US 2015/0083508 A1Published application

Multi-functional electric module for a vehicle

AssigneesU.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, GM Global Technology Operations LLC

InventorsWilliam J. Bluethmann, Thomas M. Waligora, Nathan Fraser-Chanpong, Ryan Reed, Akinjide Akinniyi Akinyode, Ivan Spain, Andrew D. Dawson, Joshua M. Figuered, Eduardo Herrera, Mason M. Markee, Robert L. Vitale, Chunhao J. Lee, Lucien Q. Junkin, Ross Briant Winn, James Jonathan Rogers, Raymond Guo

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Abstract

A multi-functional electric module (eModule) is provided for a vehicle having a chassis, a master controller, and a drive wheel having a propulsion-braking module. The eModule includes a steering control assembly, mounting bracket, propulsion control assembly, brake controller, housing, and control arm. The steering control assembly includes a steering motor controlled by steering controllers in response to control signals from the master controller. A mounting feature of the bracket connects to the chassis. The propulsion control assembly and brake controller are in communication with the propulsion-braking module. The control arm connects to the lower portion and contains elements of a suspension system, with the control arm being connectable to the drive wheel via a wheel input/output block. The controllers are responsive to the master controller to control a respective steering, propulsion, and braking function. The steering motor may have a dual-wound stator with windings controlled via the respective steering controllers.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A multi-functional electric module (eModule) for use with a vehicle having a chassis, a master controller, and a drive wheel having a propulsion-braking module, the eModule comprising:

a steering control assembly having a steering motor and at least one steering controller, wherein each of the at least one steering controller includes a first printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) operable to control the steering motor in response to control signals from the master controller;
a mounting bracket positioned with respect to the steering control assembly, and having a mounting feature that is engageable with the chassis;
a propulsion control assembly having a propulsion controller including a second PCBA that is in communication with the propulsion-braking module;
a brake controller in communication with the propulsion-braking module, wherein the brake controller includes a third PCBA;
a housing that rotates with respect to the mounting bracket, wherein the housing includes an upper portion positioned adjacent to the mounting bracket and containing the propulsion control assembly, and a lower portion which contains the brake controller;
and
a lower control arm connected to the lower portion of the housing, wherein the control arm contains a suspension system, and wherein the lower control arm is connectable to the drive wheel via a wheel input/output block;
wherein the pair of steering controllers, the propulsion controller, and the brake controller are in communication with each other and with the master controller, and are responsive to commands from the master controller to thereby control a respective steering, propulsion, and braking function of the eModule.

5 more elements

A multi-functional electric module (eModule) for use with a vehicle having a chassis, a master controller, and a drive wheel having a propulsion-braking module, the eModule comprising:

a housing;
a lower control arm connected to the housing;
a steering control assembly positioned with respect to the housing, and having a speed reducing gear set that is configured to provide a calibrated steering speed reduction ratio, a pair of steering controllers, and a steering motor, wherein the steering motor includes:
an encoder read disc having a pair of encoder read heads each outputting a measured steering angle to a respective one of the pair of steering controllers;
a rotor;
and
a dual-wound stator having first and second stator windings, wherein the pair of steering controllers includes a respective first and a second printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) operable to control a rotation of the rotor via control of an electrical current to a respective one of the first and second stator windings;
a propulsion controller positioned within the housing that includes a third PCBA, wherein the propulsion controller is configured to communicate with the propulsion-braking module;
a brake controller positioned within the housing and configured to communicate with the propulsion-braking module, wherein the brake controller includes a fourth PCBA;
a spring-damper assembly extending between the housing and the lower control arm;
and
an encoder assembly disposed within the lower control arm that is configured to measure and communicate, to a master controller, a pivot angle of the lower control arm with respect to a wheel pivot axis of the drive wheel;
wherein the steering motor rotates the eModule with respect to a steering axis in response to commands from the master controller to the pair of steering controllers, and wherein the steering controllers, the propulsion controller, and the brake controller control a respective steering, propulsion, and braking function of the eModule.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.