Apparatus and method for charging and discharging a capacitor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a smart material actuator;
a controllable power source for charging the smart material actuator;
switching circuitry for discharging the smart material actuator; and
a switch for activating an input voltage to the controllable power source, the input voltage simultaneously providing a switching control signal for preventing the switching circuitry from discharging the smart material actuator.
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Abstract
An apparatus for electrically stimulating a smart material includes a controllable power source for charging the smart material and/or switching circuitry for discharging the smart material. The controllable power source includes a regulated DC to DC converter having controllable drive circuitry associated therewith. The drive circuitry can be self-oscillating through associated feedback means. The switching circuitry can be responsive to one or more control signals.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a smart material actuator;
a controllable power source for charging the smart material actuator;
switching circuitry for discharging the smart material actuator; and
a switch for activating an input voltage to the controllable power source, the input voltage simultaneously providing a switching control signal for preventing the switching circuitry from discharging the smart material actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus comprising:
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a smart material actuator, and at least one of a controllable power source for charging the smart material actuator and a switching circuitry for discharging the smart material actuator;
wherein the controllable power source includes a DC-to-DC converter having a transformer including primary and secondary windings and controllable drive circuitry coupled to the primary winding of the transformer for generating drive signals 180 degrees out of phase with one another;
wherein the controllable drive circuitry is self-oscillating; and
wherein the self-oscillating drive circuitry further comprises feedback means for delivering a feedback signal, the feedback means including push-pull circuitry and an auxiliary winding associated with the transformer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for driving a smart material actuator comprising:
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a controllable power source connectible to the smart material actuator for charging the smart material actuator; and
a switching circuitry coupled between the controllable power source and the smart actuator for discharging the smart material actuator in response to removal of an input voltage to the controllable power source. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method for driving a smart material actuator comprising the steps of:
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charging the smart material actuator with a controllable power source connectible to the smart material actuator; and
discharging the smart material actuator in response to removal of an input voltage to the controllable power source with a switching circuitry coupled between the controllable power source and the smart actuator. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus comprising:
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a smart material actuator;
means for charging the smart material actuator, the charging means connectible to an input voltage;
means for discharging the smart material actuator connectible to the input voltage; and
means for simultaneously disabling the input voltage to the charging means and enabling the discharging means to discharge the smart material actuator. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification