Method and circuit configuration for operating a piezoelectric actuator
First Claim
1. A method of operating a piezoelectric actuator, the method which comprises:
- providing a piezoelectric actuator with a first piezo-terminal and a second piezo-terminal for charging and discharging the piezoelectric actuator;
charging the piezoelectric actuator by raising a voltage of the first piezo-terminal substantially to a first control potential and connecting the second piezo-terminal to a second control potential below the first control potential;
discharging the piezoelectric actuator from a charge state in which the first control potential is present on the first piezo-terminal and the second control potential is present on the second piezo-terminal by connecting at least one first discharge path from the first piezo-terminal to the second control potential; and
smoothing a discharge behavior of the piezoelectric actuator by connecting a second discharge path, at a defined instant during the discharging of the piezoelectric actuator, from the second piezo-terminal to a terminal having a potential between the first and second control potentials.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A piezoelectric actuator, for instance a piezoelement for driving an injection valve of an internal combustion engine, is discharged from a charge state, in which a first control potential is present on a first piezo-terminal and a second control potential is present on a second piezo-terminal. The discharging operation is accelerated by not only changing the potential prevailing on the first piezo-terminal toward the second control potential by way of a first discharge path, but a second discharge path is also formed between the second piezo-terminal and a potential lying between the two control potentials. By appropriate selection of the time sequence in connecting these two discharge paths and of their electrical properties, discontinuities in the discharge process can be almost completely avoided. The discharge process then proceeds very rapidly and evenly.
27 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of operating a piezoelectric actuator, the method which comprises:
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providing a piezoelectric actuator with a first piezo-terminal and a second piezo-terminal for charging and discharging the piezoelectric actuator; charging the piezoelectric actuator by raising a voltage of the first piezo-terminal substantially to a first control potential and connecting the second piezo-terminal to a second control potential below the first control potential; discharging the piezoelectric actuator from a charge state in which the first control potential is present on the first piezo-terminal and the second control potential is present on the second piezo-terminal by connecting at least one first discharge path from the first piezo-terminal to the second control potential; and smoothing a discharge behavior of the piezoelectric actuator by connecting a second discharge path, at a defined instant during the discharging of the piezoelectric actuator, from the second piezo-terminal to a terminal having a potential between the first and second control potentials. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification