Method of operating a device for controlling electric actuators with optimum actuation current distribution
US7349192B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2005 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/122
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
There is described a method of operating a device (1) controlling electric actuators (3), and having a pair of input terminals (4, 5) connected to an electric energy source (6, 10); a number of pairs of output terminals (7, 8), between each of which a respective electric actuator (3) is connected in use; and controlled switches (11, 12) for connecting the electric actuators (3) to the electric energy source (6, 10) independently of one another; the method including the step of controlling the controlled switches (11, 12) to supply an electric current to the electric actuators (3) via the electric energy source (6, 10). The controlling step includes the steps of: determining the possibility of a subsequent operating condition in which specific electric actuators (3) are supplied simultaneously with electric current from the electric energy source (6, 10); and temporally phase shifting the electric currents supplied to the specific electric actuators (3), to reduce the effective value of the electric current drawn from the electric energy source (6, 10).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.