Method of actuator control

• US 8,086,329 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Inventors: Keefover, Robert D., Labataille, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alvarez, Olvin Lopez
• Application Number:
  US11/921,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20090267557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,037 Days
• Field of Search: 700/47, 318/565, 702/94, 702/88, 702/105, 701/103, 701 58- 60, 12340632-40647, 337/82, 337/94, 337/129, 337/119, 337/347, 337/319, 337/360, 337/368, 337/323, 250/339.09, 250/341.5
• US Class Current: 700/47
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0007 for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines control of the pumps per se F02B37/12
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0077 Control of the EGR valve or actuator, e.g. duty cycle, closed loop control of position EGR valve position sensor F02M26/48
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2429 Methods of calibrating or learning
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2441 characterised by the learning conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36518 Selection of calibration program as function of parameter to be calibrated
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42152 Learn, self, auto tuning, calibrating, environment adaptation, repetition
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45018 Car, auto, vehicle

Abstract

The present invention is related to a method of controlling a device having a calibration process. The calibration process has a partial calibration routine and a calibration routine. A detector within the control system is capable of receiving one or more input signals and determining whether a partial calibration or calibration should occur. The first step in the process involves starting the control method where the detector receives input signals or generates it own data within the detector. The detector also determines whether a partial calibration routine or a calibration routine will take place based upon the value of the input signals received. A partial calibration routine will be performed if the input signals to the detector do not favor a calibration.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a calibration process comprising the steps of:

providing an actuator for use in an engine;

providing a calibration process having a partial calibration routine and a calibration routine for determining if said actuator is properly functioning;

providing one or more input signals;

starting a control method;

wherein a determination is made whether a partial calibration or a calibration routine will take place based upon the values of said one or more input signals;

commanding said partial calibration routine if said values of said one or more input signals favor said partial calibration routine, wherein said actuator learns or verifies a first function and determining if said actuator is properly functioning; and

operating said actuator using said partial calibration routine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said partial calibration routine is based in part on an operating range of the actuator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the method of controlling the calibration process is used for determining operational functions of said actuator, the operational functions are selected from the group comprising one of:

mechanical stops, current or voltage fluctuation, air flow capacity, torque range, fuel metering, fuel quantity, force, linear travel or rotary movement.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more input signals relate to one or more of a group comprising:

vehicle electrical system values, engine speed or vehicle speed.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first function comprises:

one of the following of the group comprising, air flow of an air pump, range of electrical current, angular revolution and torque determination.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said method of controlling a calibration process is used for calibrating said actuator selected from one of the group comprising:

turbochargers, exhaust gas recirculation valves, throttle valves, shift actuators, transfer case shift mechanisms, clutches and transmission shift mechanisms, variable cam timing mechanisms, fuel injectors or tuning actuators.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of commanding a calibration to take place wherein said actuator learns or verifies said first function of said operating range of said actuator;

learning or verifying a second function of said operating range of said actuator; and

operating said actuator using said first function and said second function values obtained during said calibration.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing an engine control unit (ECU) for transmitting an input signal and said actuator includes an actuator control unit (ACU), wherein said ACU is configured to receive said input signal from said ECU;

wherein said step of determining whether a partial calibration routine or a calibration routine takes place further comprises;

generating said input signal from said ECU and transmitting said input signals to said ACU and said ACU commands said actuator to perform said step of performing said partial calibration routine, wherein after said partial calibration routine is complete, said ACU disregards other factors that direct said ACU to command said actuator to perform a second calibration routine or partial calibration routine until said ECU transmits a second input signal to said ACU, to allow said ACU to command said actuator to run said calibration routine or partial calibration routine.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the method of controlling a calibration process for determining operational functions of said actuator is selected from the group comprising one of:

mechanical stops, current or voltage fluctuation, air flow capacity, torque range, fuel metering, fuel quantity, force, linear travel or rotary movement.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said actuator is one selected from the group comprising turbochargers, exhaust gas recirculation valves, throttle valves, shift actuators, transfer case shift mechanisms, clutches and transmission shift mechanisms, variable cam timing mechanisms, fuel injectors or tuning actuators.

11. The method for controlling a calibration process of claim 8 wherein said ECU transmits said input signal to said ACU prior to said engine being started.

12. The method for controlling a calibration process of claim 8 wherein said ECU transmits a second input signal to said ACU after said engine is shutdown.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing an engine control unit (ECU) for transmitting an input signal;

providing an actuator control unit (ACU) that is associated with said actuator, wherein said ACU is configured to receive said input signal from said ECU;

wherein said step of determining whether a partial calibration routine or a calibration routine takes place further comprising the steps of;

generating said input signal from said ECU and transmitting said input signal to said ACU, wherein said ACU receives said input signal and said ACU commands an actuator to perform a self-calibration process, wherein after said self-calibration process is complete, other factors direct said ACU to command said actuator to perform a partial calibration process.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the method of controlling a calibration process is used for determining operational functions of said actuator selected from the group comprising one of:

mechanical stops, current or voltage fluctuation, air flow capacity, torque range, fuel metering, fuel quantity, force, linear travel or rotary movement.

15. The method for controlling a calibration process of claim 13 wherein said ECU transmits said input signal to said ACU prior to said engine being started.

16. The method for controlling a calibration process of claim 13 wherein said ECU transmits a second input signal to said ACU after said engine is shutdown.

17. The method for controlling a calibration process of claim 13 further comprising the step of operating said actuator using a learned or verified value obtained from said partial calibration routine and a previous stored value that is one selected from a group comprising a pre-programmed value, an end of line value or a value from a last calibration of the actuator.

18. The method for controlling a calibration process of claim 13 wherein said actuator is one selected from the group comprising turbo chargers, exhaust gas recirculation valves, throttle valves, shift actuators, transfer case shift mechanisms, clutches and transmission shift mechanisms, variable cam timing mechanisms, fuel injectors or tuning actuators.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of operating using said partial calibration further comprises the use of the first function and a previously stored value.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said previously stored value is one of a group comprising a pre-programmed value, or a value from a previous calibration.