematically indicated, each with a measuring direction which is perpendicular to the other.

[0109] In FIG. 5B, it is shown which values the respective Hall elements 4a, 4b record upon rotation of the shaft 10 by 360 degrees. Here, the solid line shows the values of the vertically standing Hall sensor 4a, while the dashed line represents the values of the horizontally standing Hall sensor 4b.

[0110] Based on the measurement signals of the two Hall elements 4a, 4b, a clear position of the shaft 10 and thus also of the actuator in the figurative sense can be assigned to each pair of values.

[0111] It is provided that the Hall sensor element is designed in order to detect a magnet 11 (cf. FIG. 5A) with respective North and South poles, wherein the magnet 11 is located on or in the shaft 10 or surrounds the shaft 10 as an annular magnet, with the result that any position of the shaft 10 can be recorded as an absolute value on the basis of the values acquired with the at least two Hall elements 4a, 4b.

[0112] FIG. 5C, the functionality of an alternative embodiment of a corresponding Hall sensor element is shown schematically. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5C, as in the embodiment according to FIG. 5A, the magnet 11 is integrated in the shaft 10, wherein the magnetic field lines are indicated schematically with the aid of the arrows. Moreover, in FIG. 5C, the two Hall elements 4a, 4b are schematically indicated, each with a measuring direction which is perpendicular to the other.

[0113] By contrast to the first embodiment according to FIG. 5A, it is provided in the second embodiment of the Hall sensor element shown schematically in FIG. 5C that the two Hall elements 4a, 4b, each with a measuring direction which is perpendicular to the other, are not arranged in the same region on the shaft 10. Rather, the Hall elements 4a, 4b are provided at different peripheral regions in the region of the shaft 10.

[0114] In FIG. 5D, it is shown which values the respective Hall elements 4a, 4b record upon rotation of the shaft 10 by 360 degrees. Here, the solid line shows the values of the vertically standing Hall sensor 4a, while the dashed line represents the values of the horizontally standing Hall sensor 4b.

[0115] As in the first embodiment according to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, based on the measurement signals of the two Hall elements 4a, 4b, a clear position of the shaft 10 and thus also of the actuator in the figurative sense can again be assigned to each pair of values.

[0116] In FIG. 6, a flowchart that is realizable with the device according to the invention is shown schematically: [0117] in step S1, the actuator of an air vent is manually adjusted; [0118] in step S2, the manual adjustment of the actuator is detected with the aid of an apparatus for performing functional monitoring; [0119] in step S3, the detection of a manual adjustment of the actuator is reported to a control apparatus; [0120] in step S4, it is checked whether an automatic resetting of the actuator into a predefined or definable setpoint position is deactivated.

[0121] If, in step S4, it is detected that an automatic resetting of the actuator is not deactivated (NO), the motor-operated drive is actuated such that the actuator is reset to the predefined or definable setpoint position, specifically either immediately or after a predefined or definable time period or after a predefined or definable event occurs.

[0122] In order to reset the actuator to the predefined or definable setpoint position, the actual position of the actuator is first interrogated via the sensor system and compared to the setpoint position of the actuator (step S5).

[0123] As a function of the comparison, the drive is actuated by the control apparatus until the actual value of the position of the actuator (at least with a certain tolerance range) corresponds to the specified setpoint value (step S6). It should be noted here that step S6 constitutes a control loop.

[0124] If, on the other hand, an automatic resetting of the actuator is deactivated in step S4 (YES), it is checked in step S7 whether the deactivation of an automatic resetting of the actuator has possibly been cancelled again, for example by manually operating a corresponding operator control element. If the deactivation of this function is to be cancelled (YES), the process moves over to method step S5.

[0125] In FIG. 7, a further flowchart that is realizable with the device according to the invention is schematically shown.

[0126] In step S1, a command is issued for starting the motor-operated drive 1 and the measured value sensing with the aid of sensor system 4.

[0127] In step S2, a setpoint value interrogation is performed from a memory device associated with the control apparatus.

[0128] In the subsequent step S3, there is an interrogation of a sensor system 4, for example of a potentiometer belonging to the sensor system 4, with regard to the actual value of the actuator to be manipulated with the motor-operated drive 1.

[0129] In the subsequent step S4, the setpoint value is compared to the actual value of an evaluation apparatus belonging to the control apparatus. The result of the comparison then serves as the basis for calculating the number of motor steps which are still necessary in order to make the actual value correspond to the setpoint value.

[0130] In the next step S5, the calculated number of the still necessary motor steps is output as a signal to the actuator manipulated [with] the motor-operated drive 1.

[0131] It should be noted here that in the procedure shown in FIG. 7, the motor-operated drive 1 can in particular be designed as a stepping motor or that the motor-operated drive 1 can be actuated in the manner of a stepping motor, specifically in contrast to the other actuating concepts where the motor-operated drive 1 is rather driven in the manner of a servo motor. This is possible in particular because the flowchart schematically shown in FIG. 7 predicts the necessary motor steps.

[0132] FIG. 8 schematically shows a flowchart for a sequential motor control with position control.

[0133] In step S1, a command is issued for starting the motor-operated drive 1 and the measured value sensing with the aid of sensor system 4.

[0134] In step S2, a setpoint value interrogation is performed from a memory device associated with the control apparatus.

[0135] In the subsequent step S3, there is an interrogation of a sensor system 4, for example of a potentiometer belonging to the sensor system 4, with regard to the actual value of the actuator manipulated with the motor-operated drive 1. In the subsequent step S4, the setpoint value is compared to the actual value of an evaluation apparatus belonging to the control apparatus. If the result of this comparison reveals that the actual value corresponds to or at least substantially corresponds to the setpoint value, the flowchart proceeds to the next step S6, where a message goes to the control apparatus to the effect that the setpoint position has been reached, so that the motor-operated drive 1 can be stopped.

[0136] If, on the other hand, it is determined in step S4 that the actual value does not (yet) at least sufficiently correspond to the setpoint value, the method proceeds to the next step S5, where a further stepping signal is output to the motor-operated drive 1. Steps S3, S4, and possibly S5 are subsequently repeated, specifically until the actual value ultimately sufficiently corresponds to the setpoint value, and the setpoint position is thus reached and the motor-operated drive can be stopped.

[0137] FIG. 9 schematically shows a flowchart for a parallel drive control for adjusting the actuator of the air vent 3.

[0138] In step S1, a command is issued for starting the motor-operated drive 1 and the measured value sensing with the aid of sensor system 4.

[0139] In step S3, a setpoint value interrogation is performed from a memory device associated with the control apparatus.

[0140] In the subsequent step S4, there is an interrogation of a sensor system 4, for example of a potentiometer belonging to the sensor system 4, with regard to the actual value of the actuator manipulated with the motor-operated drive 1.

[0141] In the subsequent step S5, the setpoint value is compared to the actual value of an evaluation apparatus belonging to the control apparatus. If the result of this comparison reveals that the actual value corresponds to or at least substantially corresponds to the setpoint value, a stop command is generated and the flowchart returns to step S2.

[0142] In step S2, it is interrogated whether or not a stop command from step S5 is present. If it is detected in step S2 that a stop command from step S5 is present, the method proceeds to step S7, wherein, in step S7, a message goes to the control apparatus to the effect that the setpoint position has been reached, so that the motor-operated drive 1 can be stopped.

[0143] On the other hand, if the check in step S2 reveals that such a stop command from step S5 is not (yet) present, the method proceeds to step S6, wherein, in step S6, a further stepping signal is output to the motor-operated drive 1.

[0144] If, however, the comparison made in step S5 shows that the actual value does not correspond or at least substantially does not correspond, the flowchart returns to step S4, and there is an interrogation of a sensor system 4, for example of a potentiometer belonging to the sensor system 4, with regard to the actual value of the actuator manipulated with the motor-operated drive 1.

[0145] FIG. 10 schematically shows a flowchart for a further sequential motor control with position control.

[0146] In step S1, a command is issued for starting the motor-operated drive 1 and the measured value sensing with the aid of sensor system 4.

[0147] In step S2, a setpoint value interrogation is performed from a memory device associated with the control apparatus.

[0148] In the subsequent step S3, there is an interrogation of a sensor system 4, for example of a potentiometer belonging to the sensor system 4, with regard to the actual value of the actuator manipulated with the motor-operated drive 1.

[0149] In the subsequent step S4, the setpoint value is compared to the actual value of an evaluation apparatus belonging to the control apparatus. The result of the comparison then serves as the basis for calculating the number of motor steps which are still necessary in order to make the actual value correspond to the setpoint value.

[0150] In step S5, it is determined whether or not the setpoint value corresponds to the actual value.

[0151] If the result of this comparison reveals that the actual value corresponds to or at least substantially corresponds to the setpoint value, the flowchart proceeds to the next step S7, where a message goes to the control apparatus to the effect that the setpoint position has been reached, so that the motor-operated drive 1 can be stopped.

[0152] If, on the other hand, it is determined in step S5 that the actual value does not (yet) at least sufficiently correspond to the setpoint value, the method proceeds to step S6, where a further stepping signal is output to the motor-operated drive 1.

[0153] Steps S5, S7, and possibly S6 are subsequently repeated, specifically until the actual value ultimately sufficiently corresponds to the setpoint value, and the setpoint position is thus reached and the motor-operated drive can be stopped.

[0154] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, but rather results when all of the features disclosed herein are considered together.

[0155] In particular, the invention is not limited to embodiments in which the sensor system comprises absolute value sensors. Rather, it is also conceivable, for example, to sense the actual position of the actuator directly via relative value sensors (for example, encoders). Such relative-value sensors can also detect a blocking or adjustment of the actuator; however, relative-value sensors would need to be calibrated accordingly at every restart.