Patent ID: 6964213

Claim:
A smart actuator comprising: an actuating device adapted to deliver a selected driving torque to a gear train; said gear train being coupled to an output shaft and adapted to selectively convey the driving torque from the actuating device to said output shaft to achieve a selected shaft position on said output shaft; said gear train comprising at least one locking gear including a plurality of locking features distributed along an outer circumference of the locking gear and defining a plurality of selectively engageable gear positions; a position lock solenoid operable to engage said at least one locking gear in a selected gear position when said gear train achieves said selected shaft position on said output shaft, and operable to hold said locking gear at said selected gear position, thereby holding said selected shaft position; and, at least one logic and control device for operating the various aspects of the smart actuator, operable to discontinue electrical current to the actuating device after the position lock solenoid has engaged the locking gear.