Dual gain variable control system
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorsBradley C. Erickson, Garrett R. Holmes, Steven J. Roskowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for controlling a solenoid using a single coil solenoid for both course and fine adjustment. A resistor or series of resistors may be used in parallel/for current controlled solenoids or in series for voltage controlled solenoids for allowing course or finite control of the solenoids.
Claims11
A method of controlling a proportional solenoid having a single coil, the method including the steps of:
- providing a control signal having a predetermined number of control/stepped levels;
- providing a full gain range between a minimum gain and a maximum gain for selectively powering the solenoid at any one of a preset number of gain levels within the full gain range;
- selectively reducing the full gain range to a partial gain range less than the full gain range for selectively powering the solenoid at any one of a present number of gain levels within the partial gain range;
- selecting one of the full gain range in a first mode or the partial gain range in a second mode;
- and
- producing a power signal to the coil based on the control signal, the power signal being either one of the preset number of gain levels in the full range in the first mode or one of the preset number of gains in the partial gain range, whereby the preset number of gains is the same in the first mode and second mode, so that the gain levels in the second mode provide a higher resolution than in the first mode.
A proportional system for controlling an actuator for receiving a control signal from a controller, the control signal having a predetermined number of control/stepped levels, said system including:
- a single coil solenoid operatively controlling the actuator in response to a power signal;
- a gain divider circuit for providing a full gain range between a minimum gain and a maximum gain for selectively powering the solenoid at any one of a preset number of gain levels within the full gain range;
- selectively reducing the full gain range to a partial gain range less than the full gain range for selectively powering the solenoid at any one of a present number of gain levels within the partial gain range, and for receiving a select signal for selecting one of the full gain range in a first mode or the partial gain range in a second mode;
- and
- a power circuit for producing a power signal to the coil based on the control signal, the power signal being either one of the preset number of gain levels in the full range in the first mode or one of the present number of gains in the partial gain range, whereby the preset number of gains is the same in the first mode and second mode, so that the gain levels in the second mode provide a higher resolution than in the first mode.
A variable force solenoid system for high and low pressure control of a transmission clutch which receives a control signal having a predetermined number of stepped levels to drive a coil of the solenoid system at a preset number of gain levels within a full gain range between minimum and maximum gains, said system comprising:
- a single coil solenoid operatively controlling the transmission clutch for receiving a power signal within the full gain range;
- and
- an adjustment circuit for receiving the control signal and for increasing the number of present gain levels to greater than the number of stepped levels within at least a portion of the gain range for low pressure control, so that higher resolution of gain can be selected for low pressure control of the transmission clutch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.