Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.

Joseph P Whinnery

John Riden Suriano

Sergei Kolomeitsev

Hong Jiang

Thomas James Gallagher

Jon C Everhart, Jr

Harry C Buchanan, Jr

Richard Louis Ponziani

Thierry Roger Caussat

David M Wenrick

John G Buechele

A fault-handling system for a 2-phase motor. When an electric motor is used for power assist in a steering system in a vehicle, malfunctions can cause loss of assist, and detectable vibration. The invention utilizes a 2-phase motor in such an application, and implements alternate modes of operation when certain malfunctions occur, thereby maintaining the assist function in situations wherein the function would otherwise be lost or reduced.

Fault-handling system for electric power steering system

An apparatus and method for controlling sinusoidal currents in inductive loads during zero-crossing to reduce distortion. The apparatus and method utilizes first and second PWM signals during a single PWM cycle to apply opposite voltage signals to obtain a net desired voltage across the inductive load. The voltage applied to the load is compared with a threshold and, when the applied voltage is greater than the threshold, normal PWM signals are applied to the load, and when the applied voltage is less than the threshold, an adjusted voltage formed of first and second PWM signals is applied to the load.

Zero-crossing correction in sinusoidally commutated motors

A control system for an electric motor. Field Oriented Control, FOC, uses a digital control system, and attempts to maintain the rotating stator magnetic field ninety degrees ahead of the rotor field, in order to maximize torque. However, if a three-phase motor is used, which is very common, large amounts of computation are required, to convert from a three-phase coordinate system to an orthogonal coordinate system. The invention replaces the three-phase motor with a two-phase motor, which has been found to impose certain additional costs, but also provides benefits.

Electric power steering system for a vehicle

The apparatus and method includes a panel movable between at least two positions. An electric motor has a rotating armature. A multiple pole magnet is mounted on the armature. A sensor detects the passage of each magnet pole and generates an output signal. A control measures time periods between each pole passage. An average time period is computed over a predetermined number of time periods. The difference between average time periods is computed and compared with a threshold difference to determine if an obstacle is present in the path of movement of the panel. Transient counts are accumulated for increasing average time periods over a number of time period samples as a measurement of the force exerted on an obstacle by the panel to detect an obstacle.

Motor speed-based anti-pinch control apparatus and method

A control apparatus and method for a panel movable between at least two positions by an electric motor having a rotatable armature. The control generates time periods for the rotation of the armature over a constant angular distance. An average time period is computed over a predetermined number of time periods and compared with a threshold time period to determine if an obstacle is present in the path of movement of the closure. Transient counts are accumulated for increasing average time periods over a number of time period samples to detect an obstacle. A compensation factor is used to adjust a threshold upon detecting a start-up transient during an initial movement of the motor armature coupled to the panel to delay activation of obstacle detection until the start-up transient diminishes.

Motor speed-based anti-pinch control apparatus and method with start-up transient detection and compensation

A powered panel control apparatus and method is used with an electric motor having a rotatable armature. The control detects and generates time periods between the rotation of the armature over a predetermined constant amount of angular rotation. An average time period is computed over a predetermined number of time periods and compared with a threshold time period to determine if an obstacle is present in the path of movement of the panel. Transient counts are accumulated for increasing average time periods over a number of time period samples to detect an obstacle. Endzone ramp compensation adjusts a threshold for the initial entry of the panel into a seal.

Motor speed-based anti-pinch control apparatus and method with endzone ramp detection and compensation

A powered panel control apparatus and method using an electric motor with a rotatable armature. The control generates time periods for a predetermined amount of angular rotation of the motor armature during one complete rotation. An average time period is computed over a predetermined number of time periods and compared with a threshold time period to determine if an obstacle is present in the path of movement of the panel. Transient counts are accumulated for increasing average time periods over a number of time period samples to detect an obstacle. A threshold for normal noise variations is adjusted upon detection of a rough road condition to compensate for the effect of rough road conditions on the powered panel control apparatus.

Motor speed-based anti-pinch control apparatus and method with rough road condition detection and compensation

An intelligent wiper system and method for wiping a windshield is disclosed having a microprocessor which controls the operation of a motor and which is capable of setting a baseline delay time using one or more wipe times, with the baseline delay time generally corresponding to a time interval between consecutive wipes of at least one wiper blade. The system and method automatically adjusts the baseline delay time in response to the second wipe time if the second wipe time is not substantially the same as a function of the first wipe time, wherein the function includes a predetermined constant which is at least one hundred percent of a first wipe time. An upper baseline wipe time threshold and a lower baseline wipe time threshold may be established such that the delay time is not adjusted if a current wipe time falls between such thresholds.

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Auburn Hills, MI, United States of America

Joseph P Whinnery