Systems and methods for determining the position of an electrical solenoid
AssigneeAlcotek, Inc.
InventorKeith Lueck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided herein are systems and methods which use the solenoid itself to sense the position of the armature within the solenoid, and therefore to determine the position of the solenoid's armature, and or any related devices whose movement is dependent on the armature's movement. Specifically, a system in which the change in self-induction that occurs when the armature moves relative to the solenoid coil is used to detect the location of the armature.
Claims18
A method for determining the position of an armature in a solenoid, the method comprising:
- providing a solenoid having an armature and a coil;
- applying a current pulse to said coil;
- obtaining a back-emf waveform from said solenoid;
- integrating said back-emf waveform;
- and
- determining a location of said armature from said integrated back-emf waveform.
A solenoid and control circuit comprising:
- a coil;
- an armature within said coil;
- means for generating a current pulse in said coil;
- means for detecting a back-emf waveform generated by said coil in response to said pulse;
- means for integrating said back-emf waveform;
- and
- means for using said integrated back-emf waveform to determine the location of said armature relative to said coil.
A system for determining the position of a solenoid, the system comprising:
- a solenoid including a coil and an armature within said coil;
- a current generator for generating a current in said coil;
- a processor for inducing said current generator to provide a current pulse in said coil and;
- an integration circuit integrating said back-emf waveform;
- and
- a processor for utilizing said integrated back-emf waveform to determine a location of said armature relative to said coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.