Electrically-actuated variable camshaft timing device controller

Abstract

An electrically-actuated VCT device cascaded controller, comprises: a system processing device configured to receive inputs from one or more sensors and generate an output signal that is communicated to an electric phaser motor; the system processing device: receives data indicating an angular position of a camshaft relative to an angular position of a crankshaft at a primary control loop; receives data indicating an angular velocity of the crankshaft at a secondary control loop; and generates the output signal that controls the electric phaser motor using the primary control loop and the secondary control loop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) device cascaded controller, comprising:
 a system processing device configured to receive inputs from one or more sensors and generate an output signal that is communicated to an electric phaser motor, wherein the system processing device:   (a) receives data indicating an angular position of a camshaft relative to an angular position of a crankshaft at a primary control loop;   (b) receives data indicating an angular velocity of the crankshaft at a secondary control loop; and   (c) generates the output signal that controls the electric phaser motor using the primary control loop and the secondary control loop.   
     
     
         2 . The electrically-actuated VCT device cascaded controller recited in  claim 1 , further comprises receiving a temperature value at the primary control loop and the secondary control loop. 
     
     
         3 . The electrically-actuated VCT device cascaded controller recited in  claim 1 , further comprises generating a speed change command at the primary control loop. 
     
     
         4 . The electrically-actuated VCT device cascaded controller recited in  claim 1 , further comprises calculating a phase error at the primary control loop. 
     
     
         5 . The electrically-actuated VCT device cascaded controller recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cascaded controller further comprises a proportional integral configuration. 
     
     
         6 . A method of controlling an electrically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) device with a cascaded controller, the steps comprising:
 (a) receiving data indicating an angular position of a camshaft relative to an angular position of a crankshaft at a primary control loop;   (b) receiving data indicating an angular velocity of the crankshaft at a secondary control loop;   (c) generating an output signal that controls the electric phaser motor using the primary control loop and the secondary control loop;   (d) transmitting the output signal to the electric phaser motor; and   (e) adjusting the angular position of the camshaft relative to the angular position of the crankshaft based on the output signal.   
     
     
         7 . The method recited in  claim 6 , further comprising the step of receiving a temperature value at the primary control loop and the secondary control loop. 
     
     
         8 . The method recited in  claim 6 , further comprising the step of generating a speed change command at the primary control loop. 
     
     
         9 . The method recited in  claim 6 , further comprising the step of calculating a phase error at the primary control loop. 
     
     
         10 . The method recited in  claim 6 , further comprising the step of implementing the cascaded controller in a proportional integral configuration.