Actuator apparatus incorporating a controller

• US 20060086201A1
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig Andrew Weldon, Edward Kunath, Frank Wiemer, Jacob Ritchie
• Original Assignee: Craig Andrew Weldon, Edward Kunath, Frank Wiemer, Jacob Ritchie
• Inventors: Weldon, Craig Andrew, Kunath, Edward, Ritchie, Jacob, Wiemer, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/44 pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

An adjustable positioning apparatus, which may be used for a foot-operated control, includes a first member that is movably supported with respect to a base, an adjuster that is supported on the first member, and a second member. The adjuster includes a displacement device, an actuator, and a controller. The displacement device includes a first portion that is coupled to the first member, and includes a second portion that is displaced with respect to the first portion. The actuator displaces the second portion with respect to the first portion, and the controller operates the actuator and determines displacement of the second portion with respect to the first portion. The second member is coupled to the second portion.

Claims

1. An adjustable positioning apparatus comprising:

an first member movably supported with respect to a base;

an adjuster supported on the first member, the adjuster including;

a displacement device including first and second portions, the first portion being coupled to the first member, and the second portion being displaced with respect to the first portion;

an actuator displacing the second portion with respect to the first portion; and

a controller operating the actuator and determining displacement of the second portion with respect to the first portion; and

a second member being coupled to the second portion.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first member comprises first and second lever arms, the first lever arm extends from a pivot to a first lever end, and the second lever arm extends from the pivot to a second lever end.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the adjuster is disposed at the second lever end.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the base comprises a vehicle chassis, and the second member comprises a pedal of a foot-operated control.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement device comprises a rotary to linear motion converter.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rotary to linear motion converter comprises a threaded rod and a nut cooperatively engaging the threaded rod.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor rotating the threaded rod, and the second member is fixed with respect to the nut.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the adjuster further comprises:

a housing including a body portion and a coupling portion, the electric motor being disposed in the body portion, and the controller being disposed in the coupling portion.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the body portion is fixed to the first member.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the coupling portion comprises an interchangeable electrical connector.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a driver and a processor, the driver sends to the actuator a drive signal, and the processor determines spacing between the base and the second member based on a feedback signal received from the actuator.

12. An apparatus adjustably positioning a foot-operated control with respect to a vehicle chassis, the apparatus comprising:

a lever pivotally supported on the vehicle chassis;

an adjuster supported on the lever, the adjuster including;

a threaded rod, the threaded rod being supported for relative rotation with respect to the lever arm;

a nut cooperatively engaging the threaded rod, the nut being displaced upon rotation of the threaded rod;

an electric motor rotating the threaded rod, the electric motor including a plurality of coils;

a housing including a body portion and a coupling portion, the electric motor being disposed in the body portion, and the body portion being fixed with respect to the lever; and

a controller being disposed in the coupling portion and including a motor driver and a processor, the motor driver providing a drive signal to the plurality of coils, and the processor determining displacement of the nut with respect to the threaded rod based on a feedback signal generated in the plurality of coils during operation of the electric motor; and

a pedal being fixed to the nut.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the coupling portion comprises an interchangeable electrical connector.

14. An actuator comprising:

a threaded rod extending along an axis;

a nut cooperatively engaging the threaded rod, the nut being displaced along the axis upon rotation of the threaded rod;

an electric motor rotating the threaded rod, the electric motor including a plurality of coils;

a housing including a body portion and a coupling portion, the electric motor being disposed in the body portion; and

a controller being disposed in the coupling portion and including a motor driver and a processor, the motor driver providing a drive signal to the plurality of coils, and the processor determining displacement of the nut with respect to the threaded rod based on a feedback signal generated in the plurality of coils during operation of the electric motor.

15. The actuator according to claim 14, wherein the electric motor comprises a brushless motor.

16. The actuator according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of coils comprises at least three separate windings equiangularly disposed around the axis.

17. The actuator according to claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a lead frame disposed in the body portion, and the lead frame includes pairs of leads supplying electrical energy to respective ones of the plurality of coils.

18. The actuator according to claim 14, wherein the controller comprises an application-specific integrated circuit.

19. The actuator according to claim 18, wherein the application-specific integrated circuit comprises the motor driver and the processor.

20. The actuator according to claim 14, wherein the feedback signal comprises a back electromotive force generated signal.

21. The actuator according to claim 14, wherein the coupling portion of the housing comprises an interchangeable electrical connector.