The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the method of counting drive motor rotations—and memory modules, storage media, and motor and vehicle apparatuses utilizing same—according to the present invention, as to their structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:
a is a schematic diagram of the motor apparatus of
b is a schematic diagram of the motor apparatus of
c is a schematic diagram of the motor apparatus of
a depicts, in a diagrammatic flowchart, a method of counting drive motor rotations according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;
b depicts, in a diagrammatic flowchart, a method of counting drive motor rotations according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;
a depicts, in a diagrammatic flowchart, a first set of additional steps according to the invention that is supplemental to the method shown in
b depicts, in a diagrammatic flowchart, a second set of additional steps according to the invention that is supplemental to the method shown in
Referring now to
Preferably, and as best seen in
Preferably, the motor 40 is a direct current motor (and as such, the terms may hereinafter be used interchangeably) of the type that includes a rotor 42. As best seen in
As best seen in
Preferably, and as also seen in
As best seen in
In use, and as is discussed in considerably greater detail elsewhere herein, the processors 60 selectively provide a supply of power 64 to the motor 40 (as best seen in
In view of all of disclosures made herein, it will be appreciated by persons having ordinary skill in the art that the net count 86 stored in the position registers 84 will accurately correspond to an actual position 114 of the vehicle component 100 between the first and second positions, 110 and 118 respectively.
Advantageously, and as described in considerably greater detail hereinbelow, the processors 60 can also selectively return the vehicle component 100 to the memory position 90—i.e., using the net count 86 stored in the position registers 84 of the memory modules 80.
Now, therefore, it is appropriate to make further reference to the aforementioned first preferred embodiment of the method 200 (as shown in
Now, as shown in
After power is supplied to the motor 40, and as best seen in
As best seen in
As best seen in
As best seen in
As shown in
In the first counting step 220, the net count 86 stored in the position registers 84 is adjusted by a first adjustment 68. The first adjustment 68 is directly related to a first quantity of the rotor position signals 46 which are received after the first power-supplying step 210.
As shown in
Conversely, when a rotor position signal 46 has been received, the method 200 moves on to another counting query 224, namely, to assess whether the polarity of the first supply 64a of power is positive.
As best seen in
According to the first preferred embodiment of the method 200 (and as shown in
On the other hand, according to the second preferred embodiment of the method 200′ (and as shown in
After the adjusting the net count 86 stored in the position registers 84 by the first adjustment 68, both embodiments of the method 200, 200′ return to the monitoring step 230 (which is discussed above).
When the trip value is determined to be present, in the first monitoring query 232, the first supply 64a of power 64 to the motor 40 will be terminated in the first power-cutting step 240 (i.e., after the first power-supplying step 210).
Before proceeding from the first power-cutting step 240 to the second counting step 250, the method 200 may query, in step 260, whether a set amount of time has elapsed. Advantageously, the method 200 may preferably be designed to make no further counts after the set amount of time (preferably in the order of about 0.1 msec) has elapsed, so as to avoid counts due to dithering and other counts that may tend to reduce the efficacy of the invention. If the set amount of time has elapsed, then the method 200 may preferably proceed to an end step 270 (preferably prior to any further supply of power 64 to the motor 40).
If, on the other hand, the set amount of time has not elapsed, then the method 200 may preferably proceed to the second counting step 250, wherein the net count 86 stored in the position registers 84 is adjusted by a second adjustment 68. The second adjustment 68 is directly related to a second quantity of the rotor position signals 46 which are received after the first power-cutting step 240.
As shown in
When a rotor position signal 46 has been received, the method 200 moves on to step 254, wherein the method 200 queries whether the polarity of the first supply 64a of power (before having been terminated in the first power-cutting step 240) was positive.
As best seen in
According to the first preferred embodiment of the method 200 (and as shown in
On the other hand, according to the second preferred embodiment of the method 200′ (and as shown in
After the adjusting the net count 86 stored in the position registers 84 by the second adjustment 68, both embodiments of the method 200, 200′ may preferably return to the query step 260 whereupon, after the set amount of time has elapsed, the method 200 may preferably proceed to the end step 270.
Thereafter, the method 200 performed by the processors 60 may preferably, but need not necessarily, also include a first set of additional steps (as shown in
It may be worthwhile to specifically note that, similarly, the method 200′ performed by the processors 60 may preferably, but need not necessarily, also include a second set of additional steps (as shown in
The first and second sets of additional steps (as shown in
In fact, the first set of additional steps (as shown in
Similarly, the second set of additional steps (as shown in
Now, as shown in
After the second counting step 250, in the second power-supplying step 310, a second supply 64b of power 64 may be selectively provided to the motor 40 (as shown in
Again, in the monitoring step 230, the motor-related parameter 54 is monitored for presence of the trip value (not shown). When the trip value is present, the second supply of power 64 to the motor 40 will be terminated in the second power-cutting step 340 (i.e., after the second power-supplying step).
In the third counting step 320, the net count 86 stored in the position registers 84 is adjusted by a third adjustment that is directly related to a third quantity of the rotor position signals 46 which are received after the second power-supplying step 310. The third adjustment is again selected from the adjustment group 70 depending on whether the first and second supplies of power, 64a and 64b respectively, have identical polarities (as may be appreciated by a comparison of
If the first and second supplies of power, 64a and 64b respectively, have identical polarities (as may be appreciated by a comparison of
If, on the other hand, the first and second supplies of power, 64a and 64b respectively, have opposing polarities (as may be appreciated by a comparison of
At this stage, it may be worthwhile to note that the first and second sets of additional steps (as shown in
It may also be worthwhile to note that the first and second sets of additional steps (as shown in
In the fourth counting step 350, the net count 86 stored in the position registers 84 is adjusted by a fourth adjustment. The fourth adjustment may be an incremental 70a, or a decremental 70b, adjustment to the net count 86—inversely depending on whether the third adjustment was an incremental 70a, or a decremental 70b, one. That is, if the third adjustment was an incremental one 70a, then the fourth adjustment will be a decremental one 70b. Conversely, if the third adjustment was a decremental one 70b, then the fourth adjustment will be an incremental one 70a. In any case though, the fourth adjustment will be directly related to a fourth quantity of rotor position signals 46 received after the second power-cutting step 340.
It should perhaps be noted that the first and second sets of additional steps (as shown in
Advantageously, the method 200 may also include a component-return step 400 (alternately, herein referred to as a component-return subroutine 400). The component-return step 400 may preferably, but it need necessarily, occur sometime after the second counting step 250. In the component-return subroutine 400, the driven component 100 is preferably returned to the memory position 90 stored in the memory registers 88 of the memory modules 80—i.e., using the net count 86 stored in the position registers 84 of the memory modules 80.
As shown in
After power is supplied to the motor 40, the component-return subroutine 400 commences a monitoring substep 410, wherein the motor-monitoring device 50 is used to monitor the motor-related parameter 54 for presence of the trip value. As shown in
In the fifth counting step 420, the RMR is decremented in direct relation to a fifth quantity of the rotor position signals 46 which are received after substep 408. As shown in
Conversely, when a rotor position signal 46 has been received, in substep 424, the component-return subroutine 400 decrements the RMR in direct relation to each one of the rotor position signals 46 which has been received.
Thereafter, the component-return subroutine 400 moves on to a subroutine query 426, wherein it is determined whether the RMR are now equal to zero. If the RMR are now equal to zero, then the component 100 will preferably have returned to the memory position 90 and the component-return subroutine 400 may preferably proceed to a subroutine end step 450. If, on the other hand, the RMR are not equal to zero, the component-return subroutine 400 may preferably return to the monitoring step 430 (which is discussed above).
When the trip value is determined to be present in query 412, the power 64 supplied to the motor 40 will be terminated in the subroutine power-cutting step 430 (i.e., after substep 408).
Before proceeding from step 430 to a sixth counting step 434, the component-return subroutine 400 may query, in step 432, whether a set amount of time has elapsed. If the set amount of time has elapsed, then the component-return subroutine 400 may preferably proceed to a further query step 440 (which is discussed in greater detail hereinbelow).
If, on the other hand, the set amount of time has not elapsed, then the component-return subroutine 400 may preferably proceed to the sixth counting step 434, wherein the RMR is incremented in direct relation to a sixth quantity of the rotor position signals 46 which are received after substep 430. As shown in
Conversely, when a rotor position signal 46 has been received, in substep 438, the component-return subroutine 400 increments the RMR in direct relation to each one of the rotor position signals 46 which has been received.
Thereafter, in query 440, the component-return subroutine 400 determines whether the RMR are now equal to zero. If the RMR are not equal to zero, the component-return subroutine 400 may preferably return to step 408 (which is discussed above). If, on the other hand, the RMR are now equal to zero, then the component 100 will preferably have returned to the memory position 90 and the component-return subroutine 400 may preferably proceed to the aforementioned subroutine end step 450.
Persons having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the technology of the present invention may be applied equally well to improve the accuracy of ripple-counting 44b based systems and Hall-effect sensor 44a based systems.
The memory modules 80 are preferably able to detect the obstacle 130 (or mechanical stop 130) when it is encountered by the driven component 100. Preferably, the present invention may provide for the monitoring of the current draw 54a of the drive motor 40. For example, in the context of motors 40 used to drive vehicle seat components 102 under normal operation, such current draw 54a may typically run in the range of between about 2 Amps and about 5 Amps. In contrast, a typical power seat drive motor 40 may draw a stall current in the order of about 18 Amps. According to the present invention, if the measured drive motor current 54a exceeds above about 10 amps, the power 64 to the drive motor 40 is cut, and the rotor position signals 46 detected thereafter may be deducted from the net count 86 sent to the position register 84 of the memory modules 80.
As aforesaid, alternate methods can be used to sense the seat 102 hitting an obstacle 130. For example, the tachometer 50b may be used to sense a change in speed 54b of the drive motor 40, or a force transducer 50c may be used to sense a change in load 54c on the drive motor 40. In fact, the present invention encompasses all such means of detecting the seat 102 (or other driven component 100) hitting the obstacle 130.
It will also be appreciated from the foregoing that, once contact with the obstacle 130 is detected, such as, for example, by detection of the stall current level being achieved, the software (processor-readable code or processor instructions) of the present invention may preferably helps the processors 60 to implement a recoil routine, as referenced above, to reverse further counts received from the Hall-Effect sensor 44a after the power 64 is turned off. On the other hand, if no high current is detected, the counts continue to add in the same direction. (See
A memory module 80 constructed according to the present invention may take advantage of the fact that motor 40 rotations may occur in the reverse direction (due to system recoil) for counts detected after the power 64 is turned off.
As aforesaid, therefore, the motor current 54a may be measured according to the method 200. If the current 54a is not high, then no obstacle 130 has been detected, and the method 200 can continue to measure the motor current 54a. If the current 54a is high, then this may be indicative of the obstacle 130 having been encountered. Power 64 to the motor 40 will then be turned off. After encountering the detected obstacle 130, the motor 40 may generally tend to rotate in the opposite direction. Thereafter, the method 200 may monitors for any signals 46. Any signals 46 (alternately, herein referred to as pulses 46) that are detected may preferably result, according to the method 200, in counts being subtracted from the net count 86. Thereafter, and/or if no pulses 46 are immediately detected, then the method 200 will continue to monitor for pulses 46 for (at least) a limited period of time.
Because the memory modules 80 of the present invention may tend not to generate positional errors, it may be unnecessary to reset its seat position register 84 periodically. Therefore, the present invention may be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art (and by ordinary end users and seat occupants) to be a solution that is much safer than prior art “reset” technologies, and may generally tend to improve customer satisfaction.
It will also be appreciated by persons having ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may find many advantageous utilizations in association with automotive vehicles seats, drive motors, and memory modules—preferably, in accurately returning driven components to stored positions. Advantageously, the present invention may be used in association with Hall-effect sensors and/or ripple-counting based systems—preferably, to accurately maintain a stored count of rotor position signals. Preferably, use of the present invention may help to avoid rotational counting errors and the generation (and accumulation) of positional errors—especially following the encountering of an obstacle (or mechanical stop) by the driven component (or motor). The use of the present invention may help to account for the actual release of force on the system following such events, e.g., rotation of the drive motor in a direction opposite to that indicated by the supplied polarity of the voltage or current. Preferably, any count error that remains may be well within acceptable parameters, such that the recorded seat (or other component) position corresponds to its actual position. In this manner, among others, it may be expected to result in reduced customer irritation and/or in increased safety. Of course, the present invention may also preferably be used in association with other motor-driven components, such as, for example, other vehicle components including adjustable mirrors, pedals, and/or steering columns. Preferably, the use of the present invention may enable widespread adoption by various OEMs of Hall-effect sensor based and ripple-counting based systems.
The present invention may also avoid the undue accumulation of positional errors, without the use (and concomitant irritation associated with the use) of “reset” technologies, so as to provide for safety of passengers and/or stowed items. Preferably, the present invention may provide an affordable, low noise, small package size, and/or a high resolution solution to the problems associated with the prior art. Preferably, the use of the present invention may help to eliminate and/or minimize these positional errors, and/or to mitigate their negative consequences, in Hall-effect sensor and ripple-counting based systems. Preferably, the use of the present invention may help to provide a memory module system that is able to detect a mechanical stop or obstacle that is encountered by the driven component. Preferably, the use of the present invention may help to provide a technology which is equally applicable in improving the accuracy of Hall-effect and ripple-counting based systems. Preferably, the use of the present invention may help to provide a component position recording device that may be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, may be readily mass-produced, and/or one that may fits into a relatively small design envelope. Preferably, the use of the present invention may help to provide such a system that is both highly reliable and cost effective. As such, the use of the present invention may preferably help to obviate or mitigate at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
Of course, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of other embodiments according to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the accompanying claims.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60806236 | Jun 2006 | US |