Automotive electrically-actuated device end-of-travel detection
An automotive electronic control unit configured to control an automotive electrically-actuated device which is required to move from/to one or more end-of-travel positions, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to detect reaching an end-of-travel or stall position by the automotive electrically-actuated device based on: amplitude of the electric current absorbed by the automotive electrically-actuated device, gradient of amplitude of the electric current absorbed by the automotive electrically-actuated device, and ripple frequency of amplitude of the electric current absorbed by the automotive electrically-actuated device.
1. An automotive electronic control unit comprising:
an analog-to-digital converted (ADC) data collector module configured to receive an analog electric signal indicative of an amplitude of an electric current absorbed by an automotive electrically-actuated device; and
an end-of-travel detector module configured to:
receive data indicative of the amplitude of the absorbed electric current from the ADC data collector module;
determine a gradient of the amplitude of the absorbed electric current;
determine a ripple frequency of the amplitude of the absorbed electric current; and
determine, based at least in part on the data indicative of the amplitude of the absorbed electric current, the gradient, and the ripple frequency, that the automotive electrically-actuated device has reached an end-of-travel position or stall position.
2. The automotive electronic control unit of claim 1 , further comprising a peak detector module configured to determine a peak amplitude of a start-up electric current absorbed by the automotive electrically-actuated device.
3. The automotive electronic control unit of claim 2 , wherein the end-of-travel detector module is further configured to receive data indicative of the peak amplitude of the start-up electric current from the peak detector module.
4. The automotive electronic control unit of claim 3 , wherein the end-of-travel detector module is further configured to:
determine the amplitude of the absorbed electric current absorbed is higher than a current threshold;
determine the gradient is less than or equal to a control threshold; and
determine the ripple frequency is lower than a frequency threshold.
5. The automotive electronic control unit of claim 4 , wherein the current threshold is a function of the peak amplitude of the start-up electric current.
6. The automotive electronic control unit of claim 4 , wherein the current threshold is equal to a predetermined percentage of the peak amplitude.
7. The automotive electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the automotive electrically-actuated device comprises at least one of an automotive power window, an automotive power mirror, an automotive power seat, or an automotive power sunroof.
8. A method of controlling an automotive electrically-actuated device, comprising:
receiving, at an automotive electronic control unit, an analog electric signal indicative of an amplitude of an electric current absorbed by an automotive electrically-actuated device;
receiving, at the automotive electronic control unit, data indicative of the amplitude of the absorbed electric current;
determining, by the automotive electronic control unit, a gradient of the amplitude of the absorbed electric current;
determining, by the automotive electronic control unit, a ripple frequency of the amplitude of the absorbed electric current; and
determining, by the automotive electronic control unit, based at least in part on the data indicative of the amplitude of the absorbed electric current, the gradient, and the ripple frequency, that the automotive electrically-actuated device has reached an end-of-travel position or stall position.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining, by the automotive electronic control unit, a peak amplitude of a start-up electric current absorbed by the automotive electrically-actuated device.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving data indicative of the peak amplitude of the start-up electric current.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining the amplitude of the absorbed electric current absorbed is higher than a current threshold;
determining the gradient is less than or equal to a control threshold; and
determining the ripple frequency is lower than a frequency threshold.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the current threshold is a function of the peak amplitude of the start-up electric current.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the current threshold is equal to a predetermined percentage of the peak amplitude.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the automotive electrically-actuated device comprises at least one of an automotive power window, an automotive power mirror, an automotive power seat, or an automotive power sunroof.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by an automotive electronic control unit, are operable to perform a method controlling an automotive electrically-actuated device, comprising:
receiving an analog electric signal indicative of an amplitude of an electric current absorbed by an automotive electrically-actuated device;
receiving data indicative of the amplitude absorbed electric current;
determining a gradient of the amplitude of the absorbed electric current;
determining a ripple frequency of the amplitude of the absorbed electric current; and
determining, based at least in part on the data indicative of the amplitude of the absorbed electric current, the gradient, and the ripple frequency, that the automotive electrically-actuated device has reached an end-of-travel position or stall position.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising determining a peak amplitude of a start-up electric current absorbed by the automotive electrically-actuated device.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising receiving data indicative of the peak amplitude of the start-up electric current.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising:
determining the amplitude of the absorbed electric current absorbed is higher than a current threshold;
determining the gradient is less than or equal to a control threshold; and
determining the ripple frequency is lower than a frequency threshold.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the current threshold is a function of the peak amplitude of the start-up electric current.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the current threshold is equal to a predetermined percentage of the peak amplitude.