MX2007015132A - Electromechanical cable actuator assembly controller - Google Patents

Abstract

An electromechanical cable actuator assembly is disclosed, the actuator having a motor, a gear assembly coupled to the motor, a spring-loaded return assembly coupled to the gear assembly being configured to apply a force to the gear assembly to return the electromechanical cable assembly to a first postioin;and an electronic motor control circuit coupled to the motor. The electronic motor control circuit includes a drive circuit configured to drive the motor in a first direction against the force exerted by the spring assembly and a braking circuit configured to slow the rate of return of the cable assembly to the first position.

Description

CONTROLLER OF ELECTROMECHANICAL CABLE ACTUATOR This application claims the priority of the United States non-provisional patent application America number 11 / 068,579, filed on February 28, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system for imparting a force on a cable; more particularly the present invention relates to a system for imparting a force on a cable using a motor, a gear train, and a pulley. The pulley receives the rotating force from the motor through a gear train and, when the pulley rotates, the force is placed on the cable. The force causes the cable to move by a predetermined distance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The change in consumer demands for passenger vehicles in the United States of America has encouraged car manufacturers to build utility or multipurpose vehicles that are suitable to carry both passengers and / or cargo. One of the keys for the adaptation of such utility vehicles to carry passengers and / or cargo is the invention of complex seating systems which allow the individual seats to bend, to fold, whose movements allow movement inside and a Eventual storage of the seats in the recesses built in the vehicle.

Complex seating systems require complex mechanical movement control mechanisms. These complex mechanical movement control mechanisms employ latches, levers and cables to govern the positioning and movement of the seat. As the demand for newer and more complex seat assemblies increases, the need has arisen to provide electromechanical actuators when latches or other locking mechanisms are to be released from a remote location, or when additional force is required, or is required an extended cable displacement.

The electromechanical actuators used in vehicle seat systems are subject to a variety of design sections. Specifically, such electromechanical actuators mounted on the vehicle must be small enough to be mounted unobstructed within a vehicle, they must place a minimum energy demand on the electric power system of a passenger vehicle, these must be able to handle quickly high charges, and these must operate in quiet form.

Even though a variety of systems have been used to transform the power of an engine into linear force on a cable, there is still a need in the art for a vehicle-mounted system that combines speed with high load capacity to impart on a force is placed on a cable to perform a predetermined movement of the cable in fractions of a second while the demand energy is minimized on an electrical system of the vehicle.

SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION The electromechanical cable actuator assembly mounted on the described vehicle combines speed and a quiet operation with a high load capacity to impart force on a cable to effect a predetermined movement of the cable in fractions of a second while minimizing the demand on the system electric vehicle The electromechanical cable actuator assembly of the present invention for exerting a force on a cable includes a motor whose electrical power requirements are compatible with the capacity of a typical 12 volt electrical power system of a passenger vehicle to provide the need for electric power. An array of gear sets that increase torque and speed reduction which eventually cause a pulley to rotate are connected to an output shaft of the motor. The rotation of the pulley imparts a force on a cable which is wound around the pulley.

The series of gear sets includes a face gear and a spur gear set which engages a gear mounted on the output shaft of the motor. The engagement of the face gear and the spur gear set is an intermediate set of two spur gears. The intermediate set of two spur gears engages a partial arched spherical gear attached to a pulley.

The electromechanical cable actuator of the present invention also includes a spring driven rear drive positioned with the pulley. After the pulley has completed its rotation, the rear drive returns the pulley to its starting position.

In a first sense, an electromechanical cable actuator assembly includes a motor having a first output shaft with a first gear mounted thereon, a gear assembly coupled to the first gear, a spring loaded return assembly coupled to the gear assembly which is configured to apply a force to the gear assembly to return the electromechanical cable assembly to a first position, and an electronic motor control circuit coupled to the motor. The electronic motor control circuit includes a drive circuit configured to drive the motor in a first direction against the force exerted by the spring assembly, and a braking circuit configured to decelerate the return rate of the cable assembly to the first position.

In a second sense, a control circuit for an electromechanical cable drive assembly having a motor, a gear assembly coupled to the motor and a spring loaded return assembly coupled to the gear assembly being configured to apply a force to the gear assembly to return the electromechanical cable assembly to a first position includes a drive circuit configured to drive the motor in a first direction against the force exerted by the spring assembly, and one or more means to decelerate the return rate of the assembly of cable to the first position.

In a third sense, a method for decelerating the rate of return of an electromechanical cable actuator assembly having a motor, a gear set coupled to the motor and a spring loaded return assembly coupled to the gear assembly being configured to apply a force The gear assembly for returning the electromechanical cable assembly to a first position includes limiting a voltage generated by the motor by forcing the return assembly and spring loaded the gear assembly to return the electromechanical cable assembly to the first position.

It has therefore been delineated, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention so that the detailed description thereof can be better understood here, and in order that the present contribution to the art can be better appreciated. There are of course additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which form the subject matter of the appended claims thereto.

In this regard, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. drawings. The invention is capable of incorporations in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is also understood that the phrasing and terminology used here, as well as the summary are for the purposes of description and should not be seen as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which the description is based can readily be used as a basis for the design of other structures, methods and systems to carry out various purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be seen as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the electromechanical cable actuator assembly of the present invention can be had by reference to the figures of the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembled electromechanical cable actuator assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an electromechanical cable actuator assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the electromechanical cable actuator with the box parts removed to illustrate the operation of the gear train.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an electromechanical cable driver with the parts 20 removed to illustrate the operation of the spring-driven rear drive functions.

Figure 5A is a flow diagram of the logic involved in the electronic control of the invention described for a cycle by switch activation.

Figure 5B is a flow diagram similar to that of Figure 5A for two cycles by switch activation.

Figure 6 shows a block diagram of an electronic control assembly and the engine.

Figure 7A shows a first electronic braking circuit.

Figure 7B shows a second electronic braking circuit.

Figure 7C shows a third electronic braking circuit.

Figure 7D shows a fourth electronic braking circuit.

Figure 7E shows a fifth electronic braking circuit.

Figure 7F shows a sixth electronic braking circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention will now be described with reference to the figures of the drawings, which reference numerals refer to like parts.

As will be seen in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 the electromechanical cable actuator 10 of the present invention is a self contained device whose size is conductive to allow its installation in a vehicle. To meet the requirements of automobile manufacturers, the described electromechanical cable actuator 10 must be operable using the available electrical power provided by the electrical system typically found in a passenger vehicle.

Specifically, the described electromechanical actuator 10 must operate at a low voltage (specifically 12 volts on most passenger vehicles of the United States of America) and have a small current draw (typically 5 amps maximum). Yet, at the same time, the electromechanical actuator 10 must be capable of imparting a sufficient level of force on a cable to quickly operate the mechanical seal portions of several different types of complex vehicle seating systems. Therefore, when the electrical power is supplied to the motor 30 through either the closing of a switch or by a remote device, the rotational force of the motor 30 will be rapidly translated in a sufficient amount of linear force on a cable so that the seat system (not shown) which is attached to the cable 44 will be released from its sawing system and will therefore allow a suitable, folded or folded fold. In addition to being of small size, the electromechanical cable actuator 10 must be easy to manufacture, low in cost, silent, simple to install and easily connectable to the electrical system of a passenger vehicle.

As will be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the described electromechanical cable actuator 10 includes a box assembly 20, which includes a lower case assembly 22, an upper case assembly 24, a case 26 for the motor and a connection of energy 28.

In the expanded view, figure 2, with the motor case 26 moved outward and the lower case assembly 22 separated from the upper case assembly 24, the construction of the electromechanical cable actuator 10 can be better understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

As previously indicated, the motor 30 is used to drive the electromechanical cable actuator 10 of the present invention. The motor 30 is enclosed by a motor box 26, which includes a part 27 for the insertion of a circuit board to control the operation of the motor 30 and limit the pulling of current. The motor output 30 is by turning the output arrow 32. A small gear 34 is set on the output arrow 32. The small gear 34 rotates with the output arrow 32.

The motor assembly 30 is held in place by the mounting screws 36 which pass through a motor mounting face 38 formed as part of the lower case assembly 22. The lower case assembly 22 includes the multiple holes 23 on its perimeter through which the mounting bolts can pass to fix the electromechanical cable actuator 10 of the present invention to a mounting point on a vehicle (not shown). Also, as can be seen in Figure 4, located on the lower case assembly 22 is a cable hole 40 and a cable guide 42. The cable hole 40 and the cable guide 42 allow the cable 44 of the present invention coming out of the electromechanical cable actuator 10. Also included on the lower case assembly 22 are a plurality of small holes 45 through which the Fasteners 46 can be positioned to hold the lower case assembly 22 to the upper case assembly 24. .

The part of the lower case assembly 22 closer to the engine 30 first includes a wall 48 on which the rotary pulley assembly 80 is mounted. The opposite end of the lower case assembly 22 includes a second well 49 for assembly of the assembly intermediate cylindrical gear 50.

Extending upwards from the bottom of the lower case assembly 22 is a first arrow 52 on which the intermediate cylindrical gear assembly part 50 of the present invention is mounted. Also extending upward from the bottom of the lower case assembly is a second arrow 54 on which the rotating pulley assembly 80 and the cylindrical gear assembly and the face gear 64 are mounted.

The upper case assembly 24 includes an arcuate portion 25 which fits over the motor mounting face 38 on the lower case assembly 22. At the distal end of the upper case assembly is a flanged portion 55 which fits over the assembly lower case 22. Flanged portion 55 encloses intermediate cylindrical gear assembly 50. Between intermediate portion 25 and flanged portion 55 is an intermediate portion 56. Intermediate portion 56 includes a first seat 58 for mounting the upper portion of the first arrow 52 and a second seat 60 for mounting the upper part of the second arrow 54. Also included in the upper case assembly 24 are a plurality of holes 62 through which the fasteners 46 can pass for joining the upper case assembly 24 to the lower case assembly 22.

The cylindrical gear and face gear assembly 64 is positioned just below the upper case assembly 24. The cylindrical gear and face gear assembly 64 is rotated by the engagement of its teeth 63 with the small gear 34 fixed to the output shaft 32 of the motor 30. Because the face gear 65 and the cylindrical gear 66 in the cylindrical gear and face gear assembly 64 are made in one piece, when the face gear 65 overturns, the cylindrical gear 66 will also turn. The cylindrical gear and face gear assembly 64 are mounted by engaging the central hole 68 formed therein and the upper part of the second arrow 54.

Just below the face gear assembly and the cylindrical gear 64 is the intermediate cylindrical gear assembly 50. The intermediate cylindrical gear assembly 50 includes a large upper gear 71 whose teeth 73 engage the direct gear 66 of the face gear and the assembly of direct gear 64. Fixed to the underside of the intermediate cylindrical gear assembly 50 is a small cylindrical gear 75. Because the large cylindrical gear upper 71 and the small cylindrical gear small 75 are formed as a single piece, when the cylindrical gear large 71 turns, the lower cylindrical gear 75 will also turn. Formed in the middle of the intermediate cylindrical gear assembly is a hole 76 which allows the intermediate cylindrical gear assembly 50 to be mounted on the first arrow 52.

Located under the intermediate cylindrical gear assembly 50 is the rotating pulley assembly 80. The rotating pulley assembly 80 includes a central hole 82 so that it can be mounted on the first arrow 52. On the edge of the rotating pulley assembly 80 is a cylindrical gear section 84 which can be overturned by the engagement of its teeth 85 on the small cylindrical gear 75 of the intermediate cylindrical gear assembly 50.

In addition, a spring return 86 is included in the rotating pulley assembly 80. The spring return 86 is shown in FIG. 4. When the rotating pulley assembly 80 is struck, the energy is stored in a spiral spring 86. energy stored when released from spiral spring 86, will restore cable 44 to its original position.

In an alternate embodiment, the circuit board contained in the lower case assembly 22 will include the electronics which both limit the pulling of current and drive the motor 30 for brief intervals when the energy in the spring 86 is released. The operation of the motor 30 for short intervals both decelerates and silences the movement of the cable 44 to its starting position.

OPERATION The electromechanical cable actuator 10 of the present invention operates by first applying the energy to the motor assembly 30. The output shaft 32 of the motor assembly 30 is then caused to turn. Because a gear 34 is attached to the output shaft 32 the motor assembly 30, the overturning gear 34 which engages the teeth 63 of the face gear part 65 of the cylindrical gear and face gear assembly 64. will cause the cylindrical gear and face gear assembly 64 to rotate. The engagement of the teeth 63 of the cylindrical gear portion 66 of the cylindrical gear and face gear assembly 64 with the teeth 73 of the large cylindrical gear portion 71 of the intermediate cylindrical gear assembly 50 will cause the small cylindrical gear 75 of laps. This turning of the small cylindrical gear 75 will cause the rotary pulley assembly 80 to rotate. Because the cable is fixed to the rotating pulley assembly 80, the force of the cable 44 will cause it to move. This movement is of sufficient strength and length to open a closing mechanism or provide the start of movement which will allow the seats of a vehicle to be properly positioned, as desired by the driver of the vehicle.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cable displacement was set to approximately 34 millimeters. However, by modifying the various proportions and the size of the parts, it has been found that a cable displacement of about 30 millimeters to about 55 millimeters falls within the capacity of the invention described.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it has been found that sufficient cable loading can be obtained to release the commonly used latches. By slight adjustments to the size of the various components, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a force of the wire can vary from about 350 newtons to about 600 newtons.

To ensure that the electrical system of a passenger vehicle is not overloaded by the electromechanical cable actuator 10 of the present invention, it has been found that a motor 30 which provides a torque of 140 N-mm to about 200 N -mm, whose current draw is around 5 amps in a 12 volt system is preferable. To achieve the desired speed of the cable operation, it has been found that a motor whose operating speed is from about 1500 revolutions per minute to about 3500 revolutions per minute is satisfactory. The time for the cable to travel through the predetermined travel length varies from about 0.5 seconds to about 1.5 seconds.

In the preferred embodiment, the drive train provides a gear ratio of about 109: 1. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the described system will allow a speed reduction in the range of about 100: 1 to 125: 1.

The operation of the system is controlled according to the flow diagrams of Figure 5A and Figure 5B. Figure 5A shows the operation of a single cycle of the system by activation of an activation switch. Figure 5B is similar to Figure 5A but shows two cycles of the system by activation of an activation switch.

As can be seen in Figures 5A and 5B, both flow schemes include an initial set of steps A which establishes the logic embedded in the system before activation of the activation switch is perceived. The steps in group A begin with an initialization and a vigilant dog enable step 102. Once completed, the function of interrupting the switch is enabled 104 and the vigilant dog time is cleared 106. To conserve energy, the system it is then directed to a low energy mode 108.

The activation 110 of the activation switch starts those steps designated as group B. This activates the disabling of the function of interrupting the switch 112. If the activation of the switch was only activated for a short period of time, as it can happen if the switch were Inadvertently pumped, the logical step 114 returns the system to step 104. If the designated period of time is exceeded, in the preferred embodiment 25 ms, the vigilant dog timer is cleared 116 and the motor 30 is activated 118 for a period of time designated. A current limiting step 118 ensures that the maximum designated current draw has not been exceeded. If excessive current draw is perceived, the motor 30 is turned off in step 122. If the current draw is not exceeded, the operating time of the motor 30 is measured and compared to a pre-set time in step 124. If the engine is turned off, there may be a delay 126 where the recoil drive speed is controlled.

In the reverse drive situation, the energy stored in the return spring 86 causes the motor 30 to rotate. The rotational force of the spring 86 therefore causes the motor 30 to act as a generator and produce electrical energy. The bi-directional diodes are used to limit the voltage that the motor 30 can produce when acting as a generator. The interruption of the operation of the motor and the use of the bi-directional diodes facilitate the return of the cable 44 to its starting position at an almost constant rate and to a significant reduction in the operating noise of the electromechanical actuator 10.

In Figure 5B, those with ordinary skill in the art will notice that an additional step 128 has been added which determines whether the motor 30 has cycled twice. If the engine 30 has cycled only once, then the engine 30 is made to cycle again. If the motor 30 has cycled twice, then the logical flow goes to the top of the flow scheme.

An electromechanical cable actuator which is suitable for use in a passenger vehicle is therefore provided by the present invention. The described electromechanical cable actuator will provide the necessary forces and will operate with the necessary speed and reliability to perform a wide variety of functions on the vehicles in addition to simply operating the complex seating system mechanisms.

THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL CIRCUIT Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of an electronic control assembly 600 and a motor 602. As shown in Fig. 6, the electronic control assembly 600 includes a controller 610, an electronic motor driver 630 suitable for driving the motor 602 and having an integral current sensor (not shown), a braking circuit 640 in parallel with capacitor Cl (used to reduce electromagnetic noise), terminals 660 and buffer 650. Controller 610 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 612 having a memory (not shown), a digital output 616 carrying the motor driver 630, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 618 that receives a feedback current feedback signal from the motor driver 630 and an output 620 to receive a damped switch signal provided by the 650 shock absorber and a 614 stopwatch number.

Even though the example controller 610 of Figure 6 uses an architecture, it should be appreciated that any architecture such as discrete electronic circuit designs, state machines, programmable logic (for example FPGAs) and others can be used as is known by those with an ordinary skill in art.

In operation, the controller 610 may first initialize several parts of its peripherals 614-620 in order to perform various input / output operations and timing operations, for example vigilant dog timer operations, described above.

Upon receiving a switch control signal through a terminal 660 and the damper 650, the controller 610 can then activate the motor driver 630 according to the prescribed times, sequences and conditions discussed above with the variations that are to be expected. from incorporation to incorporation. For example, in operation the controller 610 can activate the motor impeller 630 for up to a few seconds, or cut the impeller operation early if the feedback signal perceived current from the impeller 630 (which provides an indication of the output current of the impeller 630) indicates that the motor is consuming an excessive current indicative of the motor reaching a mechanical stop, or that it malfunctioned in another way.

As the actuator assembly associated with the motor 602 is subsequently forced back to its initial position, the motor 602 will have to act as a generator. Consistent with most motors / generators, motor 602 will tend to produce a voltage across its terminals as a function of motor speed and / or will tend to provide an available current as a function of the torque to which it is subjected. it acts on a 602 motor. Therefore, it can be appreciated that the motor speed can be manipulated more directly by using a voltage control approach, or the motor speed can be manipulated less directly through a force control approach of torque by controlling the current absorption of the motor current.

Fig. 7A shows a first braking circuit 640A in conjunction with the motor 602. As shown in Fig. 7A, the first braking circuit 640A consists of a single silicon diode Di having a voltage drop of about 0.7V at 0.9V. Even when a silicon diode is used in the present embodiment, a variety of other diodes, such as Shottkey diodes, germanium diodes and others, may be used. In addition, more than one diode can be placed in series to increase the voltage drop with each diode being all of the same type or a mixture of types. Returning to FIG. 7A, since the diode DI will generally limit the voltage across the motor to the voltage diode Vi, the braking circuit 640 of FIG. 7A can be considered a voltage control approach.

Figure 7B shows a second braking circuit 640B in conjunction with the motor 602. As shown in Figure 7B, the second braking circuit 640B includes a Shottkey diode D2 in series with a Zener diode D3. Since Zener diodes can be manufactured to have pressure-reversal breaking voltages varying from a few volts to hundreds of volts, the second braking circuit 640B can allow a wide variety of speeds controlled with a diode selection. For example, by using a Zener diode having a breaking voltage of 3.6 volts, the reverse voltage V23 can be limited to about 4 volts. Similarly, by using a Zener diode having a breaking voltage of 4.6 volts, the reverse voltage V23 can be limited to about 5 volts.

Figure 7C shows a third braking circuit 640C similar to that of Figure 7B but with a resistor Rl replaced by a Zener diode D3. Even though the present braking circuit 640C may not be able to control the voltage as precisely as the braking circuits shown previously (and tends to look a bit more like a torque control device), the braking circuit 640C may provide a marginally less expensive circuit compared to the circuit of Figure 7B.

Figure 7D shows a fourth braking circuit 640D similar to that of Figure 7A but employing a transistor SI and a resistor Rl in place of a diode. Even though the present braking circuit 640D can be expected to make more expensive than the braking circuit 640A of Figure 7A, the braking circuit 640D nevertheless provides a viable and useful alternate embodiment.

Figure 7E shows a fifth braking circuit 640E similar to that of Figure 7B but employs a transistor S2 and the resistors R2 and R3 in place of the Zener diode D3. Again, even though the present braking circuit 640E can be expected to be more expensive than the braking circuit 640B of Fig. 7B, the braking circuit 640E nevertheless provides a viable and useful alternate incorporation.

Figure 7F shows a sixth braking circuit 640F using a S3 controllable switch in series with an optional R5 resistor. By sensing the voltage through the motor 602 or the current through R5, and modulating the switch S3 using a controller of some form, the braking circuit 640F can be used to control the voltage through the motor 602, controlling the current (and therefore the torsion force) or control some combination of them. However, it can be appreciated that the sixth braking circuit 640F can also operate without any perception, for example, by simply engaging the SI switch (either completely using a pulse width modulation (PWM)) whenever the braking is want and presumably when the engine is not being driven.

As a further embodiment of note, it should be appreciated that instead of using a braking circuit, such as any of those shown in Figs. 7A-7F, to decelerate the rate of return of the actuator, the controller 610 can provide a braking function by applying a partial drive signal to the motor, such as a pulse width modulated signal (PWM) having a sufficient duty cycle to decelerate, but not stop, the motor 602, such as a scheme that can be either Completely replace an independent braking circuit or can be used as a means to complement an independent braking circuit. Of course, such a drive signal can be expected to require more power than the braking approaches discussed above, but can reduce the component count as a benefit.

CONCLUSION While the disclosed invention has been indicated in terms of its preferred and alternate embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that numerous other embodiments of the present invention may be apparent while reading the foregoing description. Such other embodiments will be included within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.

The many features and advantages of the invention are evident from the detailed specification and it is therefore intended that the annexed clauses cover all those characteristics and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, since numerous modifications and variations will be made to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the construction and operation illustrated and described and therefore, any equivalent modifications may be sought falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. An electromechanical cable drive assembly, comprising: an engine having a first output arrow with a first gear mounted thereon; a gear assembly coupled to the first gear; a spring loaded return assembly coupled to the gear assembly being configured to apply a force to the gear assembly to return the electromechanical cable assembly to a first position; Y An electronic motor control circuit coupled to the motor, the electronic motor control circuit includes: a drive circuit configured to drive the motor in a first direction against the force exerted by the spring assembly, and a braking circuit configured to decelerate the rate of return of the cable assembly to the first position.

2. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the drive circuit includes a motor driver suitable for driving the motor.

3. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the drive circuit further includes a current sensor for sensing the amount of current provided by motor impeller.

4. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 3, characterized in that the drive circuit further includes a programmable controller configured to control the output of the motor impeller and monitor the current sensor.

5. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the programmable controller is configured to control the output of the motor impeller to drive the motor according to a profile of pre-written times.

6. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 3, characterized in that the programmable controller is configured to control the output of the motor impeller based on a current sense signal provided by the current sensor.

7. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the braking circuit is integrated in the drive circuit, and wherein the braking circuit operates to provide a reduced drive signal to the motor.

8. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that the reduced impulse signal is a modulated pulse width signal.

9. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the braking circuit includes a switch circuit controlled by the controller and configured to absorb the current generated by the motor.

10. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the braking circuit includes a voltage limiter configured to limit the maximum voltage across the motor contacts.

11. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 10, characterized in that the braking circuit includes two diodes connected in series with a diode being a Zener diode.

12. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the braking circuit is configured to primarily limit the motor speed.

13. The electromechanical cable actuator assembly as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the braking circuit is configured to primarily limit the torsional force of the motor.

14. A control circuit for an electromechanical cable actuator assembly having a motor with a gear assembly coupled to the motor and a spring loaded return assembly coupled to the gear assembly being configured to apply a force to the gear assembly to return the electromechanical cable assembly to a first position; The control circuit comprises: a drive circuit configured to drive the motor in a first direction against the force exerted by the spring assembly, and one or more means to decelerate the rate of return of the cable assembly to the first position.

15. The control circuit as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that the means for decelerating include voltage limiting means for limiting the maximum voltage generated through the motor.

16. The control circuit as claimed in clause 15, characterized in that the means for decelerating include two diodes connected in series.

17. The control circuit as claimed in clause 15, characterized in that the means for decelerating includes a transistor-based voltage limiter.

18. The control circuit as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that the means for decelerating includes a voltage limiter based on a controllable switch.

19. A method for decelerating the rate of return of an electromechanical cable actuator assembly having a motor, a gear assembly coupled to the motor, and a spring loaded return assembly coupled to the gear assembly being configured to apply a force to the assembly of gear to return the electromechanical cable assembly to a first position; The method includes: limit a voltage generated by the motor by forcing the spring loaded return assembly to the gear assembly to return the electromechanical cable assembly to the first position.

20. The control circuit as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that the step of limiting is achieved passively. RE S U E N An electromechanical cable actuator assembly is described, the actuator having a motor, a gear assembly coupled to the motor, a spring loaded return assembly coupled to the gear assembly which is being configured to apply a force to the gear assembly to return the electromechanical cable assembly to a first position; and an electronic motor control circuit coupled to the motor. The electronic motor control circuit includes a drive circuit configured to drive the motor in a first direction against the force exerted by the spring assembly and a braking circuit configured to decelerate the rate of return of the cable assembly to the first position.