Trigger circuit and triggering method for a piezoelctric element
OwnerJoerg Schestag, Nils Draeseinventors
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Abstract
A trigger circuit for a piezoelectric element for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine includes: a voltage source which, at a first, second and third connection points, respectively, provides a low, medium and high electrical potential, the second connection point being developed for being coupled to a first electrode of the piezoelectric element; a charge switching element that connects a second electrode of the piezoelectric element to the third connection point of the voltage source; and a discharge switching element that connects the second electrode of the piezoelectric element to the first connection point of the voltage source.
Claims11
1-10. (canceled)
A trigger circuit for a piezoelectric element for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a voltage source configured to provide a first electrical potential at a first connection point, a second electrical potential at a second connection point higher than the first electrical potential, and a third electrical potential at a third connection point higher than the second electrical potential, wherein the second connection point is configured for coupling to a first electrode of the piezoelectric element;
- a charging switching element which connects a second electrode of the piezoelectric element to the third connection point of the voltage source;
- and
- a discharging switching element which connects the second electrode of the piezoelectric element to the first connection point of the voltage source.
A method for triggering a piezoelectric element for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- providing a ground potential of the internal combustion engine and a predetermined operating potential;
- establishing a first electrode of the piezoelectric element to have a predetermined medium potential between the ground potential and the operating potential;
- applying the operating potential to a second electrode of the piezoelectric element;
- disconnecting the second electrode from the operating potential;
- and
- applying the ground potential to the second electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.