System for determining positions of a control element of an electrically driven actuator

A circuit system for determining positions of a control element of an electrically driven actuator, comprising:

• a controlled switch for switching on the actuator upon reaching a lower threshold value and for switching off the actuator upon reaching an upper threshold value;
• period means for obtaining an on-period and an off-period as a function of the lower threshold value, the upper threshold value and electric switching behavior of the actuator depending on positioning of the control element;
• and
• measurement engineering acquiring means for acquiring the on-period and the off-period, said acquiring means including an electronic computer unit for determining positions of the control element from a comparison of a quotient of the on-period or off-period and a sum of the on-period and off-period and from a comparison of the sum of the on-period and off-period with corresponding stored reference data.

A hydraulic valve, comprising:

• an inlet;
• an outlet;
• a movable valve member regulating fluid flow through said inlet and said outlet;
• a control element of an electrically driven actuator coupled to said movable valve member;
• a controlled switch for switching on the actuator upon reaching a lower threshold value and for switching off the actuator upon reaching an upper threshold value;
• period means for obtaining an on-period and an off-period as a function of the lower threshold value, the upper threshold value and electric switching behavior of the actuator depending on positioning of the control element;
• and
• measurement engineering acquiring means for acquiring the on-period and the off-period, said acquiring means including an electronic computer unit for determining positions of the control element from a comparison of a quotient of the on-period or off-period and a sum of the on-period and off-period and from a comparison of the sum of the on-period and off-period with corresponding stored reference data, said computer unit being an integrated circuit combined with said valve to form a structural unit.

A device, comprising:

• an electrically driven actuator having a control element;
• a controlled switch for switching on the actuator upon reaching a lower threshold value and for switching off the actuator upon reaching an upper threshold value;
• period means for obtaining an on-period and an off-period as a function of the lower threshold value, the upper threshold value and electric switching behavior of the actuator depending on positioning of the control element;
• and
• measurement engineering acquiring means for acquiring the on-period and the off-period, said acquiring means including an electronic computer unit for determining positions of the control element from a comparison of a quotient of the on-period or off-period and a sum of the on-period and off-period and from a comparison of the sum of the on-period and off-period with corresponding stored reference data, said computer unit being an integrated circuit combined with the device to form a structural unit.