CURRENT DRIVING SYSTEM FOR A SOLENOID
First Claim
1. A current driving system for a solenoid valve, comprising:
- a pre-driver to control a control input of a transistor coupled to an electrical input of a solenoid valve, wherein the transistor supplies electric power to the solenoid valve when the transistor is switched on;
a signal generator to generate a small signal and to output the small signal to the electrical input of the solenoid valve, wherein an amount of electric power of the small signal input to the solenoid valve is substantially smaller than an amount of the electric power supplied by the transistor to the solenoid valve when the transistor is switched on; and
a measurement unit to measure a response to the small signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A current driving system for a solenoid valve is described herein. In an embodiment, the current driving system comprises a pre-driver to control a control input of a transistor coupled to an electrical input of a solenoid valve. The transistor inducts electric power into the solenoid valve when the transistor is switched on.
The current driving system further comprises a signal generator to produce a small signal and to output the small signal to the electrical input of the solenoid valve. The electric power being supplied by the small signal into the solenoid valve is substantially smaller than the electric power being supplied by the transistor when the transistor is switched on. The current driving system further comprises a measurement unit to measure a response to the small signal at the electrical input of the solenoid valve.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A current driving system for a solenoid valve, comprising:
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a pre-driver to control a control input of a transistor coupled to an electrical input of a solenoid valve, wherein the transistor supplies electric power to the solenoid valve when the transistor is switched on; a signal generator to generate a small signal and to output the small signal to the electrical input of the solenoid valve, wherein an amount of electric power of the small signal input to the solenoid valve is substantially smaller than an amount of the electric power supplied by the transistor to the solenoid valve when the transistor is switched on; and a measurement unit to measure a response to the small signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Method for controlling a solenoid valve, comprising:
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generating a small signal; outputting the small signal to an electrical input of the solenoid valve; measuring, using a measurement unit, a response to the coupled small signal at the electrical input of the solenoid valve. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for controlling a solenoid valve, comprising:
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determining a first impedance parameter based on an inductance of the solenoid valve driving current, via a pre-driver controlling a control input of a power transistor, into the solenoid valve according to the first impedance parameter, wherein the current comprises a small signal; measuring a response to the small signal of the driven current at the electrical input of the solenoid valve; determining a second impedance parameter based on the measured response; and comparing the first impedance parameter to the second impedance parameter. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions configured to cause a computing device to:
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generate a small signal; output the small signal to an electrical input of the solenoid valve; measure, using a measurement unit, a response to the coupled small signal at the electrical input of the solenoid valve.
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Specification