Reduced-energy-consumption actuator
US6305662A · kind A · utility
70Cited by
27References
18Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 29, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/8242
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A valve system (10) includes a piezoelectric transducer (44) mounted on its housing (16). To change the valve's state, a microcontroller (54) causes a valve driver (58) to drive current through the actuator's coil (12) at a relatively high level. It continues driving current through the coil (12) at the high level until the transducer's output reaches a magnitude characteristic of the disturbance that typically results when the actuator's armature (22) reaches the end of its travel. At that point, the microcontroller (54) reduces coil drive.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.