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:
Aug. 11, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 08, 1996
FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co KG, Aachen, DE;
Abstract
A method is provided for monitoring a cylinder valve which is actuated by an electromagnetic actuator including an electromagnet having a magnetic core presenting a pole face and a coil wound around the magnetic core, a return spring and an armature that can be moved by the electromagnet in a direction toward the pole face counter to a force of the return spring for acting upon the cylinder valve. The method includes: measuring a value of one of (a) a time until current in the coil drops to a predetermined lower value after a switching of the current flowing through the coil, (b) a voltage at the coil subsequent to the switching of the current to the coil, (c) the voltage at the coil at a time of maximum approach of the armature to the pole face, and (d) the voltage at the coil at a time subsequent to the time of maximum approach of the armature to the pole face; comparing the measured value to a predetermined value; and generating a signal if a deviation is detected between the measured value and the predetermined value.