The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element; a power supply applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element; a drive circuit that applies a voltage from the power supply to the piezoelectric element by a pulse charge signal and a discharge signal to charge, and discharges the charge charged in the piezoelectric element to drive the piezoelectric element; an abnormality detection circuit that detects an abnormality due to insulation failure of the piezoelectric element, and a control unit that determines whether or not the piezoelectric element is normal based on an abnormality detection signal. The abnormality detection circuit outputs the abnormality detection signal that detects a time corresponding to a period from when a current starts to flow to the piezoelectric element during charging to when a current stops to flow, and it is determined that the piezoelectric element is abnormal when the time is equal to or more than a set time.

A micro-valve includes an orifice plate having a first surface, a second surface and an orifice extending from the first surface to the second surface. An actuating beam is disposed in spaced relation to the orifice plate. The actuating beam includes a base portion and a cantilevered portion. The base portion is separated from the orifice plate by a predetermined distance. The cantilevered portion extends from the base portion such that an overlapping portion thereof overlaps the orifice. The actuating beam is movable between a closed position and an open position. The micro-valve also includes a sealing structure including a sealing member disposed at the overlapping portion of the cantilevered portion. When the actuating beam is in the closed position, the cantilevered portion is positioned such that the sealing structure seals the orifice so as to close the micro-valve.

A closure device may be formed with a reservoir closure housing, defining a reservoir. An electrically-actuated valve may be arranged to open a passage from a reservoir of the closure housing. An actuation circuit may be connected to the electrically-actuated valve. The actuation circuit may include a battery or a power source. The actuation circuit may include a switch connected in series with the power source. The switch may be a manually-actuated switch. The manually-actuated switch may be a twist-actuated switch. The closure device may have a photovoltaic element as a power source. A removable cover may shield the photovoltaic element from light. The closure device may have an electrically-actuated valve that is a piezoelectric electric valve. The closure device wherein the piezoelectric valve may be arranged for fluid communication between a reservoir side of the valve and a container side of said valve and a control member may be movable between a first position blocking said port and a second position, at least partially unblocking the port.

A process for ventilating a patient as well as a devicepatient module (20)operating according to the process, wherein, for example, a body weight value concerning an estimated body weight of the patient is transmitted to a patient module (20) intended for ventilating the patient, wherein the patient module (20) automatically selects ventilation parameters (52) fitting the body weight value on the basis of the body weight value and wherein the ventilation of the patient is carried out with the selected ventilation parameters (52).

To provide a valve control device, a drive control device, and a fluid control device, which are suitable for adjusting a valve. The valve control device comprises: a rod-shaped rotor provided so as to rotate about a rotation axis, wherein one end of the rotor is directly or indirectly connected to a valve body, at least a part of the valve body being positioned in a flow path for fluid, wherein the rotor changes a relative position between the valve body and a valve seat that is closed by the valve body or a contact force between the valve body and the valve seat; a pair of contacts for sandwiching the rotor and for rotating the rotor; a moving unit comprising a piezoelectric element for causing the pair of contacts to perform relative movement; and a drive control unit for controlling the relative position between the valve body and the valve seat or the contact force between the valve body and the valve seat by applying a voltage waveform having a rising slope and a falling slope different from the rising slope to the piezoelectric element so as to cause the pair of contacts to rotate the rotor in a desired direction, wherein a steeper slope of the rising slope and the falling slope causes a slip between the rotor and the pair of contacts.

Embodiments included herein are directed towards apparatuses, systems, and methods for fluid dispensing. Embodiments may include piezo-actuated valves, dispense cassettes, and closed loop systems for regulating pressure associated with fluid dispensers. Embodiments of an apparatus may include a piezo-actuated valve and a dispense cassette.

A system for control using a hydraulic fluid includes a hydraulic control line for flowing the hydraulic fluid, a fluid line in fluid communication with the hydraulic control line, a flow controller configured to regulate a flow of the hydraulic fluid in the fluid line, and a piezoelectric device in fluid communication with the hydraulic control line and configured to actuate the flow controller upon receiving a selected flow of the hydraulic fluid.

The disclosure relates to an application device for applying an application medium onto a component, preferably for application of a coating onto a motor vehicle body component. The application device includes a print head for preferably serial and/or permanent application of the application medium, wherein the print head has: a nozzle plate, at least one nozzle in the nozzle plate in order to discharge the application medium, at least one valve element, which is movable relative to the nozzle plate, for control of the application medium discharge through the at least one nozzle, wherein the at least one movable valve element closes the at least one nozzle in a closing position and releases it in an opening position, and at least one drive for moving the at least one valve element. The application device is characterised in particular in that it includes at least one temperature control apparatus for reducing heating of the at least one drive during application of the application medium.

In an invention including: a piezoelectric element (13) which generates, as a displacement, a driving force necessary for an operation of a valve body (12) which is an operating body; a displacement enlarging mechanism (14) including at least a spring element so as to enlarge a displacement of the piezoelectric element (13) which acts on the valve body (12); and a driving device (15) which operates the valve body (12) by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element (13) to extend the piezoelectric element (13), the driving device (15) includes a first filter processing unit (15x) having an inverse function characteristic of a mechanical resonance frequency when operating the displacement enlarging mechanism (14), and is configured to apply, a voltage which reduces the mechanical resonance, to the piezoelectric element (13) through this resonance suppression processing unit (15x).

A valve system comprises a plurality of motors and a plurality of valves. The plurality of motors is formed from a printed circuit board. The plurality of valves is actuated by the plurality of motors.