Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7139648?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=7,403,220
Timestamp: 2014-12-22 15:58:12
Document Index: 728818568

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 9', 'art 16', 'art 8', 'art 9', 'art 16', 'art 16']

Patent US7139648 - Apparatus for actuating a control element for a heating or air-conditioning ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe invention relates to an apparatus for actuating a control element, for example, an air flap, for a heating or air-conditioning system (34) in a motor vehicle, having an actuating drive (32), an electrical circuit (1) which controls the actuating drive (32), and a control section (36) for inputting...http://www.google.com/patents/US7139648?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7139648 - Apparatus for actuating a control element for a heating or air-conditioning system in a motor vehicleAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7139648 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/704,791Publication dateNov 21, 2006Filing dateNov 3, 2000Priority dateNov 3, 1999Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE19952898A1Publication number09704791, 704791, US 7139648 B1, US 7139648B1, US-B1-7139648, US7139648 B1, US7139648B1InventorsRalf Martin, Klaus WaibelOriginal AssigneeBehr Gmbh & Co.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (17), Classifications (14), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetApparatus for actuating a control element for a heating or air-conditioning system in a motor vehicleUS 7139648 B1Abstract The invention relates to an apparatus for actuating a control element, for example, an air flap, for a heating or air-conditioning system (34) in a motor vehicle, having an actuating drive (32), an electrical circuit (1) which controls the actuating drive (32), and a control section (36) for inputting control commands. The actuating drive (32), the circuit (1) and the control section (36) are connected to one another via at least one electrical cable (3). In order to provide an improved apparatus for actuating a control element, particularly with regard to reducing the production costs, the circuit (1) is arranged outside the actuating drive (32) and outside the control section (36) and, in particular, is preferably integrated in the databus (3). This allows identical actuating drives to be used cost-effectively for the different control elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for actuating a control element for a heating or air-conditioning system in a motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for actuating a control element, particularly with regard to reducing the production costs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the case of an apparatus according to the invention, the electrical and/or electronic circuit for controlling the actuating drive, (for example, a stepping motor) is arranged not only outside the actuating drive but also outside the control section into which the control commands can be entered. The �intelligence� of the actuating drive which, apart from possible addressing, includes all the data and program routines required to operate the specific function of the actuating drive, is moved away from the actual actuating drive and is preferably moved into the cable, that is to say into a cable run. The actuating drives for the various actuating functions for the heating and air-conditioning system, for example, adjustment of a mixing-air flap, adjustment of a defroster flap etc., can thus all be designed identically, so that only one type of actuating drive is used, irrespective of the location where the actuating drive is used. The logistics complexity is thus considerably reduced. Furthermore, only one type of actuating drive need be kept in stock for repairs, since the identical actuating drives within the heating or air-conditioning system are interchangeable, because the functions associated with them are in each case stored in the circuit which is integrated in the cable run and is associated with one actuating drive.
The electrical circuit which is connected can be allocated a subscriber number by appropriate connection of the connector contacts 14 to the data line 13. By way of example, in FIG. 4, the two central connector contacts 14 are connected to the data line 13. With the individual connector contacts 14 having a successive binary value, this results in the subscriber number �6� in FIG. 4.
If there are now data signals on the data line 13, then these data signals are identified by the electrical circuit 1, in particular by the microprocessor 2, on those branch lines which are connected to the data line 13. Thus, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the data signals are identified on those branch lines which are connected to the two central connector contacts 14. The circuit 1 can derive its own subscriber number from this. Thus, in the present case, the circuit 1 identifies the fact that it has been allocated the subscriber number �6� by the second connector part 9.
FIG. 5 a shows a connector part 16 which can be used instead of the connector part 8 or the connector part 9 in FIG. 4. The connector part 16 in FIG. 5 a has two planes 17, 18, each having three connector contacts 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. The number of connector contacts 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and the number of planes 17, 18 differs only by �1�. This means that the connector part 16 has a compact external shape, with approximately equal side edges, i.e., more square or rectangular than flat.
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