Apparatus and method for charging and discharging a capacitor to a predetermined setpoint
US7190102B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 2, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10N30/802
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus using electrically-stimulated smart material requires a power source to stimulate the material. This power source has three main functions, (1) to apply a known voltage potential across the smart material, (2) to convert from the control voltage to a level suitable for the smart material, and (3) to regulate the voltage based on a control input. The power source is a DC to DC converter with special properties achieved by supplying a variable stimulating voltage or actively discharging the actuator. The circuit also provides a dead band, or hysteresis, between the charge point and discharge point. When this circuit is applied with a proportional, mechanically-leveraged smart material actuator, a general-purpose industrial actuator becomes a cost-effective solution.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.