Actuator controller
AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsHidetaka Ozawa, Minoru Nakamura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electromagnetic actuator for driving a valve of an engine comprises a pair of springs which act in opposite directions, an armature which is connected to the springs and is supported in a neutral position provided by the pair of springs in an inactivated state, the armature being coupled to the valve, a pair of electromagnets which drive the armature between a valve open position and a valve closed position, estimating means for estimating magnetic flux to be generated by the electromagnet attracting the armature when the armature is driven from one of the positions to the other of the positions, and means for switching the electromagnet from the attractive operation to the holding operation in response to the magnetic flux reaching the target overshoot value.
Claims19
An actuator controller, comprising:
- a pair of springs acting in opposite directions;
- an armature connected to said springs and supported in a neutral position provided by said springs in an inactivated state, said armature being coupled to a mechanical element;
- a pair of electromagnets for driving said armature between a first terminal position and a second terminal position;
- estimating means for estimating magnetic flux generated by one or the other of the pair of electromagnets attracting said armature when said armature is driven from one of the terminal positions to the other of the terminal positions;
- and
- means for switching said one or the other of the pair of electromagnets from an attracting phase to a holding phase when said magnetic flux estimated by the estimating means reaches a target value determined based on an operating speed of the armature.
An actuator controller comprising:
- a pair of springs acting in opposite directions;
- an armature connected to said springs and supported in a neutral position provided by said springs in an inactivated state, said armature being coupled to a mechanical element;
- a pair of electromagnets for driving said armature between a first terminal position and a second terminal position;
- estimating means for estimating magnetic flux generated by one or the other of the pair of electromagnets attracting said armature when said armature is driven from one of the terminal positions to the other of the terminal positions;
- and
- means for switching said one or the other of the pair of electromagnets from an attracting phase to a holding phase when said magnetic flux estimated by the estimating means reaches a target value;
- means for determining said target value for the magnetic flux for attracting and seating the armature;
- and
- overshoot detecting means for comparing the target value determined by said means for determining with a value estimated by said estimating means.
An actuator controller, comprising:
- a pair of springs which act in opposite directions;
- an armature connected to said springs and supported in a neutral position provided by said springs in an inactivated state, said armature being coupled to a mechanical element;
- a pair of electromagnets for driving said armature between a first terminal position and a second terminal position;
- magnetic flux estimating means for estimating magnetic flux generated by the electromagnet attracting said armature when said armature is driven from one of the terminal positions to the other of the terminal positions;
- timing estimating means for estimating timing of the armature lift when said armature is driven from one of the terminal positions to the other of the terminal positions;
- and
- control means for controlling the period of applying voltage to the electromagnet for attracting said armature in accordance with said magnetic flux estimated and said timing of the armature lift.
A method of controlling a valve actuator of an engine that drives a valve by a pair of electromagnets, comprising the steps of:
- detecting releasing of the valve;
- determining timing and duration of applying voltage to one or the other of said pair of electromagnets that is to attract the valve;
- determining a target value of magnetic flux based on operating speed of the armature;
- estimating magnetic flux generated by said one or the other of the pair of electromagnets;
- comparing the estimated magnetic flux with the target value;
- and
- switching said electromagnet from an attracting phase to a holding phase when said estimated magnetic flux reaches the target value.
A method of controlling a valve actuator of an engine that drives a valve by a pair of electromagnets, comprising the steps of:
- detecting releasing of the valve;
- determining timing and duration of applying voltage to one or the other of said pair of electromagnets that is to attract the valve, said timing of applying voltage being determined by reference to a map that defines the relationship among said timing and engine revolution as well as engine load;
- determining a target value of magnetic flux to be produced by said one of said pair of the electromagnets for attracting the valve;
- estimating magnetic flux generated by said one of said pair of electromagnets;
- comparing the estimated magnetic flux with the target value;
- and
- switching said one of said pair of electromagnets from an attracting phase to a holding phase when said estimated magnetic flux reaches the target value.
A method of controlling a valve actuator of an engine that drives a valve by a pair or electromagnets comprising the steps of:
- detecting releasing of the valve;
- determining timing and duration of applying voltage to one of said pair of electromagnets that is to attract the valve;
- determining a target value of magnetic flux to be produced by said one of said pair of electromagnets for attracting the valve;
- estimating magnetic flux generated by said one of said pair of electromagnets;
- comparing the estimated magnetic flux with the target value;
- switching said one of said pair of electromagnets from and attracting phase to a holding phase when said estimated magnetic flux reaches the target value;
- estimating a lift timing;
- and
- determining extension of said duration of applying voltage based on the estimated magnetic flux and the estimated lift timing, said extension of said duration of applying voltage being determined by reference to a map that defines the relationship among the estimated magnetic flux, the estimated lift timing, engine revolution and the engine load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.