Driving control apparatus for motion mechanism and control method of driving control apparatus

• US 7,623,328 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoshizawa, Hidekazu, Machida, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOANG, ANN THI
• Application Number:
  US11/047,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20050185358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 361/93.1, 361/31
• US Class Current: 361/31
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0015 for optimising engine performances by modifying valve lift according to various working parameters, e.g. rotational speed, load, torque
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0026 by means of an eccentric
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/0537 Double overhead camshafts [DOHC]
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2013/0073 with an oscillating cam acting on the valve of the "Delphi" type
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/12 Fail safe operation
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2820/032 Electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/221 relating to the failure of actuators or electrically driven elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

When a variable valve mechanism which varies an opening characteristic of an engine valve is malfunctioned, the power supply to a drive circuit for the variable valve mechanism is stopped, and also a control signal to the drive circuit is cleared.

Claims

1. A driving control apparatus for a motion mechanism, comprising:

a motion mechanism configured to vary an operation characteristic of an engine valve, said motion mechanism being disposed in an engine;

a motor configured to operate said motion mechanism;

a drive circuit configured to drive said motor; and

a control unit configured to;

output a control signal to said drive circuit;

detect whether or not said motion mechanism is malfunctioning;

stop outputting the control signal to said drive circuit when it is detected that said motion mechanism is malfunctioning;

determine that said drive circuit is malfunctioning when a current of said motor is equal to or larger than a predetermined value after output of said control signal is stopped; and

stop power supplied to said drive circuit when it is determined that said drive circuit is malfunctioning.

2. A driving control apparatus for a motion mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said control unit:

further performs computation on the control signal to be output to said drive circuit, so as to coincide a controlled variable of said motion mechanism with a target value, and

judges that said motion mechanism is malfunctioning when an integral value of a deviation between said controlled variable and the target value is outside a predetermined range.

3. A driving control apparatus for a motion mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said control unit judges that said motion mechanism is malfunctioning when the current of said motor exceeds a limit current, and

wherein said control unit judges that said motion mechanism is malfunctioning when the state where an average current of said motor exceeds an average limit value stays for a predetermined period of time.

4. A driving control apparatus for a motion mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said drive circuit controls the current of said motor in response to a PWM control signal,

wherein said control unit computes said PWM control signal, which is output to said drive circuit, so as to coincide a controlled variable of said motion mechanism with a target value, and

wherein said control unit judges that said motion mechanism is malfunctioning when a state where an ON duty of said PWM control signal exceeds a predetermined value stays for a predetermined period of time.

5. A control method of a driving apparatus for a motion mechanism, said apparatus being provided with:

a motion mechanism configured to vary an operation characteristic of an engine valve, said motion mechanism being disposed in an engine;

a motor configured to operate said motion mechanism; and

a drive circuit configured to drive said motor by inputting a control signal, the control method comprising the steps of;

detecting whether or not said motion mechanism is malfunctioning;

stopping outputting of the control signal to said drive circuit when it is detected that said motion mechanism is malfunctioning;

determining that said drive circuit is malfunctioning when a current of said motor is equal to or larger than a predetermined value after output of said control signal is stopped; and

stopping power supplied to said drive circuit when it is determined that said drive circuit is malfunctioning.

6. A driving control apparatus for a motion mechanism, comprising:

a motion mechanism configured to vary an operation characteristic of an engine valve, said motion mechanism being disposed in an engine;

a motor that operates said motion mechanism;

a drive circuit that drives said motor;

control means for outputting a control signal to said drive circuit;

detecting means for detecting whether or not said motion mechanism is malfunctioning;

a first stopping means for stopping outputting of the control signal to said drive circuit when it is detected that said motion mechanism is malfunctioning;

a determining means for determining that said drive circuit is malfunctioning when a current of said motor is equal to or larger than a predetermined value after output of said control signal is stopped; and

a second stopping means for stopping power supplied to said drive circuit when it is determined that said drive circuit is malfunctioning.