Coolant Valve Actuator PCB Integration for EMC and Position Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle coolant control valve actuators face limitations in design and space freedom due to separate printed circuit boards for inductive sensors and EMC filtering, leading to output unbalance and reduced control efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An actuator design that integrates a drive unit, output unit, and sensing unit with a shared printed circuit board, featuring a position sensor and EMC filter, where the drive unit is adjacent to the sensing unit and includes a cylindrical driving source with transfer gears, an output gear, and a balance member to compensate for mass unbalance, ensuring uniform sensing sensitivity and improved EMC properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate printed circuit boards are used for inductive sensor and EMC filter, then each component can be independently designed, but device complexity increases and space freedom is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the inductive sensor and EMC filter onto a single printed circuit board, eliminating the need for separate boards. This merging reduces the overall number of components, simplifies the electrical connections, and increases design freedom while maintaining independent functionality of each component through proper circuit layout and grounding design.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If inductive sensor is provided separately from EMC board, then electromagnetic interference is reduced, but space freedom and design freedom are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing specific grounding strategies and circuit layout techniques on the shared printed circuit board. The EMC filter is positioned and grounded in specific locations to maintain electromagnetic compatibility, while the inductive sensor is configured with appropriate shielding and grounding to minimize interference. This localized treatment allows both components to coexist on the same board without compromising EMC performance.
3Ease of operation
If output gear rotates with interference member, then control valve operation is achieved, but mass unbalance causes output unbalance and reduced sensing sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a balance member attached to the output gear that acts as a counterweight to the interference member. This balance member is positioned and sized to compensate for the mass unbalance created by the interference member, thereby reducing vibrations and rotational unbalance during operation. This allows the control valve to operate effectively while maintaining uniform sensing sensitivity of the position sensor.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration simplifies components, enhances space and design freedom, improves control accuracy, and compensates for rotational unbalance, resulting in enhanced control performance and uniform sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
an inductive sensor, which is one of proximity sensors sensing operation of the control valve
Implementation Method 2
an electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) filter to filer EMC
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator for a vehicle coolant control valve according to the present invention includes: a drive unit to generate driving power; an output unit to drive a control valve, which selectively opens/closes a coolant flow for a vehicle using the driving power provided by the drive unit; and a sensing unit to sense an output condition of the output unit, wherein the sensing unit is provided with a position sensor to sense a position of the output unit and an electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) filter to filer EMC. According to the above configuration, a single printed circuit board may have a function of an EMC board and a function of a sensor board, which are advantageous in ensuring space and design freedom to thus contribute to improvement of control quality.