Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, Inc.

Other

Dan Rogovin

Dennis A Kramer

Ira B Goldberg

Pascal Emanuel Garrido

Charles Berry Hopson

Enrico Fin

George Chene

Stephen Chiu

David M Barry

Jerome Quere

Craig Rae Fowler

A system for controlling multiple vehicle includes a twelve volt (12V)/forty-two volt (42V) battery power distribution system that provides direct current. The system converts single phase alternating current to multiple phase alternating current to simultaneously power multiple vehicle systems. A single pulse width modulation generator converts the direct current from the 12V/42V battery power distribution system to alternating current. This provides one power supply path of alternating current, which has a first phase. A splitter device splits the one power supply path of alternating current into three power paths. A lead/lag circuit is used to shift the alternating current of the second path to a second phase different than the first phase of the first power supply path. A second lead/lag circuit for shifts the alternating current of the third path to a third phase different than the first phase or the second phase. This creates a three-phase alternating current power from a single direct current source. The three-phase alternating current is used to power a plurality of induction motors that operate multiple vehicle systems.

Conversion of single phase to multiple phase alternating current

An AC motor is utilized to drive a closure on a vehicle. The use of the AC motor provides valuable benefits with regard to cost and size. Further, a three-phase AC motor may be utilized, and the pulses in its power supply monitored to determine an obstruction in the path of the closure. Frequency control may also be utilized to provide optimum control of the drive of the component at both start-up and stop.

AC motors for driving vehicle closures

An apparatus for controlling multiple vehicle systems includes a single power supply that provides a direct current source. The power supply is comprised of a thirty-six volt (36 V) battery power distribution system. A converter is electrically connected to the power supply to convert direct current to alternating current. A plurality of induction motors are used to operate various vehicle systems. The motors receive alternating current via electrical connections between the converter and the motors. A central processor is connected to relays sending power to each of the motors and provides control signals to the motors based on input from control members used to activate each of the various vehicle systems. At least one sensor is associated with each of the motors to monitor voltage or current of the respective motor and to generate a diagnostic signal that is sent to the processor. The processor generates a warning signal when any of the diagnostic signals indicates that voltage within the respective motor is outside a predetermined range. A piezoelectric material is associated with each of the motors to provide an internal control signal for the motor. The piezoelectric material can be used to control acceleration or deceleration of the motor based on the rotational force of a rotor within the motor or can be use to activate an auxiliary winding in the motor based on mechanical input to the respective controller.

Control system for an electric motor

A plurality of motors for use in driving accessories on a vehicle, are each powered by three-phase current. A single controller controls the supply three-phase current to the plurality of motors. In another aspect of the invention, pseudothree-phase current is created from a direct current voltage source. A chopping circuit chops the voltage into a plurality of pulses, and a phase shift circuit then creates phase-shifted power signals from those pulses. The present invention thus enables the use of three-phase alternating current motors on a vehicle to drive accessories. This reduces the cost and size of the required motors.

Controls to incorporate three-phase motors into vehicles

A method and apparatus for controlling a power window system using a motor torque parameter value are disclosed. The motor of the power window system is operated under varying operating conditions such that resulting torque parameter values may be obtained. The torque parameter values are tabulated according to corresponding operating conditions such that the control system of the power window system is capable of operating the power window based upon the table values. Based upon the determined torque parameter values, the control system is capable of determining the amount of time to apply power to the motor in order to achieve a predetermined amount of angular rotation of the rotor and displacement of the power window, and the table of values may be utilized in current prediction and window location algorithms.

Method and apparatus for controlling a power window system using a motor torque parameter

A method and apparatus for determining the position of a rotor of a motor in a power window system is disclosed. The current applied to the motor is measured with respect to time so that the counter electromotive force resulting from rotor inertia may be calculated by the control system of the power window system using a motor equation solved for the counter electromotive force. The time at which the sign of the counter electromotive force changes corresponds to the time at which the rotor has changed direction so that the position of the rotor may be determined with a higher precision.

Method and apparatus for determining motor rotation in a power window system

The present invention discloses a novel method and apparatus for determining the position of a window glass in an aperture window as between one of two or more regions. Further, the present invention discloses a method and apparatus for determining the direction of travel of a window. The present invention senses the position and direction of travel of a window by measuring the amount of current in a motor that is suitable for moving the window as the window passes one or more elastic objects.

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Newbury Park, CA, United States of America

Dan Rogovin