JP2002221011A - Engine module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the whole number of electric wires when driving solenoid coils of an actuator for a solenoid valve of an engine. SOLUTION: In this engine module, a bridge circuit PWM-driving the respective solenoid coils 22, 23 of the actuator 20 is formed by bus bars 31a-31d, 36, 39a-39h, 43 or an FPC, is housed in a module body 21a, and is directly connected to the actuator 20 via a connector 41 as a switch unit 21. Thereby, a wire harness 38 between the switch unit 21 and the actuator 20 becomes useless to reduce the whole number of the electric wires.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an engine module for driving an electromagnetic coil of an actuator for an electromagnetically driven valve of an engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a demand for a shift from a mechanical type using a cam mechanism to an electronic control type energy saving type using an electromagnetic valve actuator in an electromagnetically driven intake / exhaust valve system for an automobile engine. ing. For example, in a conventional example disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-284626, two electromagnetic coils (an upper coil 2 and a lower coil 3) are generally provided in an actuator 8 for driving each valve (electromagnetic drive valve) 1 as shown in FIG. ) Is installed, and the upper coil 2 and the lower coil 3 are subjected to PWM drive control to perform opening / closing drive control of each valve 1.

[0003] Generally, if the valve 1 is rapidly opened and closed, the durability of the valve 1 may be significantly impaired. Therefore, the voltage application in the forward direction and the voltage application in the reverse direction to each of the electromagnetic coils 2 and 3 must be performed. The valve 1 is buffered by opening and closing the valve 1 by making appropriate adjustments and performing a slight reverse drive during the opening and closing operation while applying a brake.
Further, the tapping sound when the valve 1 is seated on the cylinder head 6 is prevented. In order to appropriately adjust the forward voltage application and the reverse voltage application to each of the electromagnetic coils 2 and 3 as described above, it is necessary to form two voltage applying wires 4 and 5 for each of the electromagnetic coils 2 and 3. .

[0004] Reference numeral 7 in FIG. 4 indicates a head cover.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the conventional example of FIG. In FIG. 5, for example, a battery voltage (+ B) of 36 V is connected as a power supply circuit to a relay box 11 installed in an engine room, and power supplied from the relay box 11 is supplied to a glove box in a vehicle compartment or the like. Is supplied to an actuator 8 (each electromagnetic coil 2, 3) in the cylinder head 6 of the engine through a drive unit 12 installed in the engine.

The drive unit 12 is, for example, an n-type MOSF
A single-phase bridge circuit is formed using semiconductor switching elements 13a to 13h such as ET, and each of the semiconductor switching elements 13a to 13h is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) 14 arranged around an instrument panel or the like.
By switching 13h, each of the electromagnetic coils 2 and 3 is appropriately PWM-driven.

Incidentally, reference numerals 15 and 16 in FIG.
Reference numeral 17 indicates a relay, reference numeral 18 indicates a relay wire harness,
Reference numeral 19 denotes an engine harness, reference numeral IG denotes an ignition switch, and reference numeral AL denotes an alternator.

[0008]

In the above conventional example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, two voltage applying wires 4 and 5 are connected to one electromagnetic coil 2 and 3, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, two electromagnetic coils 2 and 3 are provided for one valve 1. From these facts, there are four voltage applying wires 4 and 5 per one valve 1.

When considering the entire engine, for example, in a four-cylinder, 16-valve engine having four valves per cylinder, there are 64 voltage application wirings 4,5.

Here, the electromagnetic coils 2 and 3 for driving the intake and exhaust valves of the engine are installed in a housing as an actuator 8 and become one part, and are installed in the cylinder head 6 of the engine. On the other hand, the drive unit 12 is disposed in a glove box or the like in the vehicle interior. Therefore, as the voltage applying wires 4 and 5 for connecting the drive unit 12 and the actuator 8, the relay wire harnesses 18 are used.
And the harness 19 in the engine. In this case, the total number of the wirings 4 and 5 in the harnesses 18 and 19 increases. Further, since the relay wire harness 18 may be formed by further adding a plurality of individual wire harnesses, the total number of the wirings 4 and 5 in all the harnesses 18 and 19 increases drastically. In this case, a space for arranging the harnesses 18 and 19 must be secured, and there is a disadvantage that the labor and cost for the arrangement increase.

An object of the present invention is to provide an engine module capable of reducing the total number of electric wires.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems,
The invention according to claim 1 is an engine module for driving an electromagnetic coil of an actuator for an electromagnetically driven valve of an engine, wherein the module main body and the electromagnetic coil of the actuator housed in the module main body are driven. A drive circuit, the module main body, one connector for directly connecting the drive circuit to a connector formed on the actuator side, and the drive circuit to a predetermined electronic control unit and a predetermined power supply circuit On the other hand, another connector for connection through a predetermined wire harness is formed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the engine module according to the first aspect, the electromagnetic coil has an upper coil and a lower coil for opening and closing an electromagnetically driven valve, The drive circuit is configured to apply a voltage applied from a predetermined power supply circuit to the upper coil and the lower coil, respectively, through a voltage application wiring, and through the voltage application wiring based on a signal from a predetermined electronic control unit. A semiconductor switching element that individually switches on and off the application of voltage to the upper coil and the lower coil in both forward and reverse directions.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the engine module according to the second aspect, the voltage application wiring is formed by a bus bar.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the engine module according to the second aspect, wherein an upstream portion of the switching element of the voltage application wiring is formed on a wiring board.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an engine module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

This engine module, as shown in FIG.
A switch unit 21 that can be integrally attached to an actuator 20 of an electromagnetically driven valve installed in a cylinder head of an engine.
Is integrally connected to the actuator 20, thereby reducing the total number of electric wires.

The actuator 20 has two electromagnetic coils (upper coils 22) for driving the respective electromagnetically driven valves, similarly to the conventional example shown in FIGS.
And a lower coil 23).

The switch unit 21 is provided for each electromagnetic coil 2.
Bus bars 31a to 31d, 36, 39a to 39h,
43 and switching elements 24a to 24d and 24e to 24h for switching the voltage application on and off are housed in a single module main body 21a.

More specifically, in the switch unit 21, as shown in FIG. 1, a single-phase bridge circuit is formed using four semiconductor switching elements 24a to 24d and 24e to 24h such as n-type MOSFETs. Each of the semiconductor switching elements 24 a to 2 is housed in the module main body 21 a and is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) 25.
By switching on and off the 4d, 24e to 24h, each of the electromagnetic coils 22, 23 is PWM-driven. It should be noted that the PWM drive control performed by each single-phase bridge circuit for each of the electromagnetic coils 22 and 23 is performed in the same manner as in the prior art (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-284626). This is because the voltage application in the opposite direction to the voltage application is adjusted appropriately, and the opening / closing drive is performed while slightly applying a reverse drive during the opening / closing operation to apply a brake, thereby buffering the opening / closing of the electromagnetically driven valve. In addition, when there is an individual difference between each of the electromagnetic coils 22 and 23, the adjustment is appropriately performed and the PWM drive control is performed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the switch unit 21. In the example of FIG. 2, four semiconductor switching elements 24 a to 24 d for driving the upper coil 22 by PWM are shown. On the back side of this cross section, another semiconductor switching element 24 for driving the lower coil 23 by PWM is provided. Four semiconductor switching elements 24e to 24h and the like are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gates of the semiconductor switching elements (n-type MOSFETs) 24a to 24d are connected to harness connection connectors 33 formed on the module body 21a through gate connection bus bars 31a to 31d. It is connected to a plurality of control system connection terminals 34. Each control system connection terminal 34 is connected to the ECU 25 installed near another instrument panel unit through a control system wire harness 35 (FIG. 1),
U25 individually controls on / off of each of the semiconductor switching elements 24a to 24d. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (not shown in FIG. 2), the same applies to the other semiconductor switching elements 24e to 24h.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drains of the semiconductor switching elements (n-type MOSFETs) 24a and 24c are connected to a power supply system connection terminal 37 of a harness connection connector 33 through a common drain connection bus bar 36. ing. Then, the power supply system connection terminal 37 is connected to a relay box (power supply circuit) RB arranged in the engine room through a power supply system wire harness 38 (FIG. 1), and power is supplied. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (not shown in FIG. 2), the same applies to the semiconductor switching elements 24e and 24g.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the source of the semiconductor switching element (n-type MOSFET) 24a and the drain of the semiconductor switching element 24b are connected to actuators formed on the module body 21a through bus bars 39a and 39b for connecting the actuators. The source of the semiconductor switching element 24c and the drain of the semiconductor switching element 24d are connected to the actuator connection terminal 42b of the actuator connection connector 41 through the actuator connection bus bars 39c and 39d, respectively. It is connected. The source of the semiconductor switching element 24e and the semiconductor switching element 24
The drain of the semiconductor switching element 24g and the drain of the semiconductor switching element 24h are respectively connected to the actuator connection terminal 42c of the actuator connection connector 41 via the actuator connection bus bars 39e and 39f. The bus bar 39g, 39h is connected to the actuator connection terminal 42d of the actuator connection connector 41. Then, as shown in FIG.
Side of the connector 45, thereby connecting each of the connection terminals 42a-42 of the actuator connection connector 41.
d is connected to each of the electromagnetic coils 22 and 23 through the internal wires 44a to 44d of the actuator 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sources of the semiconductor switching elements (n-type MOSFETs) 24b and 24d are:
It is grounded through a common grounding bus bar 43. Also,
As shown in FIG. 1 (not shown in FIG. 2), the same applies to the semiconductor switching elements 24f and 24h.

Thus, in the switch unit 21, the plurality of semiconductor switching elements 24a to 24d, 2
4e to 24h are bus bars 31a to 31d, 36, 39a
39h, 43 and so on.

The relay box (power supply circuit) RB turns on the relay 51 by turning on the ignition switch IG, and supplies power to the switch unit 21 connected through the wire harness 38. Incidentally, in the conventional example shown in FIG.
Elements (fuse 5) corresponding to fuses 15 and 16 installed in
2, 53) is the switch unit 2 in this embodiment.
1, but not in the relay box RB.
This is because the switch unit 21 is installed integrally with the actuator 20 of the engine unit, so that the fuse 5
The purpose of this is to facilitate maintenance such as replacement of the actuators 2 and 53, and to reduce the size of the switch unit 21 installed integrally with the actuator 20.

Reference numeral 55 in FIG. 1 denotes an alternator AL
Reference numeral 56 denotes a fuse interposed between the battery (+ B) and the relay 51, and a reference numeral 56 denotes a fuse interposed between the battery 51 and the relay 51. Reference numeral 57 in FIG. 2 denotes semiconductor switching elements 24a to 24d and 24e to 24e.
Reference numeral 58 denotes a heat sink for heat dissipation, and reference numeral 58 denotes an insulator for insulating the bus bar 36 from the heat sink.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment showing how a switch unit 21 as the engine module is mounted on an actuator 20 of a four-cylinder, 16-valve electromagnetically driven valve. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a pair of intake valve portions 62 and a pair of exhaust valve portions 63 are formed for each cylinder 61, and each of the valve portions 62, 63 has an actuator 20 for driving a pair of electromagnetically driven valves in the valve. Are installed respectively. Then, two electromagnetic coils 22 and 23 are built in each actuator 20. In this embodiment, one switch unit 21 is integrally attached to two adjacent actuators 20 in the same cylinder.

That is, the actuator connection connector 41 of the switch unit 21 is fitted to and connected to the connector 64 formed on each of the valve portions 62 and 63.

The ECU 25 and the relay box RB
The connector 66 of the wire harness 65 in which the wire harnesses 35 and 38 are further bundled is connected to the connector 33 of the switch unit 21 for connection.

In this way, the switch unit 21
Are integrated with the actuator 20 as a module. That is, since the drive circuit of the actuator 20 is converged in the module serving as the switch unit 21, the relay wire harness 18 and the like shown in FIG. 5 can be omitted, so that the wiring up to around the engine is simplified. Also, as for the grounding of the grounding bus bar 43 in FIG. 1, for example, all the switch units 21 in FIG. 3 can be commonly grounded to the engine body 68 or the body of the automobile.

In the conventional example shown in FIG. 5, since each actuator 8 is divided into four voltage application wires 4 and 5, a total of eight voltage application wires 4 connecting the ECU 14 and the drive unit 12 are connected. Thirteen wires were required for one control system wire and one power system wire for connecting the relay box RB and the drive unit 12. On the other hand, in this embodiment shown in FIG.
, Four voltage application wires 4 and 5 can be eliminated,
Only four control system wires connecting the ECU 25 and the switch unit 21 and two power supply system wires connecting the relay box RB and the switch unit 21 suffice for ten wires. That is, three electric wires can be omitted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as compared with the conventional example shown in FIG. Therefore, for example, in the case of a 4-cylinder 16-valve electromagnetically driven valve, 48 valves (= 3 valves × 16 actuators) are used as a whole.
There is an advantage that the electric wire can be omitted.

When the ignition switch IG is turned on when using the engine module, the relay box R
The relay 51 in B is turned on, and power is supplied to the switch unit 21. Then, the semiconductor switching elements 24 a to 24 d and 24 e to 24 h constituting the single-phase bridge circuit in the switch unit 21 are individually turned on / off by the ECU 25, and the respective electromagnetic coils 22 and 23 in each actuator 20 are PWM-driven. This allows
The opening and closing of the electromagnetically driven valve can be appropriately controlled by the ECU 25.

In the above embodiment, the internal structure of the switch unit 21 shown in FIG. 2 has been exemplified. However, it goes without saying that another wiring structure may be adopted.

In the above embodiment, the wiring inside the switch unit 21 is replaced by the bus bars 31a to 31d, 36, 3
Although the configuration is made using 9a to 39h and 43, the configuration may be made using, for example, a flexible printed wiring board (FPC).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, one switch unit 21 is provided for each of the two actuators 20 as shown in FIG. 3. However, for example, one switch unit is provided for each of the actuators 20. Alternatively, a plurality of switch units 21 may be integrated into a module, and this module may be mounted on all the actuators 20 at one time.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the fuses 51 and 52 are installed in the relay box RB, but may be installed in the switch unit 21.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ECU 25 is connected via the single connector 41 of the module main body 21a.
Wire harness 35 connected to the relay box R
B, which was connected to the wire harness 38 connected to the ECU 25,
Connectors that are separately connected to the wire harness 38 connected to the relay box RB may be formed.

[0040]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a drive circuit for driving an electromagnetic coil of an actuator is housed in a module main body, and this is used as an engine module directly to the actuator via a connector. Since the connection is possible, a wire harness between the engine module and the actuator becomes unnecessary, and the number of electric wires as a whole is reduced.

In this case, since the voltage application wiring of the drive circuit is formed by the bus bar according to the third aspect or the wiring board according to the fourth aspect, the engine module can be configured with a simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an engine module, an actuator, a power supply circuit, and an electronic control unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of an engine module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of an operation of installing an engine module according to an embodiment of the present invention on an actuator.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing an actuator of a general electromagnetically driven valve.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional engine module, actuator,
It is a circuit diagram showing a power supply circuit and an electronic control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 20 actuator 21 switch unit 21a module main body 22, 23 electromagnetic coil 24a to 24h switching element 25 electronic control unit (ECU) 31a to 31d, 36, 39a to 39h, 43 bus bar 35, 38 wire harness 41 actuator connection connector RB relay box

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Kumazawa 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi F-term in the Auto Network Engineering Laboratory Co., Ltd. (reference) 3G018 AA05 AB09 AB16 BA38 CA12 DA45 FA01 FA06 FA07 GA07 GA14 GA18 3G301 HA01 HA19 JA02 LA07 LC01 NB20 PE10Z PG02Z

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An engine module for driving an electromagnetic coil of an actuator for an electromagnetically driven valve of an engine, comprising: a module main body; and a drive circuit housed in the module main body and driving the electromagnetic coil of the actuator. A connector for directly connecting the drive circuit to a connector formed on the actuator side; and a predetermined circuit for the predetermined electronic control unit and a predetermined power supply circuit. An engine module formed with another connector for connection through a wire harness. 2. The engine module according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic coil has an upper coil and a lower coil for opening and closing an electromagnetically driven valve, and the drive circuit includes a predetermined coil. A voltage application wiring for applying a voltage given from a power supply circuit to the upper coil and the lower coil, respectively; and the upper coil and the lower through the voltage application wiring based on a signal from a predetermined electronic control unit. An engine module comprising: a semiconductor switching element that individually switches on and off application of a voltage to a side coil in both forward and reverse directions. 3. The engine module according to claim 2, wherein the voltage application wiring is formed by a bus bar. 4. The engine module according to claim 2, wherein an upstream portion of the switching element of the voltage application wiring is a wiring pattern formed on a wiring board.