Valve Timing Control Reducing Impulsive Sound

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valve opening/closing timing control mechanisms for internal combustion engines face issues with mechanical impulsive sounds and potential damage due to delays in detection and control when setting the relative rotation phase to the most retarded or advanced angles, leading to performance deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A control apparatus that includes a phase controller to reduce the power supplied to the electric motor as the deviation between the target and actual phases decreases, and a control target setting unit that adjusts the target phase to a displaced angle from the actual phase to reduce the speed of displacement, thereby preventing mechanical contact and impulsive sounds at the stopper unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the relative rotation phase is set to the most retarded angle or most advanced angle quickly, then the response speed of the valve timing control is improved, but mechanical impulsive sound is generated in the stopper structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speed of valve timing controlVSAvoidmechanical impulsive sound

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by dividing the phase adjustment into multiple stages with different control gains. The controller performs preliminary adjustment with a first control gain and then fine adjustment with a second control gain, creating a periodic control pattern that reduces impulsive sound while maintaining response speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the control parameter (control gain) based on the adjustment stage. When the deviation is large, a first control gain is used for rapid adjustment; when the deviation is small, a second control gain is used for precise positioning. This parameter change prevents high-speed contact at the stopper structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If high voltage is supplied to the electric motor to increase rotational speed, then the speed of adjusting relative rotation phase is improved, but impact in the stopper structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational speed of electric motorVSAvoidimpact force in stopper

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the control gain variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the control gain based on the current deviation between target and actual phases, using higher gain when deviation is large and lower gain when deviation is small, thereby optimizing both speed and impact reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by first adjusting the phase using a first control gain to bring the system close to the target position, then performing fine adjustment with a second control gain. This preliminary adjustment prevents direct high-speed contact with the stopper structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If PID control is used to reduce voltage when deviation is small, then energy consumption is reduced, but delay in detection and control causes impulsive sound at operation limits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumption of electric motorVSAvoidcontrol delay at operation limits

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using different control strategies for different operating conditions. For normal operation within the stopper limits, PID control with variable voltage is used to save energy. For operation limits (most retarded/advanced angles), a special control mode with appropriate control gain is used to prevent impulsive sound, creating localized quality differences in control approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively prevents mechanical contact and impulsive sounds when setting the relative rotation phase to the most retarded or advanced angles, maintaining the performance of the valve opening/closing timing control mechanism and reducing the risk of damage.

Implementation Method 1

an electric motor configured to control a relative rotation phase between the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a phase detection unit that detects the relative rotation phase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase detection:

Data Source

PatentUS10711656B2Control apparatus of valve opening/closing timing control mechanism

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 AISIN SEIKI KK

AI summary

A control apparatus of a valve opening/closing timing control mechanism, configured by including driving side and driven side rotating bodies; a stopper unit; and an electric motor, includes: a phase controller controlling an electric motor to reduce, when a target phase is set, a deviation between the target phase and a current first actual phase and reducing power to be supplied to the electric motor as the deviation decreases; and a control target setting unit setting a first target phase displaced to a side of the first actual phase in an operation direction where the deviation is reduced when the target phase is set to a most retarded or most advanced angle phase, in which the phase controller executes a first phase control of reducing a deviation between the set first target phase and the current first actual phase.