Method for controlling an electromechanical actuator for a fuel air charge valve
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMohammad Haghgooie, Anna Stefanopoulou, Katherine Peterson, Thomas William Megli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for controlling movement of an armature for an electromagnetic valve actuator. The armature moves between pole faces of juxtaposed solenoid coils. Voltage applied to armature capturing coil is varied in a closed-loop fashion as the armature moves through a flux initialization phase, followed by an armature landing phase whereby a soft landing of the armature is achieved during valve opening movement and valve closing movement.
Claims12
A method for controlling an electromagnetic actuator for a gas charge valve having a valve head portion arranged in registry with a valve port in a gas flow passage and a stem portion, the actuator having an opening electromagnetic coil and a closing electromagnetic coil with pole faces in spaced, juxtaposed relationship in opposed sides of an armature, the armature being mechanically coupled to the stem portion, and at least one mechanical spring acting on the armature to bias it toward a position intermediate the pole faces;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- measuring by means of a position sensor the displacement of the armature as the opening and closing coils are activated and deactivated;
- determining the electrical current supplied to each coil as the coil is activated;
- computing the instantaneous velocity of the armature as the armature is moved in response to alternating activation of the coils;
- computing a coil activating voltage as a closed-loop function of current, displacement and armature velocity whereby the armature approaches the pole faces with a controlled movement characterized by reduced impact velocity to reduce valve noise and wear.
A method for controlling an electromagnetic actuator for a gas charge valve having a valve head portion arranged in registry with a valve port in a gas flow passage and a stem portion, the actuator having an opening electromagnetic coil and a closing electromagnetic coil with pole faces in spaced, juxtaposed relationship in opposed sides of an armature, the armature being mechanically coupled to the stem portion, and at least one mechanical spring acting on the armature to bias it toward a position intermediate the pole faces;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- measuring by means of a position sensor the displacement of the armature as the opening and closing coils are activated and deactivated;
- determining the electrical current supplied to each coil as the coil is activated, the activated coil being a catching coil that attracts the armature;
- computing the instantaneous velocity of the armature as the armature is moved in response to alternating activation of the coils;
- computing a coil activating voltage as a closed-loop function of current, displacement and armature velocity, the closed-loop function being expressed as:
- Voltage=Ki(idesired−imeasured)+Kx(xdesired−xmeasured)+Kv(vdesired−Vmeasured)
- whereby the armature approaches the pole faces with a controlled movement characterized by reduced impact velocity to reduce valve noise and wear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.