Patent Application
20130268164
This disclosure generally relates to a grille shutter device.
A known grille shutter device is disclosed in JP2010-260440A, which will be hereinafter referred to as Reference 1. Reference 1 discloses a grille shutter device configured to control a flow rate of air flowing into an engine compartment from a grille opening portion based on opening and closing operations of a shutter mechanism provided at the grille opening portion at a front portion of a vehicle body.
In a case where a vehicle is driven at a high speed, for example, the shutter mechanism is brought to a closed state to thereby restrict an air flow to the engine compartment. As a result, an aerodynamic performance of the vehicle, for example, a Cd value (coefficient of drag), may improve. At a time of an engine start, the air flow to a radiator at the engine compartment is restrained to thereby reduce time for warming up the engine. In a case where an engine temperature is increasing, the shutter mechanism is brought to an open state to thereby increase the air flow to the engine compartment so that the engine temperature may be appropriately controlled.
An output voltage of an in-vehicle power source such as a battery mounted at a vehicle, for example, may fluctuate or vary depending on a driving condition or a surrounding environment of the vehicle. That is, the output voltage of the in-vehicle power source, i.e., a power supply voltage, may fluctuate depending on an engine speed or an outside air temperature, for example. Therefore, according to the grille shutter device disclosed in Reference 1, in a case where the voltage supplied to a drive motor of the shutter mechanism decreases, a normal opening and closing control is forcedly finished to thereby open the shutter mechanism.
That is, the shutter mechanism is inhibited from being stuck in the closed state by a decrease of an output of the drive motor (i.e., a motor output) caused by a decrease of the power supply voltage. As a result, a lack of air flowing to an inside of the vehicle because of the shutter mechanism stuck in the closed state is inhibited to thereby ensure a sufficient cooling performance of the grille shutter device.
Nevertheless, the fluctuation or variation of the power supply voltage as described above is also an issue to solve in view of quietness of the grille shutter device. Specifically, a large motor output is desirable to promptly operate the shutter mechanism in view of an original function of the shutter mechanism. In this case, however, an operation noise of the shutter mechanism may increase by an increase of an operation speed thereof. Therefore, conventionally, the motor output, i.e., a duty ratio of a drive circuit that supplies a driving power to the motor, is decided by finding a compromise to satisfy the aforementioned conflicting requirements, i.e., the large motor output and the quietness.
Nevertheless, in a case where the power supply voltage fluctuates, the motor output changes due to such fluctuation. As a result, the shutter mechanism may operate at a higher speed than a speed initially expected, which may lead to a large operation noise. Alternatively, the shutter mechanism operates at a lower speed, which may lead to a decrease of responsiveness of the shutter mechanism.
A need thus exists for a grille shutter device which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.
According to an aspect of this disclosure, a grille shutter device includes a shutter mechanism provided within a grille opening portion that is formed at a front portion of a vehicle body and configured to control a flow rate of air into the vehicle body, a drive device driven by a motor to open and close the shutter mechanism, and a control device supplying a driving power to the motor to control an operation of the drive device. The control device includes a drive circuit provided at a portion of a power supply passage between an in-vehicle power source and the motor, a control circuit controlling a duty ratio of the drive circuit, and a power supply voltage detection portion detecting a power supply voltage of the in-vehicle power source. The control circuit includes a correction portion correcting the duty ratio based on the power supply voltage to restrain a change of a speed of the motor caused by a fluctuation of the power supply voltage.
The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with the reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
An embodiment of a grille shutter device will be explained with reference to the attached drawings. In a vehicle 1 illustrated in
A fan 6 is provided at a rear side (i.e., a right side in
According to the present embodiment, the grille opening portion 7 is formed at a lower side of a bumper 8. A front grille 9 constituting a decorative surface of the grille opening portion 7 is attached to an opening edge 7a of the grille opening portion 7. That is, the front grille 9 serves as a lower grille. According to the present embodiment, a grille shutter device 10 is provided at the vehicle 1 for controlling a flow rate of air flowing into the engine compartment 3 from the grille opening portion 7.
Specifically, the grille shutter device 10 includes a shutter mechanism 11 that opens and closes so as to control an air flow rate, and an actuator portion 12 serving as a drive device to open and close the shutter mechanism 11.
The shutter mechanism 11 includes plural movable fins 14 arranged and aligned within a frame 13 that is substantially formed in a quadrangular form. Specifically, the frame 13 is arranged within the grille opening portion 7 in a state where an upper end of the frame 13 is fixed to a bumper reinforcement 15. Each of the movable fins 14 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 16 that extends in a width direction of the frame 13 corresponding to a width direction of the vehicle 1 (i.e., in a direction perpendicular to a sheet surface of
Specifically, the shutter mechanism 11 is brought to an open state in a case where the movable fins 14 rotate in a direction (i.e., in a clockwise direction in
The actuator portion 12 drives the movable fins 14 of the shutter mechanism 11 to rotate by a motor driving. As illustrated in
The ECU 20 serving as a control device operates the actuator portion 12 by the supply of the driving power to the motor 18, i.e., controls opening and closing operations of the shutter mechanism 11. As illustrated in
Specifically, as illustrated in
The drive circuit 22 includes a known PWM inverter in which plural switching arms are connected in parallel in a state where a pair of switching elements serially connected serves as each switching arm. A brush DC motor is applied to the motor 18 according to the embodiment. The PWM inverter provided at the drive circuit 22 is an H-bridge inverter so as to conform to the brush DC motor. The microcomputer 23 outputs a motor control signal for specifying an on/off state of each of the switching elements to control the operation of the drive circuit 22.
A power supply voltage Vb, which is output from the in-vehicle power source 21, is input to the drive circuit 22. A control circuit voltage, which is regulated or adjusted by a power supply circuit 24, is input to the microcomputer 23. The microcomputer 23 switches a power supply direction of the driving power supplied to the motor 18 from the drive circuit 22 by changing combinations of the switching elements to be turned on.
The microcomputer 23 controls a duty ratio of each of the switching elements to be turned on. That is, the microcomputer 23 controls a duty ratio of the drive circuit 22. The drive circuit 22 outputs the driving power to the motor 18 based on the power supply voltage Vb input to the drive circuit 22 and the duty ratio indicated by the motor control signal.
According to the present embodiment, a motor rotation sensor 25 outputting a pulse signal Sp synchronized with the rotation of the motor 18 is provided at the actuator portion 12. The microcomputer 23 counts edges of the pulse signal Sp to detect an operation position, i.e., an open/closed state, of the shutter mechanism 11. The ECU 20 receives a vehicle state quantity including a vehicle speed Ssp, an engine speed (engine revolutions) Se, a cooling water temperature Tw, and an outside air temperature Ta, for example, via an in-vehicle network 26. According to the present embodiment, the ECU 20 serves as a vehicle speed detection portion and an engine speed detection portion. The microcomputer 23 controls the shutter mechanism 11 to open and close, i.e., performs an opening and closing control of the shutter mechanism 11, based on detections of the aforementioned vehicle state quantity.
Specifically, as illustrated by a flowchart in
In a case where the close operation condition is not satisfied in step 103, the microcomputer 23 then determines whether or not an open operation condition of the shutter mechanism 11 is satisfied in step 105. When the open operation condition is satisfied, YES is determined in step 105, the drive circuit 22 is controlled so that the motor current flows in a direction in which the open operation of the shutter mechanism 11 is conducted. That is, an open operation control is performed in step 106.
The microcomputer 23 specifies a duty radio D of the drive circuit 22 to a value D1 (D=D1) in the close operation in step 104. In addition, the microcomputer 23 specifies the duty ratio D to a value D2 (D=D2) in the open operation in step 106.
As illustrated in
Specifically, as illustrated by a flowchart in
In a case where the detected power supply voltage Vb is equal to or smaller than the first predetermined threshold value V1, the microcomputer 23 compares the detected power supply voltage Vb with a second predetermined threshold value V2 serving as a lower threshold value and a second voltage value specified to be smaller than the reference value VO in step 204. When the detected power supply voltage Vb is smaller than the second predetermined threshold value V2, i.e., YES is determined in step 204, the microcomputer 23 performs a correction by adding a second predetermined correction value α2 serving as the correction amount to the duty ratio D of the drive circuit 22 so as to obtain the value obtained after the correction (D′) being greater than the value obtained before the correction (D). That is, the microcomputer 23 performs a duty ratio increase correction in step 205.
The values D1 and D2 specified to the duty ratio D by the microcomputer 23 in the close operation control (step 104 in
According to the aforementioned duty ratio correction control based on the power supply voltage Vb in procedures from step 201 to step 205, in a case where the power supply voltage Vb increases above the first predetermined threshold value V1 (>V0), the duty radio D of the drive circuit 22 is corrected to a smaller value than the value obtained before the correction. Thus, an increase of an output of the motor 18 (motor output) caused by the increase of the power supply voltage Vb may be restrained. As a result, the change of the speed of the motor 18, i.e., the change of the operation speed of the shutter mechanism 11, may be restrained.
In a case where the power supply voltage Vb decreases below the second predetermined threshold value V2 (<V0), the duty ratio D is corrected to a greater value than the value obtained before the correction. Thus, a decrease of output of the motor 18 caused by the decrease of the power supply voltage Vb may be restrained. As a result, the change of the speed of the motor 18, i.e., the change of the operation speed of the shutter mechanism 11, may be restrained.
According to the aforementioned embodiment, the microcomputer 23 controls the duty ratio of the drive circuit 22 provided at the portion of the power supply passage Lp between the in-vehicle power source 21 and the motor 18. In addition, the microcomputer 23 detects the power supply voltage Vb. Then, the microcomputer 23 corrects the duty ratio D of the drive circuit 22 so as to restrain the change of the speed of the motor 18 caused by the fluctuation of the power supply voltage Vb based on the detected power supply voltage Vb.
Accordingly, even in a case where the power supply voltage Vb of the in-vehicle power source 21 fluctuates, the change of the speed of the motor 18 caused by the fluctuation of the power supply voltage Vb may be restrained. As a result, the operation speed change of the shutter mechanism 11 may be restrained to achieve both quietness and high responsiveness of the shutter mechanism 11, i.e., of the grille shutter device 10.
In addition, in a case where the detected power supply voltage Vb is greater than the first predetermined threshold value V1, the microcomputer 23 performs the correction by subtracting the first predetermined correction value al from the duty ratio D of the drive circuit 22 so as to obtain the value obtained after the correction (D′) being smaller than the value obtained before the correction (D).
Accordingly, the duty ratio D of the drive circuit 22 is corrected to a small value to thereby restrain the increase of the motor output caused by the increase of the power supply voltage Vb. As a result, the operation speed of the shutter mechanism 11 is inhibited from increasing by the increase of the speed of the motor 18. The operating noise or operating sound of the shutter mechanism 11 is restrained to ensure quietness of the grille shutter device 10.
In a case where the detected power supply voltage Vb is smaller than the second predetermined threshold value V2, the microcomputer 23 performs the correction by adding the second predetermined correction value a2 to the duty ratio D of the drive circuit 22 so as to obtain the value obtained after the correction (D′) being greater than the value obtained before the correction (D).
Accordingly, the duty ratio D of the drive circuit 22 is corrected to a large value to thereby restrain the decrease of the motor output caused by the decrease of the power supply voltage Vb. As a result, the operation speed of the shutter mechanism 11 is inhibited from decreasing by the decrease of the speed of the motor 18 (motor speed) and the high responsiveness is ensured. In addition, instability of the opening and closing operations of the shutter mechanism 11 caused by the decrease of the motor output may be inhibited.
The aforementioned embodiment may be changed or modified as follows. According to the aforementioned embodiment, air from the grille opening portion 7 flows into the engine compartment 3 formed at the vehicle body 2. Alternatively, air may flow into the inner space of the vehicle body 2, instead of the engine compartment 3, at which a flow rate of air is controllable on a basis of the opening and closing operations of the shutter mechanism 11. Air may flow into a housing of a heat exchanger such as the radiator 5, for example, serving as a void to which air from the grille opening portion 7 is led. The grille shutter device 10 of the present embodiment may be applied to a vehicle in which an engine is arranged at a rear portion or a center of a vehicle body, or to an electric vehicle in which an engine is inhibited from being mounted to an inner space of a vehicle body in front of a vehicle cabin.
According to the aforementioned embodiment, the grille opening portion 7 is formed at a lower side of the bumper 8. Alternatively, the grille opening portion 7 may be formed at an upper side of the bumper 8. That is, the front grille 9 may be an upper grille.
In addition, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the shutter mechanism 11 is opened and closed, i.e., performs the opening and closing operations, on a basis of the rotations of the movable fins 14. Alternatively, the operation of the shutter mechanism 11 may be achieved by sliding or swinging of a movable member, for example.
Further, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the detected power supply voltage Vb is compared with each of the first and second predetermined threshold values V1 and V2 so as to determine whether or not the power supply voltage Vb is within the predetermined range from the reference value V0 in step 202 and step 204 in
Specifically, as illustrated by a flowchart in
The correction value α1 or α2 of the duty ratio D may be changed on a basis of the vehicle speed Ssp. For example, as illustrated by a flowchart in
In a case where the vehicle speed Ssp increases, noises or sounds such as a vehicle driving sound and an engine noise, for example, increase. As a result, the operating noise of the grille shutter device 10 may become less obvious. Accordingly, in such case, the first predetermined correction value α1 may be reduced, i.e., changed to a small value, or become zero in the duty ratio decrease correction so that the increase of the motor output caused by the increase of the power supply voltage Vb may become a benefit of the improved responsiveness.
Further, as illustrated by a flowchart in
The first and second predetermined threshold values V1 and V2 for the power supply voltage Vb may be changed on a basis of the vehicle speed Ssp. In such case, the same effect as that obtained when the correction value is changed on a basis of the vehicle speed Ssp (see
Instead of the vehicle speed Ssp, the engine speed Se may be used. In such case, the same effect as mentioned above may be obtained. According to the aforementioned embodiment, the duty ratio D for the close operation control (D=D1) and the duty ratio D for the open operation control (D=D2) are different from each other. Alternatively, the same duty ratio D may be used for both the close operation control and the open operation control. In addition, the duty radio D may be controlled by other elements than the fluctuation of the power supply voltage so as to be corrected.
The first and second predetermined correction values α1 and α2 for the duty ratio decrease correction and the duty ratio increase correction may be the same values. Further, the duty ratio D may be corrected greater as the power supply voltage Vb deviates from the predetermined range (V2≦Vb≦V1) greater. For example, in a case of the duty ratio decrease correction, a formula of D′=D−α0x(Vb−V1) may be specified. In a case of the duty ratio increase correction, a formula of D′=D+α0x(V2−Vb) may be specified. In each of the aforementioned formulas, the value a0 is a basal correction value. As a result, the further improved quietness and responsiveness at a higher level may be both achieved.
A configuration where either the correction for decreasing the value obtained after the correction (D′) relative to the value obtained before the correction (D) or the correction for increasing the value obtained after the correction (D′) relative to the value obtained before the correction (D) may be applied. That is, a detailed correction may be appropriately changed or modified in view of an influence of the speed change of the motor 18.
According to the aforementioned embodiment, the first predetermined threshold value V1 is specified as the upper threshold value applied to the case where the detected power supply voltage Vb increases above the reference value V0. The second predetermined threshold value V2 is specified as the lower threshold value applied to the case where the detected power supply voltage Vb decreases below the reference value V0. Then, a range where the correction is not performed, i.e., the predetermined range (V2≦Vb≦V1), is defined in a state where the first predetermined threshold value V1 serves as an upper limit value while the second predetermined threshold value V2 serves as a lower limit value relative to the reference value V0 serving as a third voltage value. Because the microcomputer 23 is inhibited from correcting the duty ratio D within the predetermined range between the predetermined first and second predetermined threshold values V1 and V2, the correction is performed when necessary. Alternatively, one of or both of the first and second predetermined threshold values V1 and V2 may be equal to the reference value V0.
That is, the first predetermined threshold value V1 is equal to the reference value VO so that the correction for decreasing the duty ratio D may be promptly performed in a case where the detected power supply voltage Vb exceeds the reference value V0. In addition, the second predetermined threshold value V2 is equal to the reference value V0 so that the correction for increasing the duty ratio D may be promptly performed in a case where the detected power supply voltage Vb is below the reference value V0. Further, both the first and second predetermined threshold values V1 and V2 are equal to the reference value V0 so that the duty ratio D may be promptly corrected in a case where the detected power supply voltage Vb is different from the reference value V0.
According to the aforementioned embodiment, the grille shutter device 10 includes the engine speed detection portion (i.e., the ECU 20) detecting the engine speed. Then, the microcomputer 23 (the correction portion) changes the correction value of the duty ratio based on the detected engine speed.
According to the grille shutter device 10 of the aforementioned embodiment, both the quietness and high responsibility may be achieved even in a case where the power supply voltage Vb fluctuates.
According to the aforementioned embodiment, the microcomputer 23 corrects the duty ratio D to a smaller value than the value obtained before the correction in a case where the power supply voltage Vb is greater than the first predetermined threshold value V1.
In addition, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the microcomputer 23 corrects the duty ratio D to a greater value than the value obtained before the correction in a case where the power supply voltage Vb is smaller than the second predetermined threshold value V2.
Further, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the microcomputer 23 corrects the duty ratio D so that the speed of the motor 18 is constant.
Furthermore, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the grille shutter device 10 further includes the vehicle speed detection portion (the ECU 20) detecting the vehicle speed Ssp, wherein the microcomputer 23 changes the correction value α1, α2 of the duty ratio D based on the vehicle speed Ssp.
Furthermore, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the microcomputer 23 decreases the correction value al of the duty ratio D at a time of correcting the duty ratio D to the smaller value than the value obtained before the correction in a case where the vehicle speed Ssp is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value SP1.
Furthermore, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the microcomputer 23 increases the correction value α2 of the duty ratio D at a time of correcting the duty ratio D to the greater value than the value obtained before the correction in a case where the vehicle speed Ssp is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value SP2.
Furthermore, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the first predetermined threshold value V1 is specified to be greater than the reference value V0 and the second predetermined threshold value V2 is specified to be smaller than the reference value V0.
Furthermore, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the first predetermined threshold value V1 is equal to the second predetermined threshold value V2.
The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embraced thereby.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-087641 | Apr 2012 | JP | national |
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application 2012-087641, filed on Apr. 6, 2012, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
