The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 15, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 25, 2003
Thomas Wayne Newman, Flint, MI (US);
Thomas E. Gyoergy, Clarkston, MI (US);
Jeffrey Jean Stege, Linden, MI (US);
Chris D. Robinson, Grand Blanc, MI (US);
Lawrence Dean Hazelton, Goodrich, MI (US);
Thomas Wayne Newman, Flint, MI (US);
Thomas E. Gyoergy, Clarkston, MI (US);
Jeffrey Jean Stege, Linden, MI (US);
Chris D. Robinson, Grand Blanc, MI (US);
Lawrence Dean Hazelton, Goodrich, MI (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A smart actuator and method includes an actuating device adapted to deliver a selected driving torque to a geartrain that is coupled to an output shaft and adapted to selectively convey the driving torque from the actuating device to the output shaft to achieve a selected shaft position. At least one logic and control device operates the various aspects of the smart actuator. The geartrain includes at least one locking gear including locking features defining a plurality of gear positions. A position lock solenoid is adapted to engage the locking gear at a selected gear position once the geartrain has achieved the selected shaft position on the output shaft. The position lock solenoid then holds the gear at the selected gear position. The actuating device is shut off after the position lock solenoid has engaged the locking gear thereby achieving and holding a high torque without driving a lot of current.