VERFAHREN ZUM SCHONENDEN BETRIEB EINES AKTUATORS FÜR EINEN KRAFTSTELLER EINES GASPEDALS

METHOD FOR FRIENDLY OPERATION OF ACTUATOR FOR A POWER PLATE an accelerator pedal

The present invention relates to a method for operating at least one actuator for a motor plate of a device and a

corresponding device.

During operation of a device such as. A vehicle having

various operating conditions, it may happen that a user feedback on a force plate, such as. a pedal

vehicle should be provided. To provide such feedback in the control actuators to an applied force by a user to deflect the force plate are used, which act with a force in a predetermined thickness on the force plate and example. Counteract. Correspondingly strong forces are needed, which in turn lead to a high load of each actuator, so it may happen that the actuator of component protection reasons, eg. To prevent overheating must be switched off. In the German publication DE 10 2012 108589 A1 discloses a method for operating a motor vehicle with at least one designed as a combustion engine drive unit is presented, wherein the drive unit is controlled by an accelerator pedal and cooperating with the accelerator control unit, in which a driver at by a haptic feedback appears the accelerator that one in response to reaching

Accelerator pedal travel, which is associated with a particular, transmitted to the control unit power requirement, a defined action initiated and carried out, which causes a traction drive change, the

haptic feedback is implemented as a defined in a stored in the control unit characteristic of the accelerator pedal from the accelerator certain idle travel.

The German publication DE 10 2013 010269 A1 relates to a method for providing haptic feedback to activate a

Downshift in an automatic transmission.

An accelerator pedal with a kick-down switch is disclosed in the German publication DE 10217050 A1.

Against this background, a method is presented for operating at least one actuator for a force actuator of a device, in which a user of the device by means of a predetermined in their strength and acting through the at least one actuator to the force actuator force haptic feedback via at least one operating condition of the

Device is provided when the force plate is moved by the user to at least one predetermined point on a path of movement of the motor plate, and wherein the at least one actuator is controlled such that when the user of the force plate for a predetermined time to the at least one predetermined point on of the

deflects path of movement of force plate and / or holding at this point, the strength of which is reduced by the at least one actuator acting on the force actuator force according to a further predetermined period of time.

Embodiments will be apparent from the description and the dependent claims.

The wording "at least deflects to a predetermined point on the path of movement of the motor plate and / or at this point, considers" is also moving in one or understand a hold in an adjacent directly to the point area. This immediately adjacent area is defined by a profile of the applied through the actuator to the force actuator force.

The Imagined method is used in particular for the safe and

saving a hybrid vehicle, operation of an actuator for providing a haptic feedback to a force actuator of a device such as..

To indicate to a user of a hybrid vehicle, a specific operating state, such as, a connection of a combustion engine to an electric drive, it is provided that the user haptic

Feedback, eg. In the form of a pressure point, that is, is provided by an actuator, a force that opposes a force acting by a user on the force actuator force. Since such feedback requires strong forces that urge the actuator correspondingly strong and heat, the invention provides that the strength of the force generated by the actuator and acting on the force plate for a

predetermined period of time is reduced if the force plate by the

User is brought to at least one predetermined point on a path of movement of the motor plate or the force plate is held by the user in a predetermined region on the movement path of the force plate.

Under a force plate is in the context of the present invention means any technical means for adjusting a force on a device, to be understood in particular a pedal. It has been shown that a respective user does not need a haptic feedback for finding and holding a point on the trajectory of each force plate constant. Accordingly, ^"is sufficient to provide the haptic feedback for guidance only for the user on the movement path and as soon as a respective desired by the user position on the movement path, that is, a characteristic for a respective desired operational state position on the movement path, it has been found the for disabling providing the haptic feedback actuator used to reduce or to be generated from the actuator force, in particular a continuous force. by reducing the force generated by the actuator is stopped, heating of the actuator and an emergency shutdown of example.

Component protection reasons prevented. In one possible embodiment of the presented method is

provided that in the case that the strength is reduced by the at least one actuator acting on the force actuator force, the predetermined for the feedback signal point on the path of movement

Force plate is moved in the direction of deflection, so that the user during a displacement of the force on the plate in the direction of deflection

predetermined point shifted again by means of the feedback is provided at least one actuator and a force in the predetermined thickness and may be reduced in the further course. In order to reduce to be provided by a respective actuator force and protect the actuator by it can be provided that a predetermined point on the trajectory of a motor plate has on the provide the force of the actuator, slightly, that example. A few percent of a range of trajectory is shifted in the direction of deflection when a user holds the respective force actuator in a predetermined range or to the predetermined point for a predetermined period of time. By shifting the predetermined point in the deflection direction, a command for activating the actuator is moved along with the predetermined point. This means that the actuator initially in the

predetermined point is activated to provide feedback to the user so that the user can find the predetermined point. In the further operation of a corresponding device, the actuator is deactivated, since the position for activating the actuator according to the predetermined point, for example. Relative to a current position of the

Force plate shifts.

If the predetermined point at which the haptic feedback is to be provided by the actuator, in the deflection of a pedal, that is a motor plate, displaced, the actuator is deactivated or reduced one to be applied by the actuator force, whereby the actuator is protected on the one hand. On the other hand, the user is provided feedback by the actuator in a method or pivoting the force plate from the predetermined area or on a correspondingly shifted or changed predetermined point, again.

Accordingly, the user is a possibility for finding a for a respective operating state of a respective device

Provided characteristic point on a trajectory of a motor plate and the actuator for providing a haptic

Feedback on the motor plate only slightly and temporarily loaded.

In a further possible embodiment of the presented method is provided that the length of time for which the user has to bring the force actuator to the at least one predetermined point of the path of movement of force plate and / or the further time period after which the strength of the force acting on the force plate force is reduced and / or is moved on the movement path of the force plate in the direction of deflection the said predetermined point a distance, dynamically in response to a

Operating parameter of the device is selected. In particular, it is provided that the displacement of the predetermined point or range and / or disabling of the actuator in

Depending freely parameterizable sizes, the length of time for which the user the force actuator to the at least one predetermined point of the

has to bring trajectory of the force plate, or the further

is carried out time after which the strength of the force acting on the plate force is reduced, or the distance by which the predetermined point on the movement path of the force plate is moved in the direction of deflection. This means that the above-named sizes arbitrarily set or dynamically eg. An operating state of a respective device can be adjusted and, for example, provide the user with a customized to a current operating state or a current user behavior feedback. Thus, for example, be provided that the actuator in response to a Verstellungs-, ie

Verschwenkmusters, the force adjuster enable or disable.

In a further possible embodiment of the presented method is provided that the strength of the applied through the at least one actuator to the force actuator force according to a predetermined

Verlaufsgradienten is reduced.

'

To a respective user, a retaining a haptic by a

to allow feedback retrieved position on a movement path of a motor plate, it is provided that the strength of an applied by a respective actuator for the haptic feedback force gradually, that is reduced according to a predetermined gradient. the user is slowly brought to a state without the haptic feedback, so that the haptic feedback or the corresponding actuator can be possibly unnoticed deactivated by the user by a gradual reduction of the haptic feedback or the haptic feedback conditional force.

The presented method is also suitable for the planning of devices, in which only specific actuators are to be fitted with, for example, small dimensions. Due to the gentle operation according to the presented method is also relatively small actuators can be used to provide a force required in each case. Furthermore, the proposed method enables an array of actuators in thermally critical Verbausituationen as well as a cost-effective design of corresponding devices.

In a further possible embodiment of the presented method is provided that a respective Verlaufsgradient to reduce the force provided by the at least one actuator is selected in dependence of the applied force by the user on the plate strength.

For tuning to a respective user, ie by the user to provide a personalized haptic feedback, the deactivation according to the method presented by the user remain unnoticed as possible, a Verlaufsgardient to reduce the force provided by a respective actuator to one provided by the user power, ie, a force applied by the user to a respective force actuator force to be adjusted. This means that., For example, in a jerky force profile of the applied by the user on the force actuator force provided by the actuator motor also abruptly, that is rising rapidly provided and then also rapidly degraded whereas at a constant power arrangement by the user

occurs reduction in the force applied by the actuator force according to slowly and continuously. In a further possible embodiment of the presented method is provided that a control unit of the apparatus reduces an electric current of the at least one actuator used to operate to reduce the strength of the applied through the at least one actuator to the force actuator force.

Control devices, such as, a motor or the central control unit of a vehicle are suitable for the control of electrical currents, the respective actuators are supplied. Accordingly, it is provided to configure a control apparatus such that an actuator, an electric current is provided which requires a force profile according to the presented method.

In a further possible embodiment of the presented method is provided that the strength of the applied through the at least one actuator to the force actuator force according to a further predetermined

is reduced period of time when the force plate is held by the user at a point on the path of movement of the force adjuster which is prior to the point at which the user the haptic feedback to the

Force actuator is provided. Naturally, the presented method is also suitable for operation of an actuator in the event that a respective user holds a force plate just before a respective predetermined point at which a response is to be provided, so that the user only when it exceeds a current fixation position of the force plate a haptic

Feedback is provided and a continuous load of the actuator is avoided. Loads of the actuator by example. A stand-by mode can be avoided.

In a further possible embodiment of the presented method is provided that the reduction of the strength of the applied through the at least one actuator to the force actuator force in response to a movement profile of the motor controller occurs.

It is further contemplated that the reduction of the mobilized by a respective actuator force is dynamically adjusted in certain situations. In particular, in turbulent motion profiles, in which a driver avoids constant positions of a respective power actuator, such as, when driving in city traffic, it may be provided that the

or not done reducing to be provided by the actuator force only at reduced capacity so that, for example, the haptic feedback is not as strong..

In a further possible embodiment of the presented method is provided that the reduction of the strength of the applied through the at least one actuator to the force actuator force in response to at least one external condition of the following list is to external conditions: ambient temperature of the at least one actuator,

Humidity in a vicinity of the at least one actuator and the state of charge of at least one actuator with electric power supplied energy store.

In order to prevent overheating and a temperature-induced emergency shutdown of a respective actuator, it may be advantageous if a predetermined in a calculation for setting respective parameters for reducing be generated by a respective actuator force, such as, a time period or a distance for moving point, external conditions, ie for example. environmental conditions, such as a

Ambient temperature are included. Accordingly, it is conceivable that to be generated by a respective actuator force at high

Ambient temperatures earlier and at low ambient temperatures is reduced later.

Furthermore, the presented invention relates to a device with at least one actuator, a force actuator and a control device, wherein the

is configured controller to a user of the device to provide a haptic feedback via at least one operating condition of the apparatus by means of a predetermined in their strength and acting through the at least one actuator to the force actuator force if the force plate by the user to at least one predetermined point on a brought path of movement of force plate is, and wherein the controller is further configured to at least to control an actuator such that when the user at least deflects the force plate for a predetermined period in the one predetermined point on the path of movement of the motor plate and / or at this point holds, the strength of the set by the at least one actuator acting on the force actuator force after a further period of time is to be reduced in order to save the at least one actuator.

The presented device is used in particular for carrying out the disclosed method.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the features mentioned above and useful features to be explained not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or even alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The invention is illustrated schematically in the drawings by way of an embodiment and will be described schematically and in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 shows a schematic representation of a possible

Design of the presented method.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of various

Temperature gradients during operation of an actuator according to the prior art and operation of a possible embodiment of the presented method.

1 shows a diagram 1 is shown, which spans the abscissa 2 over a path in [cm] and the ordinate represents 4 via a force [N]. A gradient 3 shows a force that must be expended by a user to move a pedal along its path of movement from a rest position 5 in a kick-down position 7 which switches a final gear stage.

Upon displacement of the pedal along the path 3, the user finds at a predetermined point at which, for example, an internal combustion engine to an electric drive is switched on, a haptic feedback in the form of a pressure point 10 which is generated by an actuator pedal with a applied force that counteracts a force applied by the user force for displacing the pedal, as represented by a force profile. 11 The pressure point 10 provides the user with a

Decision option ready, he move the pedal via the pressure point 10, as indicated by arrow 14, and connecting it to the internal combustion engine or hold the pedal in front of the printing point 10 and wishes to use only the electrical drive.

the user wants to use only the electric drive, the pedal must be kept in front of or on the pressure point 10 in order to prevent a connection of the internal combustion engine. This means that the pedal is held by the user constant in a region 13 on the course 3, which may be in close proximity to or directly on the pressure point 10th The actuator for providing the time required for the pressure point 10 in said region 13 is constantly active, as indicated by an interface of the region 13 with the force curve 11, thereby possibly overheating after a certain time.

To protect the actuator from overheating, the invention provides that if the user the pedal for a predetermined

Time breakdown, such as. A few seconds, holding in the region 13

Pressure point 10 is shifted along the path 3 toward kickdown position 7, as indicated by a shifted pressure punk 10 '. This means that the pressure point 10 'from the zone 13 in which the pedal is held by the user is removed and the actuator only has to spend a small force or no, as indicated by an interface of the region 13 with a correspondingly shifted force curve 11 indicated 'for providing the shifted pressure point 10'. While the interface of the region 13 intersects the force profile 11 near a peak point of the Krafterlaufs 11, intersects the region 13 the displaced force curve 11 'at a low power level close to its origin. Accordingly, it is required in the area 13 by less force than the force profile 11 of the actuator through the shifted force curve 11 '.

If the user deflect the pedal from the initial pressure point 10 in the direction kickdown position 7, it strikes the shifted pressure point 10 'and receives a haptic feedback according to force curve 11' true. Since a function to enable the internal combustion engine is always provide a current to pressure point and is correspondingly displaced to the shifted pressure point 10 ', the user is the

Decision option between a purely electric drive and an activation of a function for switching the internal combustion engine provided again at the shifted pressure point 10 ', as shown by arrow 16, which indicates a connection of the internal combustion engine, so that the user by the displacement of the pressure point 10 on the pressure point 10 'is not restricted in its decision possibility. the actuator can be optionally protected again by again shifting the shifted pressure point 10 '. Accordingly, it is provided that a distance between the pressure point 10 and the shifted pressure point 10 'and possibly further shifted printing dots is as small as possible.

In Figure 2, a diagram 20 is shown, which on the abscissa 22, a past time in [s] and the ordinate 24 both

depicting operating temperature of an actuator in [° C] and a voltage applied to the actuator current in [A]. A temperature curve 21 shows a behavior of the actuator at a constant, ie permanent

Providing a pressure point, as is customary in the prior art. When a user holds a pedal in the range of a pressure point, the actuator is constantly supplied with a current in accordance with current curve 23 so that the actuator produces a constant force and the pressure point feeds back constant to the user. the user holds the pedal for a long time on the pressure point the actuator is continuously heated, as indicated by the

indicated temperature curve 21, and is deactivated when it exceeds a limit temperature of 25 component protection reasons. The temperature profile 27, however, shows a graph illustrating a heating of an actuator which is operated according to the presented method. Once the user keeps the pedal in the range of the pressure point, the pressure point is moved, so that the actuator is supplied only with a low current strength in accordance with current path 29th Accordingly, the actuator relative to the temperature profile 21 is heated significantly less, so that a shutdown of the Aktautors can be avoided for component protection reasons. Of course, it is also conceivable to shut down the current waveform 29 after a predetermined period of time to disable the actuator.