# US 2019/0315213 A1 · Method and device for determining a position of an actuating element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0315213 A1 - Document ID: US20190315213A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/469,889 - Filed: 2017-12-13 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-19 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH - Inventors: Dieter Depner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190315213A1 ## CPC - B60J 7/223: {specially adapted for convertible cars} - G01D 5/12: using electric or magnetic means (G01D5/06 takes precedence) - G01P 3/48: by measuring frequency of generated current or voltage {(in general G01R23/00)} - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) ## Abstract The invention relates to a method for determining the position of an actuating element (3) in a positioning system (1), having the following steps: continuously detecting a signal profile of a sensor signal from an acceleration sensor (7) which is fitted to an electric-motor actuating drive (5) of the positioning system (1), in order to detect an acceleration on account of a force excitation by a detent torque and/or an imbalance of a rotor of the electric-motor actuating drive; evaluating the signal profile in order to detect an oscillation; determining the position of the actuating element (3) on the basis of the detection of the oscillation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for determining a position of an actuating element (3) in a positioning system (1), comprising: continuously detecting a signal profile of a sensor signal of an acceleration sensor (7) mounted on an electric-motor actuating drive (5) of the positioning system (1) to detect an acceleration based on of a force excitation by (a) a detent torque, (b) an imbalance of a rotor of the electric-motor actuating drive, or a combination of both (a) and (b); evaluating the signal profile to detect an oscillation; determining the position of the actuating element (3) based on the detecting of the oscillation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting of the oscillation is taken as a basis for adjusting a counter value, wherein the adjusting of the counter value comprises incrementing and decrementing the counter value based on a direction of rotation, the direction of rotation of the actuating drive (3) being ascertained by evaluating two sensor signals representing accelerations of the actuating drive in two different directions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor (7) provides at least two sensor signals indicating accelerations in two radial directions of the rotor of the actuating drive (3), which act transversely with respect to one another, or in one radial and one tangentially acting direction of the rotor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal profile for a rotation of the rotor is periodic and has multiple periodicities, a periodicity of lower frequency being used for checking the plausibility of the counter value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a signal profile of a sensor signal of an acceleration sensor (7) is detected for a force excitation in the axial direction of the rotor, the detected signal profile for the axial direction being taken as a basis for determining a direction of rotation of the actuating element (3). ### Claim 6 A control unit (6) for determining a position of an actuating element (3) in a positioning system (1), configured to: receive a signal profile of a sensor signal of an acceleration sensor (7) mounted on an electric-motor actuating drive (5) of the positioning system (1) to detect an acceleration based on a force excitation by (a) a detent torque, (b) an imbalance of a rotor of the electric-motor actuating drive, or a combination of both (a) and (b); evaluate the signal profile in order to detect a completed oscillation; determine the position of the actuating element (3) based on the detecting of the completed oscillation. ### Claim 7 A positioning system, comprising: an actuating drive (5) for driving an actuating element (3); an acceleration sensor (7), coupled to the actuating drive (5), for providing a sensor signal, wherein the acceleration sensor (7) is mounted on an electric-motor actuating drive (5) of the positioning system (1) in order to detect an acceleration based on a force excitation by (a) a detent torque, (b) an imbalance of a rotor of the electric-motor actuating drive, or a combination of both (a) and (b); and a control unit (6) configured to receive a signal profile of a sensor signal of an acceleration sensor (7) mounted on an electric-motor actuating drive (5) of the positioning system (1) to detect an acceleration based on a force excitation by (a) a detent torque, (b) an imbalance of a rotor of the electric-motor actuating drive, or a combination of both (a) and (b); evaluate the signal profile to detect a completed oscillation; and determine the position of the actuating element based on the detecting of the completed oscillation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A positioning system according to claim 7, wherein the acceleration sensor (7) is arranged on a pole pot of an actuating drive (5) in the form of an electric motor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The positioning system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the positioning system is part of a window lifter installation or sliding roof system.