Apparatus and method for charging and discharging a capacitor to a predetermined setpoint
First Claim
1. An apparatus for charging and discharging a capacitive load to predetermined setpoints comprising:
- a smart material actuator; and
a voltage controlled DC to DC converter for operating the smart material actuator in a proportional manner.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
34 Citations
42 Claims
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1. An apparatus for charging and discharging a capacitive load to predetermined setpoints comprising:
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a smart material actuator; and
a voltage controlled DC to DC converter for operating the smart material actuator in a proportional manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for charging and discharging a capacitor to predetermined setpoints comprising:
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a smart material actuator;
a power source connectible to the smart material actuator; and
a switch circuit for actively discharging the smart material actuator in response to removal of the connection to the power source. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for charging and discharging a capacitor to predetermined setpoints comprising the steps of:
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providing a smart material actuator; and
operating the smart material actuator in a proportional manner with a voltage controlled DC to DC converter. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for charging and discharging a capacitor to predetermined setpoints comprising the steps of:
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providing a smart material actuator;
connecting a power source to the smart material actuator; and
actively discharging the smart material actuator in response to removal of the connection to the power source with a switch circuit. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification