Electrical generator or motor structure – Dynamoelectric – Rotary
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-21
2001-05-15
Ramirez, Nestor (Department: 2834)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Dynamoelectric
Rotary
C070S277000, C292S201000, C292SDIG004
Reexamination Certificate
active
06232684
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates an automotive deck lid actuator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can be characterized as undesirable voltages and currents that emanate from one electrical or electronic device and alter or degrade the performance of other electrical and electronic devices that are either proximate or connected to the first device. EMI emissions may transmitted either by conduction through electrical power lines or by radiation through space.
Electric motors such as those used in various actuator assemblies are a significant source of EMI in automotive vehicles. Most EMI emissions from electric motors originate from at least one of two primary sources. One of these sources is electrical arcing that typically occurs between the brush and commutator portions of the motor. EMI emissions that result from electrical arcing are radiated outward from the source and can reach sufficiently far from the source to affect electronic devices in the vehicle—even when there is no common current path between the motor and the affected devices. The other primary EMI source in an electric motor is the interruption of current flow that occurs in the motor commutator as an armature portion of the motor rotates. EMI produced by this source travels to electronic devices in the vehicle by conduction through electrical leads extending from the motor and connected to the vehicle electrical system.
General Motors (GM) has established EMI limits that automotive electric motors must not exceed if they are to avoid degrading electronic devices in the vehicle. To reduce EMI emissions from electric motors to a level below the established limit, it is necessary to reduce the levels of both radiated and conducted EMI that the motors produce.
One method that is known to help minimize EMI conduction is to provide a filter between the EMI source and the affected devices. Such filters are configured to reduce the level of EMI conducted to the affected devices. A method known to reduce EMI radiation is the use of a ground shield that surrounds the EMI source and blocks radiated EMI emissions.
One example of a particularly problematic EMI source is a known rear compartment deck lid actuator assembly that has a very compact configuration and is powered by an electric motor. As shown in
FIG. 10
, without any EMI reduction, EMI emissions from this known assembly exceed, by a considerable margin, EMI limits established by the manufacturer of the automobile that the actuator is installed in. The manufacturer's EMI limits are represented by line
18
.
Due to part integration limitations, it would be undesirable to make actuator assemblies such as the known assembly discussed above larger to accommodate EMI-reducing hardware or to include an EMI-reducing add-on component attached to the side of a plastic housing portion of the actuator assembly.
What is needed is a cost effective method and apparatus for reducing EMI emissions from a rear compartment deck lid actuator assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An automotive deck lid actuator assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an actuator power supply terminal and an actuator ground terminal supported on a housing and configured to connect the actuator assembly to a vehicle electrical system. An electric motor is disposed in the housing and includes a motor power supply terminal connected to the actuator power supply terminal and a motor ground terminal connected to the actuator ground terminal. Characterizing the invention is an electronic filter disposed in the housing and connected between the motor terminals and the actuator terminals. The filter is configured to reduce electromagnetic interference conduction into the vehicle electrical system.
An actuator constructed according to the invention emits considerably less electromagnetic interference that prior art actuator assemblies. Therefore, the negative effects of electromagnetic interference on other vehicle-borne electronic devices are reduced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4845393 (1989-07-01), Burgess et al.
patent: 5007261 (1991-04-01), Quantz
patent: 5309052 (1994-05-01), Kim
patent: 5869942 (1999-02-01), Miller et al.
patent: 6175727 (2001-01-01), Mostov
Anahid Hassan
Delaporte Dany Paul
Haag Ronald Helmut
Mork Neil
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Griffin Patrick M.
Jones Judson H.
Ramirez Nestor
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