Borgwarner Inc.

Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc.

Brian Wightman

Robert D Keefover

Ryan Howell

Martin P Bogen

James C Sharpe

Masashi Saito

A method, using multiple position sensors, for determining a characteristic of the actuator or a system, wherein the characteristic is causing or is indicative of the cause of the change in position of the actuator. One characteristic may be the lost motion of the actuator or system. Lost motion is the lag between the motion of a controlled device and that of an electrical drive device due to yielding or looseness. The lost motion of an actuator may increase as components wear and may eventually degrade the function or cause failure of the actuator and/or system.

Method and actuator for use on an engine having a monitoring arrangement for determining a characteristic of [(and)] the actuator and system

A circuit board assembly includes a primary circuit board extending in a first plane and configured to control electrical distribution and a secondary circuit board extending in a second plane, different from the first plane, with the primary and secondary circuit boards spaced from and substantially parallel with one another, and with the secondary circuit board abutting the primary circuit board such that the primary and secondary circuit boards are electrically coupled to one another. The circuit board assembly further includes at least one sensor disposed on the secondary circuit board and electrically coupled to the secondary circuit board such that the at least one sensor is electrically coupled to the primary circuit board through the secondary circuit board, with the secondary circuit board positioning the at least one sensor in proximity with the at least one magnet for detecting the position of the at least one magnet.

Circuit board assembly having a secondary circuit board abutting a primary circuit board, with at least one sensor disposed on the secondary circuit board

An actuator assembly moves an output shaft. The actuator assembly includes a housing having at least first, second, and third sections at least partially defining first and second cavities, with the third section between the first and second sections. A motor assembly has a rotatable drive shaft and is coupled to the third section. The motor assembly is at least partially disposed in the first cavity and the drive shaft is at least partially disposed in the second cavity. At least one drive gear is within the second cavity and is fixed to the drive shaft. At least one driven gear is within the second cavity and is coupled with the output shaft. The at least one driven gear is coupled to the third section of the housing and is rotatably coupled with the at least one drive gear to transmit rotation from the drive shaft to the output shaft.

Actuator assembly having at least one driven gear coupled to a housing

A method for determining the absolute angle of an angle position sensor over a predetermined rotation range and in which the sensor generates a repeating periodic analog signal across the rotation range. The initial position of the sensor is stored in memory when the sensor is in a predetermined initial angular position. Thereafter, the angular position of the sensor within the rotation range is determined as a function of both the sensor output signal and the stored angular position of the sensor. The current position of the sensor is iteratively stored in memory. Additionally, the sensor output is calibrated by dividing the sensor output into a plurality of arc segments across the rotation range. A polynomial curve fit is then applied to each arc segment to determine the calibration for the sensor and this calibration data is subsequently utilized to provide a signal representative of the absolute angle of the position sensor over the rotation range.

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Davisburg, MI, United States of America

Brian Wightman