Steering Wheel Vibration Motor Over-Controlled Voltage Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driver alert systems for motor vehicles face issues with slow acceleration of the steering wheel motor, potential trapping at resonance frequencies, and slow deceleration, which can be addressed by using a stronger motor but results in increased size and cost.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an over-controlled motor operation at the beginning of vibration periods to quickly accelerate and avoid resonances, and under-controlled operation at the end to rapidly decelerate, with the option of using a current maintaining path to dissipate energy and enhance alerting effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a stronger electric motor is used to accelerate the motor more quickly and avoid resonance trapping, then the acceleration speed and reliability improve, but the motor size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic voltage control by switching between over-controlled voltage (higher than normal operation voltage) at the beginning of vibration periods and normal operation voltage thereafter. This dynamic adjustment allows the motor to accelerate quickly without requiring a permanently larger motor, resolving the contradiction between acceleration speed and motor size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage parameter applied to the motor based on the operational phase. By applying over-controlled voltage temporarily during acceleration and then switching to normal operation voltage, the system achieves fast acceleration performance without needing a larger motor, thus resolving the size-speed contradiction
2Reliability
If a stronger electric motor is used to accelerate the motor more quickly and avoid resonance trapping, then the reliability improves, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic voltage control strategy allows a standard-sized motor to achieve reliable operation by applying over-controlled voltage only when needed (during acceleration and resonance avoidance), rather than requiring a permanently oversized motor. This reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the voltage parameter dynamically based on operational needs, the system achieves reliable acceleration and resonance avoidance without requiring a more expensive, larger motor, thus resolving the reliability-cost contradiction
3Speed
If the motor is stopped at the end of a vibration period by switching off only, then the system simplicity is maintained, but the deceleration speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a current maintaining path as an intermediary circuit element that enables rapid deceleration by allowing the motor to function as a generator and dissipate energy quickly. This additional circuit path achieves fast deceleration without significantly increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the simple mechanical switching-off method with an electrical energy dissipation mechanism through the current maintaining path. This substitution enables controlled rapid deceleration by converting mechanical energy to electrical energy and dissipating it, achieving faster deceleration while maintaining reasonable system complexity
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
The solution enables a compact, reliable, and efficient driver alert system with rapid response times and improved alerting effect without the need for a large motor, ensuring quick acceleration through over-controlled voltage or current and quick deceleration through under-controlled current or voltage, effectively avoiding resonance trapping.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor (17) and a mass (16) which is eccentrically connected to a rotation axis (18) of the motor (17)
Implementation Method 2
a mass (16) which is eccentrically connected to a rotation axis (18) of the motor (17)
Data Source
AI summary
A driver alert system for the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The system comprises an electric motor, an eccentric mass connected to the electric motor, and a control circuit for providing electric supply to the electric motor in response to an alert activation signal The motor is controlled by the control circuit to an operation level of voltage during a portion of a vibration period with a non-vibration period following the vibration period, and the motor is over or under-controlled with respect to the operation range at the beginning or end of said vibration period.