Method for Operating a Control Component of an Air Mass Flow Rate Controller and Control Component of an Air Mass Flow Rate Controller

Abstract

A method for operating a control component of an air mass flow rate controller for a drive machine of a motor vehicle, with which an actuator moves a control element into a target position and the position of the control element is detected by a sensor element in communication with a controller. The method includes: switching, in a rest mode, the actuator to a de-energized state; detecting, by the sensor element, the position of the control element indirectly or directly; and driving, by the controller, the actuator to correct the position of the control element in the event of a detected change of the position of the control element.

Claims

1-5. (canceled)

6. A method for operating a control component (1) of an air mass flow rate controller for a drive machine of a motor vehicle, with which an actuator (5) moves a control element (3) into a target position and the position of the control element (3) is detected by a sensor element (10) in communication with a controller (9), the method comprising: switching, in a rest mode, the actuator (5) to a de-energized state; detecting, by the sensor element (10), the position of the control element (3) indirectly or directly; and driving, by the controller (9), the actuator (5) to correct the position of the control element (3) in the event of a detected change of the position of the control element (3).

7. A control component (1) of an air mass flow rate controller for a drive machine of a motor vehicle, comprising: a control element (3) configured to control a cross-section of a line; an actuator (5) configured to drive the control element (3); a controller (9) configured to actuate the actuator (5); and a sensor element (10) configured to detect the position of the control element (3), wherein the sensor element (10) is configured to output an activation pulse when the actuator (5) is turned off.

8. The control component as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sensor element (10) is arranged between the actuator (5) and a gearbox (8) coupled to the control element (3).

9. The control component as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sensor element (10) comprises a Hall sensor (11).

10. The control component as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuator (5) has a drive shaft (6) having a magnet (7) disposed thereon, and the sensor element (10) is arranged opposite the magnet (7).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The invention can have numerous embodiments. To further illustrate the basic principle thereof, one of the embodiments is represented in the figures and is described below. In the figures:

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a control component of an air mass flow rate controller for a drive machine of a motor vehicle; and

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a method for actuating the control component in a rest mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a control component 1 of an air mass flow rate controller for a drive machine, which is not shown, of a motor vehicle. The drive machine can be a combustion engine or a fuel cell system. The control component 1 has a flap-shaped control element 3 disposed in a tube 2. The control element 3 is disposed on a shaft 4 and can be driven by an actuator 5 implemented as an electric servomotor. The actuator 5 has a drive shaft 6 on which a magnet 7 is disposed. A gearbox 8 is disposed between the drive shaft 6 and the shaft 4 of the control element 3. The gearbox 8 is preferably of a self-locking design, so that the drive shaft 6 cannot be displaced from the control element 3 side. Furthermore, the control component 1 has a controller 9 that is connected to a sensor element 10 implemented as a Hall sensor. In the represented exemplary embodiment with a Hall sensor 11, the sensor element 10 is disposed opposite the magnet 7 that is disposed on the drive shaft 6 and produces an electrical pulse during the movement of the magnet 7 that is forwarded to the controller 9. The controller 9 also actuates the actuator 5 to drive the control element 3.

[0018] If the controller 9 switches the actuator 5 to the deenergized state in a rest mode, changes of the position of the magnet 7 and thereby of the drive shaft 6, for example produced by vibrations, are detected by the sensor element 10. The pulse produced during this is used as an activation pulse for activating the actuator 5 in the rest mode.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a method for actuating the actuator 5 from FIG. 1 that is switched into the deenergized state in the rest mode. In the step S1, a change of the position of the magnet 7 is detected by the sensor element 10 and an activation pulse is sent to the controller 9. In the step S2, the controller 9 activates the actuator 5, which then drives the control element 3 by means of the drive shaft 6. In the step S3, the newly set position of the actuator 5 and hence of the control element 3 is detected. Once the intended position of the control element 3 is reached, the actuator 5 is switched back to the deenergized state in a step S4.

[0020] Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.