Variable Displacement Piston Stroke Signal Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing variable displacement reciprocating piston units face challenges in accurately and efficiently measuring piston stroke speed and length with high latency, which affects vehicle efficiency, fuel consumption, and exhaust emissions, and requires improved compressor control and monitoring capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A variable displacement reciprocating piston unit with a processing unit and sensor probe system that measures timestamps of piston movement relative to a target, calculates periodicity and duty cycle ratio, and generates signals for stroke speed and length, allowing for precise calibration and reduced manufacturing tolerances, enabling faster and more accurate feedback for compressor control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing sensor systems are used to measure piston stroke speed and length, then the system structure is simple, but the measurement accuracy is insufficient and latency is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with a magnetic field-based sensor probe that detects target position through changes in magnetic flux. This substitution achieves high-precision measurement of piston stroke speed and length without requiring complex mechanical linkages or contact式 sensors, thereby improving measurement accuracy while keeping the overall system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a target attached to the piston as an intermediary element that mediates between the piston movement and the sensor probe. The target's movement relative to the sensor probe creates detectable changes in magnetic flux, enabling indirect but highly accurate measurement of piston position and velocity without direct mechanical contact between the sensor and piston.
2Measurement precision
If high-precision measurement systems are implemented, then measurement accuracy improves, but latency in feedback signal generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of piston stroke speed and length directly within the sensor probe's processing unit as the measurement is being taken. By pre-calculating these parameters from the raw sensor signals in real-time rather than processing them afterward, the system eliminates post-processing delays and provides immediate feedback, thereby reducing latency while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Productivity
If traditional compressor control methods are used, then the system is easy to operate, but vehicle efficiency, fuel consumption, and emissions cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where the sensor probe continuously monitors piston stroke speed and length, and this information is fed back to the compressor control. This real-time feedback enables dynamic adjustment of compressor operation to optimize vehicle efficiency and reduce fuel consumption, while the automated nature of the feedback loop maintains ease of operation without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic compressor control by providing real-time measurements of piston stroke parameters. This dynamic information allows the compressor system to adapt its operation continuously based on actual performance conditions, optimizing efficiency and emissions reduction while maintaining ease of operation through automated control algorithms that handle the complexity.
4Measurement precision
If manufacturing tolerances are tightened to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but manufacturing cost and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical measurement systems that require tight manufacturing tolerances with a magnetic field-based sensor system. The sensor probe measures piston position and movement through changes in magnetic flux caused by target movement, a method that is inherently less sensitive to manufacturing tolerances in mechanical components, thereby achieving high measurement accuracy without requiring stringent manufacturing precision.
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 solution reduces latency and improves the accuracy of piston movement feedback, enhancing vehicle efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and emissions, and enabling more precise compressor control, while allowing for direct monitoring of compressor operations and early detection of potential failures.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor probe, the sensor probe providing an indication of a presence and an absence of the target as the target moves relative to the sensor probe
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided a variable displacement reciprocating piston unit, it is an object of this invention to improve piston unit performance. The objective is solved by a variable displacement reciprocating piston unit for generating a signal (635) indicating a piston stroke speed and a stroke length of at least one piston (110), the variable displacement reciprocating piston unit (100) comprising at least one processing unit (610), at least one sensor probe (130), and at least one target (140), the piston (110) having a top dead centre position (TDC) and a bottom dead centre position (BDC) and the processing unit configured to: receive (310) a signal from the sensor probe (130), the sensor probe (130) indicating a presence (440) and/or an absence (430) of the target (140) as the target (140) moves relative to the sensor probe (130), the signal allows first timestamps (410) to be measured when the target (140) moves from being present (440) at the sensor probe (130) to being absent (430) from the sensor probe (130), and the signal allows second timestamps (420) to be measured when the target (140) moves from being absent (430) from the sensor probe (130) to being present (440) at the sensor probe (130); determine (320) a periodicity of the piston (110) by applying a first function to at least two timestamps of the first timestamps (410) or at least two timestamps of the second timestamps (420); determine (330) a target duty cycle ratio by comparing a target pulse duration generated from at least one timestamp of the first timestamps (410) and at least one timestamp of the second timestamps (420) with the periodicity; and generate (340) the signal (635) indicating the stroke speed and the stroke length from the periodicity and the target duty cycle ratio, wherein the sensor probe (130), the target (140), and the piston (110) are located in relation to each other, so that the target (140) is moved from being absent (430) from the sensor probe (130) to being present at the sensor probe (130) when the piston (110) travels towards the top dead centre position, and so that the target (140) is moved from being present (440) at the sensor probe (130) to being absent (430) from the sensor probe (130) when the piston (110) travels towards the bottom dead centre position.