Electronic throttle servo overheat protection system

• US 6,763,804 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michigan Motor Technologies LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Pursifull, Ross Dykstra
• Primary Examiner(s): Gimie, Mahmoud
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US09/973,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 318/563, 318/565, 318/626, 318/566, 318/635, 123/396, 123/397, 123/399, 123/339.15, 123/339.16, 123/568.24, 251/129.11, 251/129.12, 251/129.13
• US Class Current: 123/396
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/10 of the electric type

Abstract

A method for controlling a positioning device (34) of an internal combustion engine includes the step of providing an electric motor (30) for actuating a positioning device (34). A user employs an actuator (21) to command the throttle plate (34) to change to a commanded position. A motor effort sensor (38) then detects a control effort required by the motor (30) to change to the commanded position. A throttle control unit (28) determines whether the control effort exceeds a threshold for a predetermined time period. If the control effort exceeds the threshold for the predetermined time period, the throttle control unit (28) actuates the motor (30) to reduce the control effort.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a positioning device of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an electric motor for actuating the positioning device;

commanding the positioning device to change to a commanded position;

detecting a control effort required to change to said commanded position;

determining whether said control effort exceeds a threshold for a predetermined time period; and

reducing said control effort when said control effort exceeds said threshold for said predetermined time period;

wherein commanding the positioning device to change to said commanded position comprises at least one of commanding the positioning device to open to a hold open mode and commanding the positioning device to dose to a hold close mode.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said threshold has an absolute value of 6 volts.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined time period is 300 milliseconds.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a maximum control effort to the positioning device for a hard open time period.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said maximum control effort is +14.5 volts.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said hard open time period is 30 milliseconds.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of commanding the positioning device to change to said commanded position, comprises commanding the positioning device to close to said commanded position in a hold close mode.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of applying a maximum control effort to the positioning device for a hard dose time period.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said maximum control effort is −

14.5 volts.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said hard close time period is 30 milliseconds.

11. A system for controlling a positioning device of an internal combustion engine to prevent overheat conditions, the system comprising:

an electric motor for actuating the positioning device with a control effort;

a control effort detector coupled to said electric motor and intended to detect said control effort; and

a controller coupled to said electric motor and said control effort detector, said controller including control logic operative to command the positioning device to change to a commanded position, detect a control effort required to change to said commanded position, determine whether said control effort exceeds a threshold for a predetermined time period, and reduce said control effort when said control effort exceeds said threshold for said predetermined time period;

wherein said controller further includes control logic operative to command the positioning device to close to said commanded position in a hold close mode.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said threshold has an absolute value of 6 volts.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said predetermined time period is 300 milliseconds.

14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said controller further includes control logic operative to command the positioning device to open to said commanded position in a hold open mode.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said controller further includes control logic operative to apply a maximum control effort to the positioning device for said hard open time period.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said maximum control effort is +14.5 volts.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said hard open time period is 30 milliseconds.

18. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said controller further includes control logic operative to command application of a maximum control effort to the positioning device for a hard close time period.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein said maximum control effort is −

14.5 volts.

20. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein said hard close time period is 30 milliseconds.