(19)
(11) EP 0 952 318 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
24.10.2001 Bulletin 2001/43

(43) Date of publication A2:
27.10.1999 Bulletin 1999/43

(21) Application number: 99107547.4

(22) Date of filing: 15.04.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: F02D 11/10, F02D 41/38
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 16.04.1998 JP 10664698

(71) Applicants:
  • TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Aichi-ken 471-8571 (JP)
  • AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Obu-shi, Aichi 474-8588 (JP)
  • Denso Corporation
    Kariya-city, Aichi-pref., 448-8661 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Itoh, Yoshiyasu c/o Toyota Jidosha K.K.
    Toyota-shi, Aichi-ken 471-8571 (JP)
  • Kato, Yukiya c/o Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Obu-shi, Aichi-ken 474-8588 (JP)
  • Asakawa, Yasunori c/o Denso Corporation
    Kariya-shi, Aichi-ken 448-8661 (JP)

(74) Representative: Leson, Thomas Johannes Alois, Dipl.-Ing. et al
Patentanwälte Tiedtke-Bühling-Kinne & Partner, Bavariaring 4
80336 München
80336 München (DE)

   


(54) Apparatus and method for driving a valve with a stepping motor


(57) An apparatus for driving a throttle valve (4) with a stepping motor (40) in a diesel engine (1). The apparatus includes a fully open detection switch (39) that is shifted between ON/OFF states by motion of the valve (4) when the valve (39) moves near a fully open position. An ECU (19) initializes a relationship between the driven step number of the stepping motor (40) and the angular position of the throttle valve (4) by setting a reference angle of the stepping motor (40) only when the fully open switch (39) shifts from an OFF state to an ON state, not vice versa. Thus, the reference rotational angle of the stepping motor (40), which corresponds to the fully open position of the throttle valve (4), is located accurately regardless of hysteresis errors that occur when the fully open switch (39) shifts between ON/OFF states. Accordingly, the angular position of the throttle valve (4) is controlled more precisely.






Search report