Circuit for providing power to multiple electrical devices

• US 20050046366A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Campbell, Douglas C., Wevers, Bruno, Bedro, Ronald G.
• Application Number:
  US10/651,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20050046366A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/280
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor

Abstract

A system comprises a first electrical device, a second electrical device, and a circuit configured to provide power to the first and second electrical devices. The circuit is configured to provide a first voltage across the first electrical device, a polarity of the first voltage being reversible. The circuit is also configured to use the first voltage to provide a second voltage across the second electrical device. A polarity of the second voltage across the second electrical device remains constant when a polarity of the first voltage across the first electrical device is reversed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first electrical device;

a second electrical device; and

a circuit configured to provide power to the first and second electrical devices;

wherein the circuit is configured to provide a first voltage across the first electrical device, a polarity of the first voltage being reversible, the circuit also being configured to use the first voltage to provide a second voltage across the second electrical device;

wherein a polarity of the second voltage across the second electrical device remains constant when the polarity of the first voltage across the first electrical device is reversed.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first electrical device is a reversible motor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second electrical device is a position sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first electrical device is a reversible motor and the second electrical device is a position sensor that is coupled to the motor.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the position sensor is integrally coupled to the motor in a single package.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the position sensor is selected from a group consisting of a Hall Effect sensor, a potentiometer, and an optical sensor.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises a plurality of diodes which are configured to maintain the polarity of the second voltage constant when the polarity of the first voltage is reversed.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the polarity of the first voltage is reversible in response to a user input.

9. A system comprising:

a first electrical device;

a second electrical device; and

a circuit configured to provide power to the first and second electrical devices;

wherein the circuit is configured use a reversible polarity voltage to power the first electrical device, the circuit also being configured to convert the reversible polarity voltage to a constant polarity voltage which is used to power the second electrical device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the first electrical device is a reversible motor.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the second electrical device is a position sensor.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the second electrical device is selected from a group consisting of a Hall Effect sensor, a potentiometer, and an optical sensor.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the circuit comprises a plurality of diodes which are configured to convert the reversible polarity voltage to the constant polarity voltage.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the reversible polarity voltage is reversed in response to a user input.

15. A direct current motor package comprising:

a position sensor coupled to the motor;

a first lead; and

a second lead;

wherein the first and second leads are configured to be coupled to a power controller to provide reversible polarity power to the motor; and

wherein the reversible polarity power provided to the motor is used to provide constant polarity power to the position sensor.

16. The motor package of claim 15 wherein the motor comprises a housing, the position sensor being positioned inside the housing.

17. The motor package of claim 15 wherein the position sensor is a Hall Effect sensor, a potentiometer, or an optical sensor.

18. The motor package of claim 15 wherein the motor is configured to be used to adjust the position of an automotive device.

19. The motor package of claim 15 wherein the motor comprises a plurality of diodes that are configured to convert the reversible polarity power to the constant polarity power.

20. A direct current motor package comprising:

a position sensor coupled to the motor; and

a circuit configured to provide power to the motor and the position sensor;

wherein the circuit is configured to provide a first voltage across the motor, a polarity of the first voltage being reversible, the circuit also being configured to use the first voltage to provide a second voltage across the position sensor;

wherein a polarity of the second voltage across the position sensor remains constant when the polarity of the first voltage across the motor is reversed.

21. The motor package of claim 20 wherein the sensor is a Hall Effect sensor, a potentiometer, or an optical sensor.

22. The motor package of claim 20 wherein the circuit further comprises a power controller configured to control the polarity of the first voltage.

23. The motor package of claim 20 wherein the motor comprises a housing, the position sensor being positioned inside the housing.

24. The motor package of claim 20 wherein the first and second voltages are approximately equal.

25. The motor package of claim 20 wherein the circuit comprises a plurality of diodes which are configured to maintain the polarity of the second voltage constant when the polarity of the first voltage is reversed.

26. A vehicle system comprising:

a direct current motor configured to adjust a position of at least a portion of the vehicle device;

a sensor configured to measure the position of the portion of the vehicle device; and

a circuit configured to provide a first voltage across the motor and a second voltage across the sensor, a polarity of the first voltage being reversible, the second voltage being obtained from the first voltage;

wherein the circuit is configured to provide a polarity of the second voltage across the sensor that remains constant when the polarity of the first voltage across the motor is reversed.

27. The vehicle system of claim 26 further comprising:

a seat back; and

a seat base;

wherein the motor is configured to adjust the position one or both of the seat back and seat base.

28. The vehicle system of claim 26 wherein the sensor is selected from a group consisting of a Hall Effect sensor and a potentiometer.

29. The vehicle system of claim 26 wherein the circuit further comprises a power controller configured to control the polarity of the first voltage.

30. The vehicle system of claim 26 wherein the motor and the sensor are coupled together in an integral package.