End position detection of actuators

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for end position detection of actuators.

Claims

1. A method for detection of an end position of an actuator moved by an electric motor, the method comprising: actuating the electric motor using signal pulses; adding measured mutual induction voltages that are generated by the actuating; and detecting the end position in response to determining that a sum of the measured mutual induction voltages reaches a given value; and halting movement of the actuator upon detecting the end position in response to determining that the sum of the measured mutual induction voltages reaches the given value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the given value is a value contingent upon a specific layout of the actuator that takes on a same value for a plurality of actuators of a model series.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: before the actuating, storing, by a controller that is connected to the actuator, the given value, wherein the actuating, the adding, the detecting, and the halting are performed by the controller.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actuator moves a latch or a bolt of a lock of a motor vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actuator moves a mirror of a motor vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actuator moves a seat of a motor vehicle or parts of the seat of the motor vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actuator moves a ventilation flap of an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle.

8. A module, comprising: a controller; at least one electric motor; and at least one actuator that is movable by the at least one electric motor, wherein the controller includes a semiconductor full bridge connected to the at least one electric motor, and a read back input connected to a plurality of outputs of the semiconductor full bridge, wherein the read back input forwards a plurality of mutual induction voltages to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter of the controller, and wherein the controller, in operation, adds up the mutual induction voltages, compares a sum of the mutual induction voltages to a given end value, detects an end position of the at least one actuator in response to determining that a sum of the mutual induction voltages reaches a given value, and halts movement of the at least one actuator upon detecting the end position in response to determining that the sum of the mutual induction voltages reaches the given value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The disclosure is presented in the drawings with the aid of one embodiment and shall be further explained with reference to the drawings. There are shown:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a voltage versus time diagram of a motor control of an actuator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of a module according to an embodiment of the disclosure with an actuator connected to a controller.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

(5) FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, and 4f show components for aiding in the understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a voltage versus time diagram 100 of the motor control of an actuator. A plurality of voltage pulses 110 for motor control and plurality of resulting mutual induction voltages 120 can be readily seen in the diagram. No mutual induction voltage is produced when the motor is blocked 130, or when the motor is short circuited 140. In both instances, the output of the power electronics is switched to high impedance (tri-state: Z).

(7) From the mutual induction voltages 120 occurring during the motor control, it is possible to ascertain a path traveled by the actuator. When the actuator reaches its end position, the sum of the mutual induction voltages 120 also reaches a defined value. Therefore, the sum of the mutual induction voltages 120 can be used for the end position detection of the actuator and the motor of the actuator can be halted before it is blocked.

(8) FIG. 2 shows schematically one embodiment of a module according to the disclosure having a controller 10 to which a motor 21 of an actuator 20 is connected. Only the motor 21 of the actuator 20 is shown in the drawing. Motor control occurs through a semiconductor full bridge 11 of the controller 10. A read back input 13 is realized with measuring resistors 12, forwarding the signal to an A/D converter of the controller 10, not shown in the drawing. The mutual induction voltages are added up in the controller 10 and upon reaching the value corresponding to the end position of the actuator 20 the motor 21 is halted and the movement of the actuator 20 is stopped.

(9) FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method for detection of an end position of an actuator moved by an electric motor according to an embodiment of the disclosure. At 150, the method includes actuating an electric motor (e.g., motor 21) using signal pulses. At 152, the method includes adding measured mutual induction voltages that are generated by the actuating. At 154, the method includes detecting the end position if a sum of the measured mutual induction voltages reaches a given value.

(10) FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, and 4f show components for aiding in the understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure. More particularly, FIG. 4a shows a latch 156, FIG. 4b shows a bolt 158, FIG. 4c shows a mirror 160, FIG. 4d shows a seat 162, FIG. 4e shows a ventilation flap 164, and FIG. 4f shows an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 166.

(11) German patent application no. 102022107474.9, filed Mar. 30, 2022, to which this application claims priority, is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.

(12) Aspects of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.