Control module

• US 20070262656A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated), BWI Company Limited SA (Shougang Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group LLC (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Inventors: Poole, Douglas, Fulks, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,485,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/143
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/421 Pivoted lever mechanisms for mounting suspension elements, e.g. Watt linkage
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/122 Trikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/027 Motorcycles with three wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

An electronic control system 310 is provided for independent actuation of a plurality of hydraulic actuators 38, 39. The electronic control system 310 employs an electronic driver 314 connected to a first parallel circuit or first low side driver 316, and a second parallel circuit or second low side driver 330. Each parallel circuit 316, 330 contains a first and a second actuator L1, L2, respectively, connected in series to a first and a second low side MOSFET Q9 and Q10, respectively. Pulse width modulation of the electronic driver 314 in conjunction with selective actuation of either low side driver 316, 330 results in rapid response to system control algorithms whereby each actuator L1 or L2 may be de-activated in a relatively quick manner thereby improving vehicular control.

Claims

1. A control system comprising:

an electronic driver circuit;

a first parallel circuit including a first load and a first low side MOSFET connected in series therewith, said first low side MOSFET being selectively energizable to actuate said first load, said first low side MOSFET being connected to circuit ground potential, said first parallel circuit being connected in parallel with said electronic driver circuit;

a second parallel circuit operatively coupled to the driver circuit, the second circuit including a second load and a second low side MOSFET connected in series therewith, said second low side MOSFET being selectively energizable to actuate said second load, said second low side MOSFET being connected to circuit ground potential, said second parallel circuit being connected in parallel with said electronic driver circuit;

wherein said electronic driver circuit is energized in conjunction with independently energizing either said first low side MOSFET to energize said first load, or said second low side MOSFET to energize said second load.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first load and the second load is an electrically-driven actuator.

3. The control system of claim 2 wherein the electrically-driven actuator is an electrically-actuatable hydraulic valve.

6. The control system of claim 1 wherein said electronic driver circuit comprises:

a first high side MOSFET including a first high side gate for receiving a first input signal, a first high side drain, and a first high side source; and

a second high side MOSFET comprising a second high side gate for receiving a second input signal, a second high side drain, and a second high side source,

said first high side drain being connected to a voltage source, said first high side source being connected to said second high side drain, and said second high side source being connected to circuit ground potential, wherein said electronic driver circuit is actuated by applying a pulse width modulated input signal to said first high side gate and said second high side gate.

7. The control system of claim 6 wherein said first circuit is independently actuated by energizing said first low side MOSFET and not said second low side MOSFET, and, said second circuit is independently actuated by energizing said second low side MOSFET and not said first low side MOSFET.

8. A vehicle employing the control system of claim 1.

9. A hydraulic control system employing the control system of claim 1.

4. The control system of claim I further comprising a first diode connected in parallel with said first low side MOSFET, said first diode being biased so as to prevent current flow therethrough when said first low side MOSFET is energized, said first diode being connected to circuit ground potential to enable discharge of the first circuit through the first diode upon de-actuation of said first low side MOSFET.

5. The control system of claim 4 further comprising a second diode connected in parallel with said second low side MOSFET, said first diode being biased so as to prevent current flow therethrough when said second low side MOSFET is energized, said second diode being connected to circuit ground potential to enable discharge of the second circuit through the second diode upon de-actuation of said second low side MOSFET,

10. A control system comprising:

an electronic driver circuit;

a first parallel circuit operatively coupled to the driver circuit, the first circuit including a first load and a first low side MOSFET connected in series therewith, said first low side MOSFET being selectively energizable to actuate said first load, said first low side MOSFET being connected to circuit ground potential, said first parallel circuit being connected in parallel with said electronic driver;

a second parallel circuit operatively coupled to the driver circuit, the second circuit including a second load and a second low side MOSFET connected in series therewith, said second low side MOSFET being selectively energizable to actuate said second load, said second low side MOSFET being connected to circuit ground potential, said second parallel circuit being connected in parallel with said electronic driver;

a first diode connected in parallel with said first low side MOSFET, said first diode being biased so as to prevent current flow therethrough when said first low side MOSFET is energized, said first diode being connected to circuit ground potential to enable discharge of the first circuit through the first diode upon de-actuation of said first low side MOSFET;

a second diode connected in parallel with said second low side MOSFET said first diode being biased so as to prevent current flow therethrough when said second low side MOSFET is energized, said second diode being connected to circuit ground potential to enable discharge of the second circuit through the second diode upon de-actuation of said second low side MOSFET,

wherein said electronic driver circuit is energized in conjunction with independently energizing either said first low side MOSFET to energize said first load, or said second low side MOSFET to energize said second load.

11. A method of activating at least one of a plurality of actuators comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic driver circuit;

connecting a first parallel circuit to the electronic driver circuit, the first parallel circuit containing a first actuator in series with a first low side MOSFET, said low side MOSFET connected to circuit ground potential;

connecting a second parallel circuit to the electronic driver circuit, the second parallel circuit containing a second actuator in series with a second low side MOSFET, said second low side MOSFET connected to circuit ground potential;

connecting a first diode in parallel to the first low side MOSFET, the first diode connected to circuit ground potential at its anode, and its cathode connected to the drain of the first low side MOSFET;

connecting a second diode in parallel to the second low side MOSFET, the second diode connected to circuit ground potential at its anode, and its cathode connected to the drain of the second low side MOSFET;

energizing the electronic driver circuit; and

energizing at least one of the first parallel and second parallel circuits by energizing at least one of the first and second low side MOSFETs, respectively.

12. A control system employing the method of claim 11.

13. A vehicle employing the method of claim 11.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the first parallel circuit is independently actuated by energizing the first low side MOSFET and not the second low side MOSFET, and, the second parallel circuit is independently actuated by energizing the second low side MOSFET and not the first low side MOSFET.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the electronic driver circuit contains a first high side MOSFET containing a first high side gate for receiving a first input signal, a first high side drain, and a first high side source, and, a second high side MOSFET containing a second high side gate for receiving a second input signal, a second high side drain, and a second high side source, the first high side drain being connected to a voltage source, the first high side source being connected to the second high side drain, and the second high side source being connected to system ground, wherein energizing the electronic driver circuit is accomplished by applying a pulse width modulated input signal the first high side MOSFET and the second high side MOSFET.

16. A control system comprising an electronic module, said module comprising:

an electronic driver circuit;

a first parallel circuit connected in parallel to said electronic driver circuit, said first parallel circuit comprising a first low side MOSFET and a first actuator connected in series with said first low side MOSFET, wherein said first low side MOSFET contains a first source, a first gate, and a first drain, said first source connected to circuit ground potential, said first gate connected to a first input, and said first drain connected to said first actuator, said first low side MOSFET selectively energizable to actuate said first actuator;

a second parallel circuit connected in parallel to said electronic driver, said second parallel circuit a second low side MOSFET and a second actuator connected in series with said second low side MOSFET, wherein said second low side MOSFET contains a second source, a second gate, and a second drain, said second source connected to circuit ground potential, said second gate connected to a second input, and said second drain connected to said second actuator, said second low side MOSFET being selectively energizable to actuate said second actuator;

a first diode in parallel with said first low side MOSFET biased to prevent flow therethrough during actuation of said first low side MOSFET; and

a second diode in parallel with said second low side MOSFET biased to prevent flow therethrough during actuation of said second low side MOSFET,

wherein said electronic driver is energized in conjunction with independently energizing either

said first low side MOSFET or said second low side MOSFET.

17. The control system of claim 16 wherein said electronic driver circuit comprises a first high side MOSFET comprising a first high side gate, a first high side drain, and a first high side source, and, a second high side MOSFET comprising a second high side gate, a second high side drain, and a second high side source, said first high side gate having a first input, and said second high side gate having a second input, said first high side drain connected to voltage, said first high side source connected in series to said second high side drain, and said second high side source connected to circuit ground potential, wherein said electronic driver is actuated by applying a pulse width modulated signal to said first high side MOSFET and said second high side MOSFET.

18. The control system of claim 16 wherein said first and second actuators are inductive loads.