Patent application number | Description | Published |
20150267660 | Actuator with Residual Magnetic Hysteresis Reset - An electromagnetic actuation system includes an electrical coil, a magnetic core, an armature, a controllable bi-directional drive circuit for selectively driving current through the coil in either of two directions, and a control module providing an actuator command to the drive circuit. Current is driven though the electrical coil in a first direction when an actuation is desired. When the actuation is not desired current is driven through the electrical coil including in a second direction sufficient to reduce residual flux within the actuator below a level passively attained within the actuator at zero coil current. | 09-24-2015 |
20150267661 | SMART ACTUATOR FOR PLUG AND PLAY - An apparatus for closed loop operation of a solenoid-activated actuator includes an external control module and a power source which are electrically and operatively coupled to an activation controller of the actuator. The external control module and the power source are located externally to the actuator. The apparatus further includes an activation controller which is integrated within the body of the actuator. The activation controller includes a control module and an actuator driver and is configured to communicate with the external control module and to receive electrical power from the power source. The apparatus additionally includes at least one sensor device which is integrated within the body of the actuator and is electrically and operatively coupled to the activation controller. The at least one sensor device is configured to measure one or more parameters during operation of the actuator and the measured parameters are provided as feedback to the activation controller. | 09-24-2015 |
20150267662 | ACTUATOR WITH INTEGRATED DRIVER - An apparatus for controlling operation of an electromagnetically-activated actuator includes an activation controller that is one of integrated within a connector assembly of the actuator and integrated into a power transmission cable in close proximity to the actuator. The activation controller comprises a control module configured to generate an actuator command signal, and an actuator driver comprising a bi-directional current driver. The actuator driver is configured to receive the actuator command signal from the control module and generate an activation command signal for controlling the direction and amplitude of the current provided to the actuator. | 09-24-2015 |
20150267663 | PARAMETER ESTIMATION IN AN ACTUATOR - A method for parameter estimation in an electromagnetic actuator having a main coil and a search coil includes driving a current through the main coil, determining a main coil voltage, determining a search coil voltage, determining a main coil current, and estimating at least one parameter of the actuator based on the main coil voltage, the search coil voltage and the main coil current. | 09-24-2015 |
20150267664 | PARAMETER ESTIMATION IN AN ACTUATOR - A method for parameter estimation in an electromagnetic actuator having an electrical coil and an armature includes applying a voltage pulse to the electrical coil of the actuator prior to an actuator event and of sufficient duration to ensure that a resulting electrical current achieves steady state. At least one parameter of the actuator is estimated based upon the voltage pulse and the steady state current. | 09-24-2015 |
20150267666 | MAGNETIC FORCE BASED ACTUATOR CONTROL - An electromagnetic actuation system includes an actuator having an electrical coil, a magnetic core, and an armature. The system further includes a controllable drive circuit for selectively driving current through the electrical coil. A control module provides an actuator command to the drive circuit effective to drive current through the electrical coil to actuate the armature. The control module includes a magnetic force control module configured to adapt the actuator command to converge magnetic force within the actuator to a preferred force level. | 09-24-2015 |
20150267667 | ACTUATOR WITH FEED FORWARD CONTROL - An electromagnetic actuation system includes an actuator having an electrical coil, a magnetic core, and an armature. The system further includes a controllable bi-directional drive circuit for selectively driving current through the electrical coil in either of two directions. The control module provides an actuator command to the drive circuit effective to drive current through the electrical coil in a first direction to actuate the armature and in a second direction subsequent to armature actuation to oppose residual flux within the actuator. The control module includes a feed forward control module configured to adapt the actuator command to converge residual flux within the actuator to a preferred flux level. | 09-24-2015 |
20150267668 | ACTUATOR WITH DEADBEAT CONTROL - An electromagnetic actuation system includes an actuator having an electrical coil, a magnetic core, and an armature. The system further includes a controllable bi-directional drive circuit for selectively driving current through the electrical coil in either of two directions. The control module provides an actuator command to the drive circuit effective to drive current through the electrical coil in a first direction to actuate the armature and in a second direction subsequent to armature actuation to oppose residual flux within the actuator. The control module includes a residual flux feedback control module configured to adapt the actuator command to converge residual flux within the actuator to a preferred flux level. | 09-24-2015 |
20150267669 | ACTUATOR WITH INTEGRATED FLUX SENSOR - An electromagnetic actuator includes an electrical coil and a high permeability magnetic flux path. The magnetic flux path includes a magnetic core, an armature and a flux return structure. The electromagnetic actuator further includes a flux sensor which is integrated within the actuator and is configured to detect a magnetic flux within the high permeability magnetic flux path. | 09-24-2015 |
20150267670 | ACTUATOR MOTION CONTROL - A system for controlling actuation of an electromagnetic actuator includes an actuator having an electrical coil, a magnetic core, and an armature. A controllable drive circuit is responsive to an electric power flow signal for driving current through the electrical coil to actuate the armature. A control module includes an armature motion observer configured to determine an armature motion parameter in the actuator based upon a magnetic flux within the actuator and a predetermined mechanical equation of motion corresponding to the actuator and adapt the electric power flow signal based on the armature motion parameter. | 09-24-2015 |