A bistable solenoid valve device for a fluid system is provided. The bistable solenoid valve device comprises a bistable solenoid valve. The bistable solenoid valve comprises a permanent magnet. The bistable solenoid valve further comprises an armature displaceable between a first armature position and a second armature position. The bistable solenoid valve further comprises a first switching coil for energization for a displacement of the armature into the first armature position. The bistable solenoid valve further comprises a second switching coil for energization for a displacement of the armature into the second armature position. The bistable solenoid valve further comprises an evaluation device adapted to measure an induced coil voltage, an induced coil current, or both the induced coil voltage and the induced coil current, at one or more of the non-energized switching coils. The evaluation device is further adapted to assess a switching behavior of the armature.

A solenoid drive device includes a first solenoid drive circuit, a second solenoid drive circuit, a selection circuit, and circuitry. The circuitry controls the first switching element and the second switching element with a duty control in a control cycle according to acquired values of the first drive current and the second drive current so that a first on/off switching direction of the first switching element at a start timing of the control cycle is opposite to a second on/off switching direction of the second switching element at the start timing. The circuitry determines whether a failure in at least one of the selector, the first solenoid drive circuit, and the second solenoid drive circuit occurs based on a change in the selection detection signal in a period during which an on/off state of the first switching element is different form an on/off state of the second switching element.

A method for controlling a current flowing through a consumer comprises the following steps, which are periodically traversed: determining a dither current based on a dither signal and a definite point in time, wherein the dither signal is determined by a frequency, an amplitude and a signal form and actuating a flow control valve to produce the sum of a target current and the determined dither current by the consumer. Furthermore, the method comprises determining an indication to the current flowing through the consumer; compensating the indication by the factor of the dither current; and providing the indication, wherein the determination of the dither current and the determination of the indication are synchronized with each other in a predetermined way.

A magnetic device comprising at least one stator (1) and one actuator (2), wherein the stator (1) and the actuator (2) respectively comprise at least one magnet with pole ends and a line of action of the magnet, and the actuator (2) can be moved linearly along a movement axis (3) and/or rotatably about a movement axis in a movement direction (4), wherein a stator line of action (15) of the stator (1) or a stator extension line (16) of the stator line of action (15), which stator extension line (16) extends as a geometric ray away from the pole end of the stator (1) as geometric tangent to the stator line of action (5), and an actuator line of action (25) of the translator (2) or an actuator extension line (26) of the translator line of action (25), which translator extension line (26) extends as a geometric ray away from the pole end of the translator (2) as geometric tangent to the translator line of action (25), respectively have intersection points (10), and the stator line of action (15), possibly the stator extension line (16), the translator line of action (25), and possibly the translator extension line (26) form a closed geometric shape so that the magnetic flux between the stator (1) and the translator (2) is bundled, wherein lines of action (5) and extension lines (6) extend through the magnetic device in an intersecting plane (11) comprising the movement axis (3).

An actuator assembly with a sensor system that is less sensitive to run-out out of moving parts. The sensing system includes a magnet holding plate, a pressure plate, a sensor target and a sensor assembly. The magnet holding plate includes an aperture defining an inner surface, an outer surface, a raised portion along the inner surface, a biasing member positioned along the inner surface in the raised portion, and a flange positioned on the outer surface. The pressure plate includes an outer surface of the pressure plate is positioned underneath the raised portion of the magnet holding plate, axially between the raised portion and the biasing member. The sensor target is attached to the flange of the magnet holding plate. The sensor assembly includes a sensor and a sensor housing positioned radially outward from the pressure plate and magnet holding plate.

A method of adaptively sampling data to determine the start of injection in a solenoid actuated valve of a fluid injector includes, in an operating cycle or portion thereof of the valve, sampling the signal of current through a solenoid of the valve at sampling points having a pre-defined interval therebetween. At each sampling point, determining the value of the first derivative of current and detecting the sampling point at which the first derivative achieves a maximum as the start of injection. Values of the first derivative of the sampling points immediately preceding and immediately following the start of injection are determined. In a subsequent operating cycle, synchronisation of sampling is altered to shift sampling times depending on the values of the first derivative of the sampling points immediately preceding and immediately following the start of injection.

A controller of an electromagnetically driven reciprocating pump influences velocity of the magnetic armature by switching voltage applied to the electromagnet depending on the position of the magnetic armature, its position determined from state variables of the electromagnet. A processor calculates electrical resistance of the magnetic coil from the voltage and current measured by the measuring device, and calculates the temporal change of the linked magnetic flux in the electromagnet from the electrical voltage, the current and the resistance of the magnetic coil, and calculates the linked magnetic flux in the electromagnet from an earlier magnetic flux and from the temporal change, and determines the position of the magnetic armature from the linked magnetic flux in the electromagnet and the electrical current through the magnetic coil, and switches the voltage at the magnetic coil by the switching device depending on the position of the magnetic armature.

The present disclosure relates to a system for monitoring a solenoid operated valve including at least one coil and at least one spool. The system compares a normalized current signature and a normalized current signature comparator to determine a spool fault condition.

A method for controlling a magnetic valve and particularly a method for dispensing and/or aspirating a volume of liquid as well as a corresponding dispenser/pipetting apparatus is disclosed. The method for controlling a magnetic valve has measuring a capacitance at the magnetic valve and determining a position of a plunger based on the measured capacitance. The method for dispensing or aspirating a volume of liquid has controlling a flow of a system fluid by a magnetic valve located between a pressure source and a dispenser/pipetting tip, dispensing or aspirating a volume of liquid through an exterior opening of the tip dependent on the flow of the system fluid, wherein controlling the flow and determining a flow time in dependence of the volume of liquid to be dispensed or aspirated, and controlling the magnetic valve is held open for the duration of the flow time.

A solenoid testing system for testing a solenoid is provided. The solenoid testing system includes a housing member having an inner surface and an outer surface. The solenoid is positioned on the outer surface. The solenoid testing system includes an armature adapted to move towards the solenoid upon generation of the magnetic field by the solenoid. The solenoid testing system includes at least one measuring device connected to the armature for measuring a value of a displacement parameter and a value of a load parameter associated with the armature. The solenoid testing system also includes a controller in communication with the measuring device. The controller is configured to determine an operational state of the solenoid, based on comparison of the value of the displacement parameter and the value of the load parameter with a first predefined set of values and a second predefined set of values, respectively.