Method for calibrating an actuating device

Abstract

A method for calibrating a device for actuating one or several elements to be actuated of a structure, with the actuating device comprising one or several actuators, characterised in that it comprises the following successive steps: (b1) placing the structure, in particular the element or elements to be actuated of the structure, in a predetermined reference position, (b2) activating a calculation unit to automatically calibrate the actuator or actuators of the actuating device, with the calculation unit able to determine, for the actuator or actuators, the minimum and maximum end stops that define its or their authorised range of movement using the predetermined reference position of the structure, taken as the origin position.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating an actuating device that actuates an element of a structure, the actuating device comprising an actuator, the method comprises: (a1) mounting the actuating device onto the structure, while the structure is in any positon between a minimum structure mechanical end stop and a maximum structure mechanical end stop, (a2) performing an initial calibration of the actuator by: mechanically displacing the actuator over a range of movement required to reach the minimum and maximum structure mechanical end stops, with the actuator being associated with a transducer that provides a measurement value which represents an absolute position of the actuator, with the displacement of the actuator accompanied by a movement of friction on the transducer when the minimum and maximum structure mechanical end stops are reached in order to allow the transducer to provide a first measurement value at the minimum structure mechanical end stop and a second measurement value at the maximum structure mechanical end stop and measurement values over the range of movement of the actuator, determining if the range of movement of the actuator is within a range of measurement values of the transducer defined between the first and second measurement values, and adjusting the positon of the actuator on the structure such that the range of movement of the actuator is within the range of measurement values of the transducer if it is determined that the range of movement of the actuator is not within the range of measurement values of the transducer, (b1) placing the structure, and the element of the structure to be actuated, in a predetermined reference position, (b2) activating a calculation unit to automatically calibrate the actuator of the actuating device, with the calculation unit able to determine, a minimum actuator mechanical end stop and a maximum actuator mechanical end stop that defines its authorised range of movement using the predetermined reference position of the structure, taken as an origin position, said automatic calibration including incremental positive and/or negative movement of the actuator between the minimum and maximum actuator mechanical end stops.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer is a potentiometer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is able to determine the minimum and maximum actuator mechanical end stops by means of a calculation algorithm that applies positive and/or negative increments using the origin position of the actuator defined by the predetermined reference position of the structure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b2) is followed by a step (c1) comprising: (c1) checking proper operation of the actuator in place on the structure after automatic calibration during the step (b2).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b2) is followed by a step (c2) of manual calibrating comprising: (c2) placing the actuator in a median position of its range of movement and activating the calculation unit for the manual calibration of the actuator, with the calculation unit able to memorise the minimum actuator mechanical end stop, the maximum actuator mechanical end stop, or both the minimum and maximum actuator mechanical end stops after the displacement of the actuator to said actuator mechanical end stop or stops.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reference position of the structure corresponds to a configuration for use of the structure.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the structure is an aircraft seat, and wherein the element to be actuated is a seat element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the structure is placed in a single and unique predetermined reference position.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reference position can be any position between the minimum structure mechanical end stop and the maximum structure mechanical end stop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention can be better understood by reading the following detailed description of a non-restricted embodiment of the latter, as well as by examining the diagrammatical and partial figures of the annexed drawing, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an example of a structure in the form of a seat provided with an actuating device,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a diagram showing an embodiment of steps of the method according to the invention, and

(4) FIGS. 3a to 3c show the principle of the step a2 of initialising the copy of the position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT

(5) FIGS. 1, 2 and 3a to 3c show an example embodiment of the method according to the invention.

(6) In reference to FIG. 1, an example of the structure 10 is shown in the form of a seat, for example an aircraft seat, comprising three elements to be actuated 2 in the form of seat elements.

(7) The seat elements 2 correspond for example to an inclinable seatback, a seat portion and a leg rest.

(8) The seat elements 2 of the seat 10 can be displaced in order to modify the configuration for use of the seat 10 by means of an actuating device 1 that comprises actuators 3.

(9) The automatic calibrating of the actuators 3 can be carried out using a calculation unit 4 to which the actuators 3 are connected.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a diagram showing the steps of the method according to the invention, for example implemented on the seat 10 of FIG. 1.

(11) In accordance with the invention, the method comprises at least the steps b1 and b2 shown in FIG. 2, consisting respectively in placing the seat 10, in particular the seat elements 2, in a predetermined reference position, in particular the takeoff position of the seat 10, and in activating the calculation unit 4 for the automatic calibrating of the actuators 3 of the actuating device 1.

(12) The calculation unit 4 is able to determine, for the actuators 3, the minimum and maximum end stops that define their authorised range of movement using the predetermined reference position of the seat 10, taken as the origin position.

(13) More precisely, for a given actuator 3, the calculation unit 4 is able to define its origin position O, corresponding to the position of the actuator 3 when the seat 10 is in the predetermined reference position, and in applying to this origin position O positive increments I.sup.+ and/or negative increments I.sup. making it possible to obtain corresponding positions O+I+ and/or OI of the actuator 3 until two of these corresponding positions make it possible respectively to obtain the minimum and maximum end stops of the actuator 3.

(14) The minimum end stop of the actuator 3 is therefore given by a corresponding position O+I.sup..sub.min and the maximum end stop of the actuator 3 is given by a corresponding position O+I.sup.+.sub.max.

(15) The method can for example be implemented in the following way.

(16) The calculation unit 4 is first of all turned off in a step A before proceeding with calibrating the actuating device 1.

(17) During the B, the operator must determine if the method of calibration concerns the initial calibrations of an actuating device 1 intended to be mounted for the first time on a seat 10 or the calibration of a new actuator 3 intended to be mounted on the seat 10 as a replacement for a defective actuator 3. In these two cases (case O), the method successively comprises the steps a1 and a2. In the opposite case (case N), i.e. no initial calibrating of the actuating device 1 or replacing of an actuator 3, the method immediately comprises the step C following the step B.

(18) The step a1 allows for the mounting of the actuating device 1 on the seat 10, with the seat 10 being in any position before this mounting, and this before even carrying out the calibrating of any actuator 3.

(19) Once the installation of the actuating device 1 has been completed on the seat 10, the step a2 allows an operator to manually displace at least one actuator 3, in particular all of the actuators 3 for an initial calibrating or a replacement actuator 3, over its entire range of movement, with the displacement accompanied by a movement of friction on a transducer associated with the actuator 3, and this in order to allow for a copying of the friction position in relation to the complete movement of the actuator 3 in its range of movement.

(20) To do this, the operator can for example use the manual clutch control of the actuator 3 in order to test if the latter is able to move correctly over its entire course, namely until each of the mechanical end stops.

(21) FIGS. 3a to 3c show more precisely the principle of the step a2 of copying the position on a particular example.

(22) Initially, after the mounting of the actuator 3 on the seat 10, it is possible for example, as shown in FIG. 3a, that the course of the actuator 3, i.e. its range of movement defined by the minimum B.sub.min and maximum B.sub.max end stops, does not correspond to the measurement range of the transducer T defined by the minimum T.sub.min and maximum T.sub.max end stops of the transducer T. More particularly on this example, the transducer T cannot allow for the measurement of the minimum B.sub.min end stop of the actuator 3, the transducer T risks becoming damaged, although the problem does not arise for the reading of the maximum B.sub.max end stop of the actuator 3.

(23) FIG. 3b shows the fact that the displacement of the actuator 3 (according to the arrow F) to its maximum B.sub.max end stop does not give rise to a problem in relation to transducer T in order to allow for the measurement of this maximum B.sub.max end stop because the maximum T.sub.max end stop of the transducer T is located beyond the maximum B.sub.max end stop of the actuator 3.

(24) On the other hand, when the actuator 3 is displaced to its minimum B.sub.min end point (according to the arrow F in FIG. 3c), the transducer T is not able to allow it to be measured due to the lower minimum T.sub.min end stop. Also, as is shown in FIG. 3c, the minimum T.sub.min end stop of the transducer T is displaced in order to be in concordance with the minimum B.sub.min end stop of the actuator 3 via a friction movement.

(25) At the end of the step a2, the method according to the invention then comprises the step C during which the operator has to determine if this will entail a manual calibrating M or an automatic calibrating A of the actuating device 1, with automatic calibrating A being implemented systematically during the method according to the invention in a first step. It may or may not be followed by manual calibrating M.

(26) The first step b1 of the automatic calibrating A consists in placing the seat 10 in the predetermined reference position.

(27) This predetermined reference position is defined beforehand and can for example correspond to a precise configuration for use of the seat 10 for a user or to a configuration wherein actuators 3 are positioned on one of their mechanical end stops.

(28) During the step b1, it is possible to turn on the calculation unit 4 in order to possibly position the seat 10 in the predetermined reference position using the electronic means connected to the control unit 4. However, the calculation unit 4 is again turned off before starting the step F.

(29) The steps F and G respectively make it possible to turn on the calculation unit 4 and to act on the calculation unit 4 in order to place it in calibration mode.

(30) During the step b2, the activation of the automatic calibrating mode of the calculation unit 4 then makes it possible, by means of the calculation algorithm, to determine the minimum and maximum end stops of the actuators 3 by application of positive and/or negative increments using the known predetermined reference position. The calculation unit 4 is able to memorise all of the calculated end stops of the actuators 3.

(31) Finally, during the step c1, the operator checks for the proper operation of the actuators 3 in place on the seat 10 in order to determine if a manual calibrating method M is required to correct one or several end stops of one or several actuators which may have shifted.

(32) For the case where the verification of the operation of the actuators 3 during the step c1 gives a satisfactory result, the method ends with the step c1.

(33) In the opposite case where a manual calibrating M of at least one actuator 3 is required, the method return to the step A during which the calculation unit 4 is again turned off, then the steps B and C lead directly to the step c2.

(34) During the step c2, at least one actuator 3 that has to be recalibrated is placed at approximately half of its course.

(35) To do this, the operator can for example use the manual clutch control of the actuator 3 in order displace the actuator 3 over its entire range of movement and the actuator 3 is then placed in a median position of its range of movement.

(36) The steps F and G respectively make it possible to turn on the calculation unit 4 and to act on the calculation unit 4 in order to place it in calibration mode.

(37) During the step H, the operator displaces the actuator 3 to a new desired end stop. The displacement of the actuator 3 can be carried out mechanically by clutch or electrically using the calculation unit 4.

(38) The step I allows the operator to validate on the calculation unit 4 the placing of the actuator 3 on this new end stop. In order to allow for a visual inspection of the proper taking into account of this new end stop, the actuator 3 is displaced in the direction opposite the end stop that is again calibrated by carrying out a brief movement in order to return and be placed on this newly calibrated end stop.

(39) The step J allows the operator to determine if another end stop of the actuator has to be calibrated. If such is the case, the step J leads again to the step H. Otherwise, the step J leads to the step K which consists for the operator in exiting the calibration mode of the calculation unit 4.

(40) At the end of these steps, the actuating device 1 is entirely calibrated using the knowledge of a single predetermined reference position and without having had to position the seat 10 in a predefined configuration.

(41) The invention can therefore make it possible to incorporate the actuating device 1 onto the seat 10, regardless of the position of the seat 10, and the automatic calibrating of the actuators 3 already in place on the seat 10.

(42) Of course, the invention is not limited to the example embodiment which has just been described.

(43) The expression comprising a must be understood as being synonymous with comprising at least one, unless specified otherwise.