Method and devices for driving a damper

A non-transient computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium including computer program code for controlling a processor connected to an electrical motor for driving a damper from a first position to a second position where it stalls, such that

• upon receiving an activation signal, the processor enables supply of a drive current at a first current level to the electrical motor for driving the damper from the first position to the second position against a bias force produced by at least one spring;
• and
• when a predefined current reduction time, measured by the processor as an elapsed time, has elapsed since receiving the activation signal, the processor switches the drive current to a second current level that is lower than the first current level for maintaining the damper in the second position,
• wherein the computer program code is further operable to control the processor such that the processor:
• determines the duration of time elapsed since receiving the activation signal,
• compares the duration of time to the predefined current reduction time, and
• produces a signal for switching the drive current to the lower level when the duration of elapsed time, measured as an elapsed time, is equal to or exceeds the predefined current reduction time.

A control device for an actuator with an electrical motor configured to drive a damper from a first position to a second position where it stalls, the damper being biased toward the first position with at least one spring, the control device comprising:

• an electronic time measurement module, and
• an electronic current reducing/switching module configured to supply, upon activation of the actuator, a drive current at a first current level to the electrical motor for driving the damper from the first position to the second position against a bias force produced by the spring,
• wherein said electronic current reducing/switching module is further configured to reduce the drive current to a second current level that is lower than the first current level for maintaining the damper in the second position when a predefined current reduction time, measured by the electronic time measurement module as an elapsed time, has elapsed since activation of the actuator, and
• further comprising a microprocessor and a programmed timer module, the programmed timer module including program code for controlling the microprocessor such that the microprocessor determines the duration of time elapsed since activation of the actuator, compares the duration of time to the predefined current reduction time, and produces a signal for switching the drive current to the lower level when the duration of elapsed time is equal to or exceeds the predefined current reduction time.