Linear power module

• US 20050264253A1
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carter Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Carter Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Ivankovic, Mladen
• Application Number:
  US10/968,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20050264253A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/685
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/288 using variable impedance
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

The present invention includes a reliable, configurable, compact, and low-cost linear electric motor controller for a vehicular heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system and methods of control. The controller features multiple input interfaces, specifically an interface for pulse width modulation control; an interface for discrete, stepwise control; and an interface for continuous variable control. The controller is implemented on an application-specific integrated circuit, and voltage to the electric motor is varied by a power metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET).

Claims

1. -2. (canceled)

3. A linear electric motor controller comprising:

a first input circuitry that receives signals configured and adapted to control pulse width modulation;

a second input circuitry that receives signals configured and adapted to control discrete step-wise output;

a third input circuitry that receives signals configured and adapted to provide continuous variable control; and

controller circuitry operatively coupled to the first, second, and third input circuitry for varying output signals applied to a controlled device.

4. The linear electric motor controller of claim 3, wherein the controller is in a closed loop feedback arrangement with the controlled device.

5. The linear electric motor controller of claim 3, wherein the controller comprises a MOSFET that is responsive to the third input circuitry.

6. The linear electric motor controller of claim 3, wherein the controller is part of an ASIC.

7. A method of controlling a vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system which comprises:

controlling pulse width modulation of the system;

providing discrete step wise control to the system; and

providing continuous variable control to the system.

8. The method of claim 7, which further comprises implementing a closed loop feedback arrangement with a controlled device.

9. The method of claim 7, which further comprises implementing a MOSFET that is responsive to a voltage across a controlled device configured and adapted to provide continuous variable control.

10. The method of claim 7, which further comprises providing an ASIC configured and adapted to control pulse width modulation, to provide discrete step-wise control;

and to provide continuous variable control.