Motor Vehicle Actuator Threshold Adaptation for Multi-Model Use

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing actuator technologies for motor vehicles require adaptation to different vehicle series, leading to high development, manufacturing, and storage costs due to the need for specific threshold values, limiting flexibility and increasing costs.

Innovation Solution

The actuator is designed to be self-learning, automatically adapting its threshold values based on the setpoint received, allowing it to operate within a dynamically adjusted permissible range, eliminating the need for vehicle-specific adaptations by setting the threshold value equal to the setpoint when it exceeds or falls below the initial threshold.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the actuator is adapted to different motor vehicles by storing specific threshold values, then the actuator can operate safely within vehicle-specific limits, but development costs, manufacturing costs, and storage costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafe operation within limitsVSAvoiddevelopment and manufacturing costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The actuator is designed with a universal threshold value storage capability that can accommodate multiple vehicle series. Instead of requiring separate actuators for each vehicle type, a single actuator design with sufficient memory capacity can store threshold values for multiple applications, eliminating the need for vehicle-specific hardware variants and reducing development and manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The threshold values are stored as changeable parameters in the actuator's memory. This allows the same actuator hardware to be configured for different vehicle series by simply loading appropriate threshold values into memory, rather than requiring physical modifications or different hardware designs for each vehicle application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple actuators with different threshold values are produced for different motor vehicle series, then each actuator can be optimized for its specific vehicle, but storage costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle-specific optimizationVSAvoidstorage costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A single actuator design with expanded memory capacity serves multiple vehicle series, eliminating the need to manufacture and store multiple different actuator variants. The universal actuator can be configured for any supported vehicle series through software configuration rather than hardware differentiation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of manufacturing physical copies of actuators for each vehicle series, the patent uses digital copying of threshold value sets. The same actuator hardware can be programmed with different threshold value configurations for different vehicles, replacing physical duplication with digital configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If the actuator operates at high speed, then productivity is improved, but the risk of exceeding the threshold value and causing damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuating speedVSAvoidrisk of exceeding limits
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors the actual value of the actuator and compares it with the stored threshold value. This feedback mechanism allows the system to operate at high speeds while automatically detecting when the actual value approaches the threshold, enabling timely intervention to prevent damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control device is configured to take preliminary action by setting the actual value equal to the threshold value when the threshold is approached, before damage can occur. This preemptive measure stops the actuator operation in advance to prevent exceeding safe limits, allowing high-speed operation without increasing damage risk

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP4059814B1Method for operating an actuator for a motor vehicle and a corresponding actuator
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 AUDI AG
  • EP4059814B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating an actuator (4) for a motor vehicle (1), which has an actuator (6) and a signal input (7). The actuator (5) is operated based on a setpoint received via the signal input (7) and a threshold stored in the actuator (4) to adjust the actual value of the actuator (4) to the setpoint. The threshold is set to equal to the setpoint when the actuator (4) leaves an operating range defined by the threshold. The invention further relates to an actuator (4) for a motor vehicle and a method for operating an arrangement (2) comprising an actuator (4) and a control unit (3) for a motor vehicle (1).