Electronic control method and system for a piezo-electric pump

A method for actuating a pumping device with an optimal driving voltage,

• wherein the pumping device comprises at least a pumping chamber having a pumping membrane, an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber,
• a voltage controlled actuator connected to said pumping membrane, said pumping membrane reaching at least one stop position defined by a mechanical stop during a pumping stroke
• at least one sensor for determining whether the pumping membrane has reached said at least one stop position
• said method comprising a learning phase and a working phase, wherein the learning phase comprises at least the following steps
• actuation of the pumping membrane by applying a predetermined actuation voltage Vact to the actuator, said voltage being either high enough for said pumping membrane to reach said at least one stop position in an over-actuation step or low enough for said pumping membrane not to reach said at least one stop position in an underactuation step;
• where if the over-actuation occurs, decreasing the applied actuation voltage until it is determined that the pumping membrane has left said at least one stop position and storing as the optimal voltage Vact optimal the lowest applied voltage value before the pumping membrane has left said at least one stop position;
• or
• where if the under-actuation occurs, increasing the applied voltage until it is determined that the pumping membrane has reached said at least one stop position and storing as the optimal voltage Vact optimal the lowest applied voltage value when the pumping membrane has reached said at least one stop position;
• actuating the pumping device in the working phase with the determined optimal voltage Vact optimal.