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. 18, 2009
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2008
Jean-francois M.r. Berlemont, Wemmel, BE;
Jean-pierre Winandy, Arlon, BE;
Jean-Francois M.R. Berlemont, Wemmel, BE;
Jean-Pierre Winandy, Arlon, BE;
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of operating an injector having an injector valve needle and a piezoelectric actuator for controlling movement of the injector valve needle, the method comprising reducing the voltage across the actuator at a first rate (RT) in order to initiate an initial injection, increasing the voltage across the actuator in order to terminate the injection, and once the initial injection has terminated and before a subsequent injection is initiated, reducing the voltage across the actuator at a second rate (RTRT), which is lower than the first rate (RT), so as to de-energise the actuator but without initiating an injection. The invention ensures the injector spends a significantly reduced period of its life with a high voltage across its actuator.