C.r.f. Societa Consortile Per Azioni

Paolo Santero

Riccardo Groppo

Alberto Manzone

Eugenio Faggioli

Fabio De Giacomo

A control device () for an electro-actuator () comprising a first and a second input terminal () connected to an electrical energy source (); a first and a second output terminal () connected to the electro-actuator (); and selectively controlled switches () which can be activated in order to connect the first and second output terminals () to the first and second input terminals () in predetermined operative conditions; the controlled switches () comprise first controlled switches () which are connected between the first input terminal () and the first output terminal () and second controlled switches () which are connected between the second input terminal () and the second output terminal (); the control device () additionally comprises first sensors () which are connected to the ends of the first controlled switches () and provide a first signal (V) which is indicative of the current flowing in the first controlled switches ().

Control device for electro-actuators with protection against short-circuits to ground or to the supply of the terminals of the electro-actuators

The control circuit comprises a source of dc voltage, a first electronic switch, interposed between a first terminal of the voltage source and a corresponding first terminal of the load, a second electronic switch, interposed between the other or second terminal of the load and the other or second terminal of the source, a current recirculation device, including a diode connected between the said first terminal of the load and the other or second terminal of the voltage source to allow a circulation current in the load when the first switch is open, and a control circuit arranged to control the switches in a predetermined manner. The recirculation device further includes a third electronic switch disposed between the first terminal of the load and the other or second terminal of the voltage source, and the control unit is arranged to control this third switch in a synchronous manner, but in phase opposition, in relation to the first switch.

Circuit for controlling inductive loads, in particular of electro actuators, at high efficiency

There is described a method of operating a device () controlling electric actuators (), and having a pair of input terminals () connected to an electric energy source (); a number of pairs of output terminals (), between each of which a respective electric actuator () is connected in use; and controlled switches () for connecting the electric actuators () to the electric energy source () independently of one another; the method including the step of controlling the controlled switches () to supply an electric current to the electric actuators () via the electric energy source (). The controlling step includes the steps of: determining the possibility of a subsequent operating condition in which specific electric actuators () are supplied simultaneously with electric current from the electric energy source (); and temporally phase shifting the electric currents supplied to the specific electric actuators (), to reduce the effective value of the electric current drawn from the electric energy source ().

Method of operating a device for controlling electric actuators with optimum actuation current distribution

A power circuit provided with an operating circuit for each electrical actuator and including a set of switches controlled selectively to regulate the current flowing through the electrical actuator. The operating device includes a control circuit which can cause the operation of the power circuit and in turn includes a set of control modules, each of which can selectively operate the switches of a corresponding operating circuit, and can supply a state signal (S) indicating the operating state of the control module. A synchronization module receives and processes the state signals (S), to generate a common synchronization signal (S) which synchronizes the control modules. Each control module being capable of coordinating the operating actions sent to the switches of the corresponding operating circuit with the operating actions sent by the other control modules to the corresponding switches, in accordance with the synchronization signal (S).

Operating device for inductive electrical actuators

A description is provided of a device () for control of an electro-actuator (), comprising a first and a second input terminal () which are connected to an electrical energy source (); and a first and a second output terminal () which are connected to the electro-actuator (). The control device () additionally comprises a threshold comparator () which can compare the voltage (V,V) present at the first or second output terminal () of the control device () with a threshold voltage (V) and can generate a signal (V) which is indicative of the instant of end of actuation of the electro-actuator, when this voltage (V,V) passes through the threshold voltage (V).

Device for control of electro-actuators with detection of the instant of end of actuation, and method for detection of the instant of end of actuation of an electro-actuator

In a single device for controlling electro-injectors and electrovalves in an internal-combustion engine, a first control circuit for each electro-injector, a second control circuit for each electrovalve, and a timing circuit, supplying timing signals to the first and second control circuits. In the second control circuit, switches selectively connect the respective electrovalve to a first voltage source in certain given operating conditions, and to a boosted voltage source, constituted by a capacitor for accumulation of energy, in certain other given operating conditions. In this way, part of the electrical energy accumulated in the electrovalve during its normal actuation is transferred to the capacitor, thus causing the latter to be recharged.

Single device for controlling fuel electro-injectors and electrovalves in an internal-combustion engine, and method of operating the same

A drive device for electrical injectors of a common rail fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine has a power circuit, in turn having a drive circuit, for each electrical injector, with a number of switches controlled selectively to regulate the current flowing through the electrical injector; and a control circuit for controlling operation of the power circuit; the control circuit having a number of control modules, each for selectively controlling the switches of a respective drive circuit, and for supplying a state signal (S) indicating the operating state of the control module; and a synchronization module for receiving and processing the state signals (S) to generate a common synchronization signal (S) for synchronizing the control modules; each control module synchronizing and coordinating, as a function of the synchronization signal (S), the drive actions imparted to the switches of the respective drive circuit, with the drive actions imparted by the other control modules to the corresponding switches.

Drive device for electrical injectors of an internal combustion engine common rail fuel injection system

A drive device for inductive electroactuators equipped with a power circuit comprising a drive circuit for each electroactuator; each drive circuit comprising a series of selectively controlled transistors for regulating the current flowing through the electroactuator; a control circuit which is capable of driving the operation of each control circuit and a series of control modules, each of which controls the transistors of an associated control circuit; and a memory having at least two memory areas each storing the same operating parameters for the drive circuits; an internal microcontroller for reading the operating parameters; and a series of pointer registers which cooperate with the internal microcontroller and with an external microcontroller to define access of the external microcontroller to one of the memory areas and simultaneously to define access of the internal microcontroller to the other memory area, and to swap the access rights of the internal microcontroller and of the external microcontroller to the two memory areas.

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Orbassano, Italy

Paolo Santero