Actuator Calibration Using Automatic End Stop Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for calibrating actuating devices in seats, such as those in transport vehicles, are time-consuming and require meticulous manual displacement of actuators to their end positions, and often necessitate the seat to be in a single predetermined position during mounting, which is restrictive and uncomfortable.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves placing the structure in a predetermined reference position and using a calculation unit to automatically determine the minimum and maximum end stops of the actuators, allowing for faster and more comfortable calibration, enabling the actuating device to be installed on the structure in any configuration without the need for multiple reference positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual calibration method is used to displace each actuator to its end positions, then calibration accuracy is improved, but calibration time is excessive and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical displacement method with an automatic system that uses sensors to detect actuator positions and a microprocessor to calculate end stops. The system automatically determines the authorized range of movement by detecting when actuators reach their mechanical end stops, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining calibration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration system performs self-calibration by automatically detecting its own operational limits. The microprocessor controls the actuators to move to their end positions, detects these positions through sensors, and autonomously calculates the minimum and maximum end stops without requiring external manual operation, enabling the system to calibrate itself.
2Device complexity
If seat is positioned in a single predetermined position during mounting, then calibration process is simplified, but mounting flexibility and ease of operation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the calibration system dynamic by enabling it to adapt to any seat position. The sensor-based detection system can identify actuator end stops regardless of the seat's initial configuration, allowing calibration to be performed with the seat in any position rather than requiring a fixed predetermined position, thus providing mounting flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of reference by using sensor-detected actuator positions to dynamically determine end stops rather than relying on a fixed predetermined seat position. The microprocessor calculates the authorized range of movement based on actual detected positions, allowing the calibration to adapt to different mounting configurations and seat positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for calibrating a device for actuating one or several elements to be actuated of a structure, with the actuating device comprising one or several actuators, characterised in that it comprises the following successive steps:(b1) placing the structure, in particular the element or elements to be actuated of the structure, in a predetermined reference position,(b2) activating a calculation unit to automatically calibrate the actuator or actuators of the actuating device, with the calculation unit able to determine, for the actuator or actuators, the minimum and maximum end stops that define its or their authorised range of movement using the predetermined reference position of the structure, taken as the origin position.