IP Library Granted Patent US 10,280,834
Granted Patent B2
US 10,280,834 · App. 15/559,961 · Granted May 7, 2019

Valve control device and valve system

Inventors: Hiroshi Ito (Tokyo, JP); Takuya Yahagi (Tokyo, JP); Youichiro Shikine (Tokyo, JP); Tomohide Ichikawa (Tokyo, JP); Kensuke Yamamoto (Utsunomiya, JP); Akihito Inoue (Nasukarasuyama, JP)
Assignees: KEIHIN CORPORATION; HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
F02B37/183F02D41/0007F02D41/2464F16K31/046F16K37/0041G05B9/02G05D3/12H02P7/00H02P7/2913F02B37/18F02D2250/16H02P2209/09Y02T10/144
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,280,834
App. No.
15/559,961
Granted
May 7, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A valve control device includes a drive circuit for supplying a drive signal to an actuator adjusting an opening degree of a valve via a prescribed transmission line, generates a PWM signal on the basis of a target opening degree supplied from the outside and a sensor signal that indicates a real opening degree of the valve, and supplies the PWM signal to the drive circuit. The valve control device includes a disconnection detection unit which detects, on the basis of the PWM signal and a monitor signal of the drive signal, whether the transmission line is disconnected.

Claims (15)

1. A valve control device which has a drive circuit supplying a drive signal to an actuator adjusting a degree of opening of a valve via a predetermined transmission line, generates a PWM signal on the basis of a target degree of opening supplied from an outside and a sensor signal indicating a real degree of opening of the valve, and supplies the generated PWM signal to the drive circuit, wherein the drive circuit includes a self-diagnostic function of diagnosing its own soundness, the valve control device comprising:

a disconnection detecting unit configured to detect, on the basis of the PWM signal and a monitor signal of the drive signal, whether the transmission line is disconnected, and the disconnection detecting unit detects the disconnection of the transmission line on the basis of a result of self-diagnosis of the drive circuit in addition to the PWM signal and the monitor signal of the drive signal.

2. The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein the disconnection detecting unit acquires a monitor voltage of the drive signal as the monitor signal, and determines that the transmission line is disconnected when a state in which the monitor voltage is lower than or equal to a predetermined voltage threshold and the duty ratio of the PWM signal is higher than or equal to a predetermined DUTY threshold continues for a predetermined evaluation time.

3. The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein the disconnection detecting unit acquires a monitor voltage of the drive signal as the monitor signal, and determines that the transmission line is disconnected when, after a state in which the monitor voltage is lower than or equal to a predetermined voltage threshold and the duty ratio of the PWM signal is higher than or equal to a predetermined DUTY threshold continues for a predetermined first evaluation time, a sound state of the drive circuit continues for a predetermined second evaluation time.

4. The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve is a wastegate valve provided for a supercharger for the engine.

5. The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein,

when the actuator is a motor,

the disconnection detecting unit calculates an effective drive duty ratio excluding influence of a back electromotive force generated from a duty ratio of the PWM signal by the motor, and compares the effective drive duty ratio with the DUTY threshold.

6. A valve system comprising:

a valve;

an actuator; and

the valve control device according to claim 1 .

7. A valve control device which has a drive circuit supplying a drive signal to an actuator adjusting a degree of opening of a valve via a predetermined transmission line, generates a PWM signal on the basis of a target degree of opening supplied from an outside and a sensor signal indicating a real degree of opening of the valve, and supplies the generated PWM signal to the drive circuit, the valve control device comprising:

a disconnection detecting unit configured to detect, on the basis of the PWM signal and a monitor signal of the drive signal, whether the transmission line is disconnected,

when the actuator is a motor, the disconnection detecting unit calculates an effective drive duty ratio excluding influence of a back electromotive force generated from a duty ratio of the PWM signal by the motor, and compares the effective drive duty ratio with the DUTY threshold.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: KEIHIN CORPORATION
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058951/0325 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2017
From: ITO, HIROSHI; YAHAGI, TAKUYA; SHIKINE, YOUICHIRO; ICHIKAWA, TOMOHIDE; YAMAMOTO, KENSUKE; INOUE, AKIHITO
To: KEIHIN CORPORATION; HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 043638/0921 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-064676 · Mar 26, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180106187A1 · Apr 19, 2018