The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 17, 1992
Filed:
Oct. 24, 1989
Eiju Matsunaga, Kariya, JP;
Yutaka Suzuki, Nishio, JP;
Makoto Shiozaki, Kariya, JP;
Toshinobu Ishida, Okazaki, JP;
Nippondenso Co., Ltd., Kariya, JP;
Nippon Soken, Inc., Nishio, JP;
Abstract
A shock absorber system for controlling the damping forces of shock absorbers comprising a drive apparatus for operating a piezo-actuator which is constructed by laminating a plurality of piezoelectric elements. The drive apparatus comprises a high-voltage generation circuit for generating a high voltage and a charging and discharging circuit for applying the high voltage, generated by the high-voltage generation circuit, to the piezo-actuator and for discharging an electric charge charged in the piezo-actuator due to the application of the high voltage thereto, the charging and discharging results in expansion and contraction of the piezo-actuator. Also included in the drive apparatus is an abnormality detection circuit for detecting a charging current or a discharging current passing through a charging or discharging current passage coupled to the piezo-actuator at the time of charging or discharging by the charging and discharging circuit. The abnormality detection circuit determines an abnormality of the drive apparatus when the detected charging current or discharging current is below a predetermined value.