Universal solenoid driver
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a driver integrated circuit (IC) comprising a first control unit and a second control unit;
a first solenoid that is electrically coupled to the first control unit;
a second solenoid that is electrically coupled to the second control unit;
at least one sensor;
a clock that synchronizes a microcontroller and the driver IC; and
a peripheral bus that communicatively couples the first control unit and the second control unit;
wherein the microcontroller and the driver IC form an outer control loop configured to generate a control signal that controls actuation the first solenoid and the second solenoid; and
wherein the first control unit, the second control unit, and the at least one sensor form an inner control loop configured to generate, based upon the control signal, an actuation signal that actuates the first solenoid and the second solenoid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device may include a driver integrated circuit (IC) comprising a first control unit and a second control unit, a first solenoid that is electrically coupled to the first control unit, a second solenoid that is electrically coupled to the second control unit; at least one sensor, a clock that synchronizes a microcontroller and the driver IC, and a peripheral bus that communicatively couples the first control unit, the second control unit. The microcontroller and the driver IC form an outer control loop that actuates the first solenoid and the second solenoid, and the first control unit, the second control unit, and the at least one sensor form an inner control loop that controls the first solenoid and the second solenoid.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a driver integrated circuit (IC) comprising a first control unit and a second control unit; a first solenoid that is electrically coupled to the first control unit; a second solenoid that is electrically coupled to the second control unit; at least one sensor; a clock that synchronizes a microcontroller and the driver IC; and a peripheral bus that communicatively couples the first control unit and the second control unit; wherein the microcontroller and the driver IC form an outer control loop configured to generate a control signal that controls actuation the first solenoid and the second solenoid; and wherein the first control unit, the second control unit, and the at least one sensor form an inner control loop configured to generate, based upon the control signal, an actuation signal that actuates the first solenoid and the second solenoid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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receiving, from a microcontroller by a driver IC that includes a first control unit configured to control a first solenoid and a second control unit configured to control a second solenoid, a first feedback signal generated via a first control loop that comprises the microcontroller, the first control unit, and the second control unit; receiving, by at least one of the first control unit and the second control unit, a second feedback signal generated via a second control loop that comprises the first control unit, the second control unit, and at least one sensor; generating, by at least one of the microcontroller, the first control unit, and the second control unit based on at least one of the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal, a control signal; and actuating, by one of the first control unit and the second control unit and based upon the control signal, one of the first solenoid and the second solenoid. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification