Actuator Arrangement Safety Monitoring for Automotive Drive Trains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuator arrangements in automated automotive powertrains face safety issues due to potential misconduct caused by faults in the control circuit, leading to uncontrolled clutch operation and tension in the drive train, which can result in unsafe conditions.
Innovation Solution
The actuator arrangement includes a control device that monitors the control circuit and generates a reset signal to place the actuator in a safe state, utilizing sensor information to verify the control circuit's functionality and convert digital signals into control signals for precise actuator control, ensuring the clutch is maintained in a neutral or open state during errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control circuit is monitored and reset signals are generated upon error detection, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring device continuously checks the control circuit for errors before they can cause unsafe conditions. Reset signals are prepared and immediately issued when errors are detected, preventing uncontrolled actuator operation. This preliminary monitoring and preparation of reset actions ensures safety without requiring complex emergency response mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring device acts as an intermediary between the control circuit and the actuator. It observes the control circuit's operation and intermediates by issuing reset signals to the control circuit when errors are detected, thereby protecting the actuator from faulty control signals without directly controlling the actuator itself.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the actuator is placed in a basic state upon error detection, then harmful effects are reduced, but control precision is lost
Solution Approach 1:
When an error is detected in the control circuit, the monitoring device immediately issues a reset signal that places the actuator in a basic state (such as fully open or fully closed position). This preliminary anti-action prevents the actuator from responding to faulty control signals that could cause harmful effects such as drive train tension or unsafe operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The error condition, which could potentially cause harmful effects, is converted into a beneficial safety mechanism. The reset signal transforms the harmful situation of undetected control circuit failures into a controlled basic state, ensuring the actuator cannot cause damage while maintaining system integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The arrangement (10) has a drive circuit (18) for receiving a nominal signal (30) i.e. analog signal, related to an actuator i.e. brushless motor (14), from a control device (12) i.e. microcontroller. The circuit converts the signal into a drive signal (38) for the actuator. The device is checked for faults by a monitoring device e.g. watch-dog circuit (70). The control device checks the function of the drive circuit and generates a reset signal i.e. turn-off signal (76), for the drive circuit and/or a power stage (22), when a malfunction occurs in the drive circuit. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating an actuator arrangement for motor vehicle power transmission.