AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRIC MOTOR SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20090289486A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Jimenez Pino, Rafael, Castilla, Juan Luis
• Granted Patent: US 8,193,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/344.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/14 Inductive; Magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/10 using a database

Abstract

An automotive electric motor speed control system may include at least one electric motor adapted to cause a moveable element to move, a DC/DC power converter configured to output a voltage to the at least one electric motor that increases to a desired value and subsequently decreases to control the movement of the moveable element, and a controller configured to control the rate of voltage increase and voltage decrease output by the converter.

Claims

1. An automotive seat system comprising:

a moveable vehicle seat;

at least one electric motor adapted to cause the seat to move;

a DC/DC power converter;

at least one switch electrically connected with the at least one motor and the converter; and

a controller in communication with the converter, the converter configured to output a voltage ramp, under the command of the controller, to the at least one motor to control the acceleration or deceleration of the seat.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the voltage ramp generally increases from a first value to a second value.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the second value is approximately equal to a voltage of a power storage unit electrically connected with the converter.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the voltage ramp generally decreases from a first value to a second value.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first value is approximately equal to a voltage of a power storage unit electrically connected with the converter.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the converter includes a field effect transistor, an inductor and a capacitor.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the field effect transistor is electrically connected with a power storage unit.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one switch is configured to select, under the command of the controller, the direction of rotation of the at least one motor.

9. An automotive seat system comprising:

a moveable vehicle seat;

at least one electric motor adapted to cause the seat to move;

a DC/DC power converter configured to output a voltage to the at least one electric motor that increases to a desired value and subsequently decreases to control the movement of the seat; and

a controller configured to control the rate of voltage increase and voltage decrease output by the converter.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the desired value is approximately equal to a voltage of a power storage unit electrically connected with the converter.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the converter includes a field effect transistor, an inductor and a capacitor.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the field effect transistor is electrically connected with a power storage unit.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising at least one switch, wherein the converter is selectively electrically connected with the at least one motor via the at least one switch.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one switch is configured to select, under the command of the controller, the direction of rotation of the at least one motor.

15. An automotive electric motor speed control system comprising:

at least one electric motor adapted to cause a moveable element to move;

a DC/DC power converter configured to output a voltage to the at least one electric motor that increases to a desired value and subsequently decreases to control the movement of the moveable element; and

a controller configured to control the rate of voltage increase and voltage decrease output by the converter.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the desired value is approximately equal to a voltage of a power storage unit electrically connected with the converter.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising at least one switch, wherein the converter is selectively electrically connected with the at least one motor via the at least one switch.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one switch is configured to select, under the command of the controller, the direction of rotation of the at least one motor.