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US 5,130,598 AGranted
Apparatus for driving a piezoelectric actuator
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsMichael R. Verheyen, James A. Antone, Liliana Grajales
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AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsMichael R. Verheyen, James A. Antone, Liliana Grajales
Estimating the term…
An apparatus is provided for controllably connecting and disconnecting a piezoelectric actuator to and from an energy source to effect the displacement of a piezoelectric actuator for a fuel injector. Precise control of the timing and duration of the piezoelectric actuator is necessary to ensure that a proper quantity of fuel is delivered to each cylinder of an internal combustion engine. A charging and discharging means monitors the voltage level of the piezoelectric actuator, and the charging and discharging current of the piezoelectric actuator. Further, a smoothing means aids in leveling the charging and discharging current to better approximate a constant current to control the piezoelectric actuator providing a precise quantity of fuel to be delivered.
An apparatus for driving a piezoelectric actuator in response to charge and discharge command signals, including an energy source for supplying electrical energy to said piezoelectric actuator, comprising:
A method for driving a piezoelectric actuator in response to charge and discharge command signals including an energy source for supplying electrical energy to said piezoelectric actuator, comprising the steps of:
An apparatus for driving a piezoelectric actuator in response to charge and discharge command signals, including an energy source for supplying electrical energy to said piezoelectric actuator, comprising:
A method for driving a piezoelectric actuator in response to charge and discharge command signals including an energy source for supplying electrical energy to said piezoelectric actuator, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.