A valve controller and method for controlling a valve having a solenoid are disclosed, including receiving a least one input signal, detecting a first edge of the at least one signal and in response to the detection activating the valve. Activating the valve includes activating the valve in a rise-to-peak phase during which the valve is opened, a hold phase following the rise-to-peak phase during which the valve remains open and a current level of the valve is less than a current level of the valve during the rise-to-peak phase, and an ending-of-activation phase following the hold phase during which current ripple in the valve is less than the current ripple in the valve during the hold phase.

A dual-contact electro-permanent magnet (EPM) assembly of an information handling system may comprise a plurality of high-coercivity magnets situated on opposite ends of a low-coercivity magnet, a first EPM magnetic contact disposed between a first of the plurality of high-coercivity magnets and the low-coercivity magnet, and a second EPM magnetic contact disposed between a second of the plurality of high-coercivity magnets and the low-coercivity magnet. The low-coercivity magnet polarity may correlate to a direction of current pulse applied to an electrically conductive wire coiled around the low-coercivity magnet, and dependent upon the low-coercivity magnet polarity, the first EPM magnetic contact is capable of operating in an attractive magnetic state to attract a ferromagnetic contact of a peripheral device while the second EPM magnetic contact is magnetically neutral with respect to the ferromagnetic contact.

A drive circuit for controlling a solenoid valve having a solenoid coil and a poppet that translates therein is provided. The drive circuit includes a first node, a second node, a control circuit, and a flyback circuit. The first node is configured to be energized by a power source to a first voltage. The control circuit is coupled to the first and second nodes, and is configured to: (1) selectively couple the first and second nodes in series with the solenoid coil, and periodically energize the solenoid coil using a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal having a frequency and a duty cycle configured to regulate a current conducted through the solenoid coil. The flyback circuit is coupled to the solenoid coil and configured to energize the second node to a second voltage with energy stored in the solenoid coil.

A dual coil solenoid valve is disclosed for a fuel gas control valve, which comprises a stationary coil assembly and a moving coil assembly, wherein both the stationary coil assembly and the moving coil assembly consist of a magnetic core and a coil. Grooves are provided on the inside of the magnetic cores and coils are arranged in the grooves of the magnetic cores. The stationary coil assembly and the moving coil assembly have an equal cross-sectional area and are arranged oppositely with their axes coinciding with each other.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method for characterizing a fluid injector that includes receiving a collection of waveform data, identifying a pull locus, determining a detection threshold level value, identifying a first subset of the collection of data representative of a selected first electrical waveform of the collection of electrical waveforms, identifying an opening value, identifying a representative closing value, identifying an anchor value, identifying a second subset of the collection of data based on the collection of data, the pull locus, the first subset, and the opening value, identifying a maximum electrical value, identifying an opening locus based the collection of data, the anchor value, and the maximum electrical value, identifying a hold value, and providing characteristics associated with the fluid injector comprising the pull locus, the opening locus, the hold value, the anchor value, and the representative closing value.

Electromagnetic locking devices, systems, and methods are provided. The electromagnetic locking devices, systems, and methods are configured to lock an actuating arm of an actuator in any desired position between and including a fully extended position and a fully retracted position with respect to an outer cover of the electromagnetic locking device and/or system. The electromagnetic locking devices, systems, and methods described herein may include an unpowered deformable member that imparts fail-safe functionality thereto.

The present application relates to a coil actuator for low and medium voltage applications, which comprise a electromagnet operatively associated with a movable plunger, a power & control unit electrically connected with the electromagnet and first and second input terminals (T1, T2) operatively connected with the power & control unit, wherein an input voltage (VIN) is applied between the first and second input terminals during the operation of the coil actuator. The power & control unit is adapted to provide subsequent launch pulses of drive current (IC) to the electromagnet, which are separated in time by at least a predetermined time interval (TI), in response to subsequent transitions of the input voltage (VIN) from values lower than the first threshold voltage (VTH1) to values higher than the first threshold voltage.

A latching valve has a valve body defining a fluid chamber and supply, delivery, and exhaust ports. A solenoid within the chamber includes a pole piece defining a fluid passage between the chamber and exhaust port and having one end facing the exhaust port and another end defining a first valve seat. A coil is disposed about the pole piece. A housing has a portion radially outward of the coil and portions extending radially inwardly on opposite sides of the coil radially aligned with the pole piece and an armature. The armature has one end configured for engagement with the first valve seat and another end configured for engagement with a second valve seat formed in the valve body between the fluid chamber and supply port. A return spring biases the armature towards the second valve seat. A magnet ring is disposed about the armature in contact with the housing.

A method of controlling a solenoid valve having a solenoid coil and a poppet includes energizing a first node to a first voltage, and coupling the first node to the solenoid coil and energizing the solenoid coil using a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal having a frequency and a duty cycle configured to regulate a current conducted through the solenoid coil to below an opening threshold. The method further includes energizing a second node to a second voltage with energy stored in the solenoid coil, and coupling the second node to the solenoid coil and energizing the solenoid coil using a DC signal configured to increase the current to above the opening threshold. The method further includes coupling the first node to the solenoid coil and energizing the solenoid coil using the PWM signal having a frequency and duty cycle configured to regulate the current to above a closing threshold.

Provided are embodiments for operating an autonomous mode change circuit for solenoid drivers. The embodiments include initiating an operation of a solenoid, and receiving a command to control the operation of the solenoid. The embodiments also include controlling, by a drive circuit, a switch coupled to the solenoid based at least in part on the command, and detecting at least one of a current or voltage of the solenoid, and subsequently controlling the operation of the solenoid based at least in part on the detection.