Ice-breaking, autozero and frozen throttle plate detection at power-up for electronic motorized throttle
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsJeffrey R. Hedrick, Ross D. Pursifull, Chang Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is disclosed for ensuring operation of a motorized throttle. The presence of an obstruction, such as ice, is detected inside the motorized throttle. The obstruction is then removed within a predetermined time to free the motorized throttle. A new closed throttle position is then recorded as a zero degree reference from which to control a throttle plate to a desired angle.
Claims13
A method of detecting the presence of an obstruction inside a motorized throttle, comprising the steps of:
- recording a default position of a throttle plate;
- applying a predetermined voltage to the throttle motor in the closing direction for a predetermined time;
- recording a provisional closed position of the throttle plate;
- determining a first displacement between the recorded default position and the recorded provisional closed position;
- and
- if the first displacement is less than a predetermined displacement then indicating that the obstruction is present.
A method of removing an obstruction inside a motorized throttle comprising the steps of:
- recording a default position of a throttle plate;
- applying a predetermined voltage to a throttle motor in a closing direction for a predetermined time;
- recording a provisional closed position of the throttle plate by a throttle position sensor;
- determining a first displacement between the recorded default position and the recorded provisional closed position;
- identifying an obstruction if the first displacement is less than a predetermined displacement;
- if the obstruction is identified then applying a predetermined deflection voltage to the throttle motor to bang the throttle plate in a first direction;
- and
- after banging the throttle plate in the first direction applying the predetermined deflection voltage to the throttle motor to bang the throttle plate in a second direction.
A method of accurately recording an actual closed throttle position of a throttle plate as a reference, comprising the steps of:
- recording a default position of the throttle plate;
- applying a predetermined deflection voltage to a throttle motor for driving the throttle plate in a closing direction for a predetermined time;
- recording a provisional closed position as a zero degree reference from which to control the throttle plate to a desired angle;
- determining a first displacement between the recorded default position and the recorded provisional closed position;
- and
- if the first displacement is greater than a predetermined displacement, then adopting the provisional closed position as the actual closed throttle position.
A system for removing an obstruction inside a motorized throttle, comprising:
- a throttle plate;
- and
- a throttle motor, wherein a predetermined deflection voltage is applied to the throttle motor resulting in an impact torque applied to the throttle plate for banging the throttle plate in a first and a second direction, and wherein the predetermined deflection voltage is applied to the throttle motor for a predetermined limited time in each direction for preventing damage to the throttle motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.