Systems and methods of controlling a solenoid coil in a solenoid valve provide a controller that allows a supervisory or leakage current to be used in a peak-and-hold driver. The controller introduces a delay time after detection of a dropout voltage that prevents the solenoid coil from being immediately re-energized in order to ensure proper dropout of the solenoid coil. The delay time imposes a wait period during which the controller takes no action with respect to the current in the solenoid coil, allowing the solenoid coil to deenergize and return the valve to its normally-open or normally-closed position. Such use of a delay time may be limited to instances where the controller has already gone through a power-up cycle such that the response time needed by the controller to energize the solenoid coil is minimized, thus reducing the valve startup time.

Various embodiments may include a method for actuating a fuel injector with a solenoid drive and a nozzle needle. The solenoid drive has a solenoid and a movable armature. The fuel injector has an idle stroke between the armature and the nozzle needle. An example method includes: applying a precharging current to the solenoid drive during a precharging phase to move the movable armature into mechanical contact with the nozzle needle; and applying a voltage pulse to the solenoid drive during a boost phase until the current intensity of the current flowing through the solenoid reaches a predetermined peak value.

A solenoid device includes two electromagnetic coils, two stationary cores, two plungers and a yoke that surrounds the two electromagnetic coils. When a first electromagnetic coil is energized, magnetic flux flows through a first magnetic circuit that includes the first stationary core. When the two electromagnetic coils are energized, magnetic flux of the first electromagnetic coil flows through the first magnetic circuit, and magnetic flux of the second electromagnetic coil flows through a second magnetic circuit that includes a second stationary core. When energization of the first electromagnetic coil is stopped while maintaining energization of the second electromagnetic coil, the magnetic flux of the second electromagnetic coil continues to flow through the second magnetic circuit and a third magnetic circuit that includes the two stationary cores. A magnetism limiting portion is disposed in a portion of the second magnetic circuit that does not overlap the third magnetic circuit.

A solenoid system and method can include: providing an energizing voltage to a coil of a solenoid; providing an AC signal superimposed onto the energizing voltage; detecting current through the coil including an AC current amplitude induced by the AC signal and including a DC offset current amplitude; determining the AC current amplitude is a low AC current amplitude based on an armature within the solenoid being in a retracted position or determining the AC current amplitude is a high AC current amplitude based on the armature being in an extended position with the control logic, and where the AC current amplitude is determined utilizing the AC signal for synchronous demodulation; and determining a temperature fault based on the DC offset current amplitude falling below a DC offset current amplitude threshold.

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.

The present invention relates to a method for providing watering or non-watering of a specific area of soil through a first plurality of irrigation valves (42). Specific irrigation parameters are measured at the specific area of soil through a second plurality of field sensors (54). A controller unit (30) is interconnected to a third plurality of control units (18). Each control unit is connected to a specific irrigation valve and/or a specific field sensor. A type declaration providing communication under a second communication protocol is transmitted from the controller unit to the third plurality of control units using a first communications protocol. A second set of instructions are transmitted from the controller unit to the third plurality of control units using a second communications protocol. A first set of instructions are transmitted from the controller unit to the third plurality of control units using the first communications protocol.

A method of operating a solenoid valve can include applying power to a coil of the solenoid valve, interrupting power to the coil upon a first increase in power consumption of the coil, detecting a first on-time when power is applied to the coil, re-applying power to the coil upon a first condition becoming satisfied, interrupting power to the coil upon a second increase in power consumption of the coil, detecting a second on-time when power is re-applied to the coil, comparing the first on-time with the second on-time, and detecting when an armature of the solenoid valve has physically shifted based at least in part on the comparing. Detecting when the armature of the solenoid valve has physically shifted can include determining that the second on-time is greater than the first on-time.

The present invention relates to a method for providing watering or non-watering of a specific area of soil through a first plurality of irrigation valves (42). Specific irrigation parameters are measured at the specific area of soil through a second plurality of field sensors (54). A controller unit (30) is interconnected to a third plurality of control units (18). Each control unit is connected to a specific irrigation valve and/or a specific field sensor. A type declaration providing communication under a second communication protocol is transmitted from the controller unit to the third plurality of control units using a first communications protocol. A second set of instructions are transmitted from the controller unit to the third plurality of control units using a second communications protocol. A first set of instructions are transmitted from the controller unit to the third plurality of control units using the first communications protocol.

A damper system may include an electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber having an electromechanical valve and a damper controller. The damper controller may include a solenoid driver circuit electrically coupled to the electromechanical valve, and disposed at the shock absorber. The solenoid driver circuit may be operable to drive the electromechanical valve in an open state in which hydraulic fluid flows between a pressure tube and a reserve tube. The solenoid driver circuit may include a plurality of transistors that are operable to generate a first current to place the electromechanical valve in the open state and a second current less than the first current to hold the electromechanical valve in the open state.

The pole geometry of an electromagnetic switch valve includes a cylindrical well on the pole member, which is penetrated by a cylindrical pin on the magnetic armature. This obtains a magnetic force-stroke curve that first extends proportionally starting out from the initial position of the magnetic armature and then rises progressively until the magnetic armature reaches the end position. Continuously increasing the energizing of the magnetic drive upon shifting of the magnetic armature from its initial position into its end position enables the noise formation upon the closing process of the valve to be reduced. Accordingly, the noise formation upon the opening process of the valve can be reduced when the energizing of the magnetic coil is reduced not abruptly but continuously.