Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation

Rassem Ragheb Henry

Thaddeus Schroeder

Thomas W Nehl

Balarama Vempaty Murty

Bruno P Lequesne

Nady Boules

Malakondaiah Naidu

Michael A Applebee

Chandra S Namuduri

Avoki M Omekanda

Sayeed Ahmad Mir

Shaotang Chen

Bruno P B Lequesne

Bruno Patrice Bernard

Atef Gayed

Bruno Lesquesne

Thomas Wolfgang Nehl

A method for controlling a force exerted by an actuator on a load, the actuator being driven by a motor, the method including the steps of modeling the force as a function of at least one parameter, the parameter having an initial value, determining a new value for the parameter, determining an observed force based at least in part upon the new value for the parameter and controlling a positioned of the actuator based at least in part upon the observed force.

Method for controlling electromechanical brakes using parameter identification and no additional sensors

A first method for estimating a torque/force exerted by a load against an actuator driven by an electric motor against the load includes measuring motor current of the electric motor and measuring a position/angle or speed/angular speed of the actuator and includes calculating the torque/force exerted by the load against the actuator using at least a difference between a calculated motor torque/force and a calculated actuator-experienced torque/force. A second method includes measuring input voltage of the electric motor instead of measuring motor current. A third method includes measuring both motor current and input voltage. In one example, without limitation, the actuator is an automotive electromechanical brake caliper.

Estimating torque/force exerted by a load against a motor-driven actuator

A magnetic sensor provides an output voltage range having first and second linear slopes. Proper selection of magnetic sensor dimensions enables changes in magnetic flux density upon the passage of at least one tooth and one slot of a target wheel past the magnetic sensor to be represented as a linear magnetic sensor output comprised of at least one linear range whereby linear interpolation of position is possible with appropriate signal processing algorithms.

Combined incremental and linear magnetic sensor

A combination starter-generator system for use in a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has an internal combustion engine and a battery. The system includes a starter-generator electrically coupled to the battery to generate a current and to start the internal combustion engine. A drive mechanism connects the starter-generator machine and the internal combustion engine. The starter-generator machine generates the current by receiving a charging torque from one side of the drive mechanism and starts the internal combustion engine by imparting a starting torque to a different side of the drive mechanism. The charging torque or the starting torque is a greater torque. A passive tensioning system cooperates with the drive mechanism to tension the drive mechanism only at the side of the greater torque.

Combination starter-generator

A rotary position sensor featuring a magnetized rotor which produces a magnetic flux density that varies sinusoidally with respect to the angular position of the rotor, which may be either a selectively magnetized ring or disk. The magnetic flux density produced by the rotor is measured by a sensor that responds in a linear fashion to the magnitude of the radial component of the magnetic flux density. Typical embodiments would use magnetic flux density sensors, as for example either linear Hall sensors or magnetoresistive type sensors. The measured magnetic flux densities are then used as in a traditional resolver to compute position or used to directly generate control signals to operate, for example, a motor.

Compact rotary magnetic position sensor having a sinusoidally varying output

A method for measuring a rotary position of an electric machine includes read a pulse counter that counts a sequence of pulses. The sequence of pulses is related to the rotary position. A determination as to whether a new pulse has been detected is performed. And a computation of a new angle that is related to the rotary position. A speed measuring circuit that includes an input having a set of position signals and an output having a set of speed signals may include the method for measuring a rotary position of an electric machine.

Low cost approach to measuring high resolution rotary position of electric machines

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for torque control of a PM synchronous machine. The method includes obtaining a torque command signal and a machine speed and determining an operating mode in response to the torque command signal and the machine speed. The operating mode includes a first operating mode and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, a stator phase voltage magnitude is computed and an angle between the stator phase voltage and a stator phase back emf is determined in response to the stator phase voltage magnitude. In the second operating mode, the stator phase voltage is set to a predetermined magnitude and the angle between the stator phase voltage and the stator phase back emf is determined in response to the predetermined magnitude.

Method and apparatus for torque control of a machine

A rotary actuator for a vehicle having an electric/hydraulic motor that is used to rotate a strut tube. The motor is mounted inside the suspension spring and around the tubular portion of the strut tube. A first shaft receives the output of the motor and transfers it to a gearbox that reduces the speed. A second shaft receives the output of the gearbox. A torque rod is attached to the opposite end of the second shaft and transfers the rotation of the second shaft through a semi-circular slot in the spring seat to a annular member. The annular member is further attached back to the strut tube, thus when the motor is energized, the rotation is transferred through the assembly to the strut tube causing it to rotate and steer the road wheel to which it is attached.

Rotary actuator assembly

Disclosed is an electric motor system with reduced torque ripple comprising a sinusoidally magnetized permanent magnet, a sinusoidal inverter, a higher resolution position sensor, a composite iron stator yoke, a composite reinforced plastic rotor core and shaft; and a high gear ratio gear reduction box. The novel combination of magnet, inverter, sensor, plastic rotor core and shaft and high gear ratio gear box substantially reduces the torque ripple on the shaft of said motor system.

Torque ripple free electric power steering

A voltage mode control method and apparatus for extending speed range operation from a sinusoidally excited permanent magnet motor is described. The method includes a determination of a maximum value from a first set of parameters with each parameter having a known maximum value as well as a reading of a second set of parameters. A computation of a first derived angle using the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters is then performed. A computation of amplitude of phase voltage and a second derived angle using the first derived angle follows. A resultant output comprising a set of derived command voltages for controlling a power circuit is created whereby the power circuit can achieve required torque levels with lower currents for power switches.

Extended speed range operation of permanent magnet brushless machines using optimal phase angle control in the voltage mode operation

A method for assembling a permanent magnet ring on a rotor body for an electric motor or generator where the body has a higher coefficient of expansion than the permanent magnet ring includes the steps of sizing the internal diameter of the ring for the greatest thermal expansion of the rotor and introducing longitudinal grooves in the rotor surface uniformly spaced about its circumference to accommodate the expansion of the adhesive used to bond the ring to the rotor.

Method of assembling a magnet ring on a rotor

A motor control includes position transducers for generating crankshaft position and motor position pulse trains. The pulse trains are compared to detect any phase difference between engine and motor. Tables are generated to define the desired phase difference needed for particular valve characteristics. The phase difference represents the instantaneous deviation from the basic profile. One of the tables is selected according to the engine conditions and the motor is driven to achieve the desired phase differences.

Method and apparatus for electrically driving engine valves

An apparatus comprising a variable force suspension system including a wheel, a body portion and a variable force actuator, a sensor for detecting a relative velocity between the wheel and the body portion, a control circuit for detecting an occurrence of a present sign change in the relative velocity, for determining a time lapse between the present sign change and a previous sign change in the relative velocity, and for determining control gains responsive to the determined time lapse, and an actuator controller for controlling the variable force actuator responsive to the determined control gains.

Vehicle suspension system with gain scheduling

A cam mechanism is employed to convert motor rotation to reciprocating valve motion. Motor speed is reduced at the valve opening and closing times to reduce stress on the cam mechanism.

An apparatus comprising a rotating element, a rotary to linear converter, a linearly moving element that linearly extends and retracts when the rotating element rotates in first and second directions, a rotary sensor assembly, integrally constructed with the rotating element, for determining relative movement of the rotating element and for thereby determining relative movement of the linearly moving element, a linear sensor assembly, integrally constructed with the linearly moving element, for providing an absolute position signal each time that the linearly moving element extends or retracts to a predetermined position.

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Clinton Township, MI, United States of America

Rassem Ragheb Henry