Fluid pressure control device with integrated pressure sensor

• US 8,408,516 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Dlugoss, Randall B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keasel, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): JELLETT, MATTHEW WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US12/430,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20100269632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 251/129.05, 251/129.08, 251/129.15, 137/487.5, 137/557, 137/625.65, 137/625.69, 700/21, 700/32, 700/281, 700/282, 303/119.1, 303/119.2, 123/458
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/683 Sensing pressure in control systems or in fluid controlled devices, e.g. by pressure sensors for hydrostatic transmissions F16H2059/6861
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/68 Inputs being a function of gearing status
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0251 Elements specially adapted for electric control units, e.g. valves for converting electrical signals to fluid signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/2024 the throttling means being a multiple-way valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7754 Line flow effect assisted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7762 Fluid pressure type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19158 with one or more controllers for gearing, fluid drive, or clutch

Abstract

Provided is a fluid pressure control device that includes an actuator and a body configured to house the actuator. The body has an opening arranged to receive pressurized fluid. The fluid pressure control device additionally includes a pressure sensor incorporated into the body relative to the opening to sense fluid pressure and to generate an electrical signal indicative of the sensed pressure. Furthermore, the fluid pressure control device includes an integrated circuit incorporated into the body, and operatively connected to the pressure sensor. The integrated circuit includes a transceiver configured to communicate with an external device by transmitting the electrical signal indicative of the sensed fluid pressure to the external device and receiving a control signal from the external device. The integrated circuit additionally includes a driver configured to power the actuator in response to the control signal.

Claims

1. A fluid pressure control device, comprising:

a control valve;

an actuator in contact with the control valve;

a fluid pressure control device body having a housing joined with a valve casing and having a face plate that includes an opening configured to receive pressurized fluid, wherein the actuator is arranged inside the housing and the control valve is arranged inside the valve casing;

a pressure sensor incorporated into the body relative to the opening and configured to sense fluid pressure and generate an electrical signal indicative of the sensed fluid pressure; and

an integrated circuit incorporated into the body, and operatively connected to the pressure sensor, including;

a transceiver configured to communicate with an external device, wherein the transceiver transmits the electrical signal indicative of the sensed fluid pressure to the external device and receives a control signal from the external device; and

a driver configured to communicate electric current and thereby power the actuator to translate the control valve inside the valve casing in response to the control signal;

wherein the pressure sensor and the integrated circuit are contained within the face plate.

2. The fluid pressure control device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with the external device via a serial communication arrangement.

3. The fluid pressure control device of claim 2, wherein the transceiver uses a power line technique to communicate via the serial communication arrangement.

4. The fluid pressure control device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver uses a wireless arrangement for communication with the external device.

5. The fluid pressure control device of claim 1, wherein the control signal from the external device is generated based on the electrical signal indicative of the sensed fluid pressure in a feed-back control loop.

6. The fluid pressure control device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit further comprises one of an analog to digital signal converter and a digital to analog signal converter.

7. A transmission for a motor vehicle, the transmission comprising:

a transmission valve body configured to regulate operation of the transmission; and

a fluid pressure control device inserted into the valve body and including;

a fluid valve;

an actuator in contact with and configured to translate the fluid valve for regulating fluid pressure inside the transmission;

a fluid pressure control device body having a housing joined with a valve casing and having a face plate that includes an opening configured to receive pressurized fluid, wherein the actuator is arranged inside the housing and the fluid valve is arranged inside the valve casing;

a pressure sensor incorporated into the body relative to the opening and configured to sense fluid pressure and generate an electrical signal indicative of the sensed fluid pressure; and

an integrated circuit incorporated into the body, and operatively connected to the pressure sensor, including;

a transceiver configured to communicate with an external device, wherein the transceiver transmits the electrical signal indicative of the sensed fluid pressure to the external device, and to receive a control signal from the external device; and

a driver configured to communicate electric current and thereby power the actuator to translate the control valve inside the valve casing in response to the control signal;

wherein the pressure sensor and the integrated circuit are contained within the face plate.

8. The transmission of claim 7, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with the external device via a serial communication arrangement.

9. The transmission of claim 8, wherein the transceiver uses a power line technique to communicate via the serial communication arrangement.

10. The transmission of claim 7, wherein the transceiver uses a wireless arrangement for communication with the external device.

11. The transmission of claim 7, wherein the control signal from the external device is generated based on the electrical signal indicative of the sensed fluid pressure in a feed-back control loop.

12. The transmission of claim 7, wherein the electrical circuit further comprises one of an analog to digital signal converter and a digital to analog signal converter.

13. A fluid pressure control device, comprising:

a control valve;

an actuator in contact with the control valve;

a fluid pressure control device body having a housing joined with a face plate and the face plate joined with a valve casing, the face plate having an opening configured to receive pressurized fluid, wherein the actuator is arranged inside the housing and the control valve is arranged inside the valve casing;

a pressure sensor incorporated into the body relative to the opening and configured to sense fluid pressure and generate an electrical signal indicative of the sensed fluid pressure; and

an integrated circuit incorporated into the body, and operatively connected to the pressure sensor, including;

a transceiver configured to communicate with an external device, wherein the transceiver transmits the electrical signal indicative of the sensed fluid pressure to the external device and receives a control signal from the external device; and

a driver configured to communicate electric current and thereby power the actuator to translate the control valve inside the valve casing in response to the control signal;

wherein the pressure sensor and the integrated circuit are contained within the face plate.

14. The fluid pressure control device of claim 13, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with the external device via a serial communication arrangement.

15. The fluid pressure control device of claim 14, wherein the transceiver uses a power line technique to communicate via the serial communication arrangement.

16. The fluid pressure control device of claim 13, wherein the transceiver uses a wireless arrangement for communication with the external device.

17. The fluid pressure control device of claim 13, wherein the control signal from the external device is generated based on the electrical signal indicative of the sensed fluid pressure in a feed-back control loop.

18. The fluid pressure control device of claim 13, wherein the integrated circuit further comprises one of an analog to digital signal converter and a digital to analog signal converter.