Apparatus and method for charging and discharging a capacitor to a predetermined setpoint
First Claim
1. An apparatus for charging and discharging a capacitor to predetermined setpoints comprising:
- a smart material actuator,a voltage controlled DC to DC converter for operating the smart material actuator in a proportional manner;
a constant supply voltage supply the voltage controlled DC to DC converter; and
a control signal providing a selectable input voltage wherein an output voltage of the DC to DC converter is applied to the smart material actuator and wherein the output voltage is proportional to the selectable input voltage.
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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.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An apparatus for charging and discharging a capacitor to predetermined setpoints comprising:
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a smart material actuator, a voltage controlled DC to DC converter for operating the smart material actuator in a proportional manner; a constant supply voltage supply the voltage controlled DC to DC converter; and a control signal providing a selectable input voltage wherein an output voltage of the DC to DC converter is applied to the smart material actuator and wherein the output voltage is proportional to the selectable input voltage. - 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, 23)
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24. A method for charging and discharging a capacitor to predetermined setpoints comprising the steps of:
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providing a smart material actuator; operating the smart material actuator in a proportional manner with a voltage controlled DC to DC converter; supplying a constant supply voltage to the voltage controlled DC to DC converter; and providing a control signal having a selectable input voltage wherein an output voltage of the DC to DC converter is applied to the smart material actuator and wherein the output voltage is proportional to the selectable input voltage. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. 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 (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification