Apparatus for correcting driving power of vehicle actuator and method thereof

• US 7,420,290 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Byoung-Sang
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry; Michael J
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUTLAND WALLIS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/012,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0157 non-fluid unit, e.g. electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/412 of steering wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/182 Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/73 Electrical control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/82 duty rate function
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 Suspension Control

Abstract

An apparatus to correct the driving power of an actuator in a vehicle includes a comparator that compares a battery voltage of the vehicle with a predetermined reference voltage. A controller adjusts and outputs a duty ratio of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal according to the compared result of the battery voltage and reference voltage. A switching element is switched on and off by the PWM signal and outputs the battery voltage after a transformation. An actuator operates by receiving the transformed battery voltage through the switching element. The actuator operates at a constant speed regardless of the variation of the battery voltage.

Claims

1. An apparatus for correcting the driving power of an actuator in a vehicle, comprising:

a steering angle sensor;

a vehicle speed sensor;

a comparator that compares a battery voltage of the vehicle with a predetermined reference voltage;

a controller that adjusts and outputs a duty ratio of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal according to the compared result of said battery voltage and said reference voltage, wherein the controller is configured to receive signals from said steering angle sensor and said vehicle speed sensor;

a switching part that is switched on and off by the PWM signal and outputs said battery voltage after a transformation; and

a wheel actuator that operates by receiving said transformed battery voltage through said switching part, wherein the wheel actuator includes a motor which is configured to operate by receiving power through the switching part, and wherein the wheel actuator is configured to supply a force which moves a wheel of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller increases the duty ratio of the PWM signal when said battery voltage is less than said reference voltage as a result of the compared result.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller decreases the duty ratio of the PWM signal when said battery voltage is greater than said reference voltage as a result of the compared result.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signals received by the controller from said steering angle sensor and said vehicle speed sensor are utilized by the controller to pre-determine either one of a vehicle bump or jolt.

5. A method for correcting the driving power of an actuator in a vehicle, comprising:

sensing a steering angle;

sensing a vehicle speed;

comparing a battery voltage of the vehicle with a predetermined reference voltage;

providing a controller which controls an adjustment and output of a duty ratio of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal according to the compared result of the battery voltage and the reference voltage, the controller receiving signals corresponding to the sensed steering angle and the sensed vehicle speed;

decreasing a duty ratio of the PWM signal when the battery voltage is greater than the reference voltage, and increasing the duty ratio of the PWM signal when the battery voltage is less than the reference voltage; and

transforming and providing the battery voltage to a wheel actuator by a switching operation according to the adjusted PWM signal, the wheel actuator including a motor which is configured to operate by receiving power through the switching operation, the wheel actuator being configured to supply a force which moves a wheel of the vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

utilizing the received signals to pre-determine either one of a vehicle bump or jolt.