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US 11,486,480 B1Granted
Control of electronic locking differential
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsStuart C. Salter, Brian James Andonian, Gustavo Luis Garcia, Jihong Guo, Andrew Monticello, Joseph Daniel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic locking differential includes a lock ring and a coil that moves the lock ring to engage gears of the electronic locking differential, an energy storage capacitor that powers the coil during at least a portion of engagement of the lock ring with the gears, and a controller. The controller charges the energy storage capacitor to a first predefined voltage prior to the engagement.
Claims18
A driveline system comprising:
- an auxiliary battery;
- an electronic locking differential including a lock ring and a coil configured to move the lock ring to engage gears of the electronic locking differential;
- an energy storage capacitor configured to power the coil during at least a portion of engagement of the lock ring with the gears;
- and
- a controller programmed to charge the energy storage capacitor to a first predefined voltage prior to the engagement, and responsive to discharge of the energy storage capacitor to a second predefined value, continue powering the coil with energy from the auxiliary battery.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- electrically connecting an energy storage capacitor to a coil to power the coil and cause a lock ring of an electronic locking differential to engage gears of the electronic locking differential;
- and
- responsive to discharge of the energy storage capacitor to a predefined value, electrically connecting an auxiliary battery to the coil to power the coil and maintain engagement of the lock ring with the gears.
A driveline system comprising:
- an electronic locking differential including a lock ring and a coil configured to move the lock ring to engage gears of the electronic locking differential;
- an energy storage capacitor configured to power the coil during at least a portion of engagement of the lock ring with the gears;
- a boost circuit configured to charge the energy storage capacitor;
- and
- a controller programmed to reduce an output voltage of the boost circuit responsive to data indicating the lock ring has engaged the gears or upon expiration of a predefined time period.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.