A system and method for detecting faults and optimiz-ing power usage of solenoid valves. The method includes obtaining a current signature of the solenoid coil, using a dedicated circuit to detect various features and using a pulse width modulation controller optimize the power output of the system. Additionally, using machine learning, the system can be optimized using data from the dedicated circuit.

Methods and systems are provided for a solenoid actuator. In one example, a method may include adjusting a switching frequency during an activation cycle of the solenoid actuator to a lower switching frequency relative to other phases of the activation cycle.

A solenoid driver may be provided for a solenoid with a coil selectively energized by a power supply in a first polarity. An energy storage device may be charged by the power supply. A circuit may be configured to connect the energy storage device to the coil in a second polarity that is a reverse of the first polarity whenever the power supply is selectively turned off or unexpectedly interrupted.

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 latching electromechanical actuator (9) includes a soft iron armature (31) movable between first and second positions, a permanent magnet (5A), a solenoid (23), and a soft iron external frame (11). The permanent magnet (5A) may be stationary relative to the solenoid (23) and operative to hold the armature (31) stably in either the first position or the second position. The actuator (9) provides two distinct magnetic flux paths (24A, 24B), one or the other of which is the primary flux path for the permanent magnet (5A) depending on whether the position of armature (31). Both flux paths pass through the armature (31). One of the flux paths may pass through the external frame (11). The other does not. The actuator (9) may include two permanent magnets (5) performing complementary roles for the first and second positions. The actuator (9) can be simply constructed, compact, and highly efficient.

A method for operating an electromagnetic actuator (10) with an actuating pin (9) is proposed which comprises the following steps: —determining a pin actuation actual dead time (t11), during which the magnetic armature (15) is substantially immobile while a magnetic coil (12) is supplied with current, wherein the actual dead time ends with the current break-in at the magnetic coil, as a result of counter induction of the magnetic armature overcoming the magnetic force threshold; —determining, before a subsequent pin actuation, the starting time of the magnetic coil current supply, wherein the starting point of the current is advanced compared with that of the target movement start of the pin out of the actuator housing (13) and the determined actual dead time.

The present invention relates to a coil actuator (1) for low and medium voltage applications, which comprises a electromagnet (2) operatively associated with a movable plunger (8), a power & control unit (3) electrically connected with said electromagnet (2) and first and second input terminals (T1, T2) operatively connected with said power & control unit, wherein an input voltage (VIN) is applied between said first and input terminals during the operation of said coil actuator.

The said power & control unit is adapted to provide subsequent launch pulses of drive current (IC) to said electromagnet (2), which are separated in time by at least a predetermined time interval (TI), in response to subsequent transitions of said input voltage (VIN) from values lower than said first threshold voltage (VTH1) to values higher than said first threshold voltage.

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.

The present invention controls the pressure and flow rate of fluid, in order to obtain uniform performance, configure a closed loop magnetic circuit so as to include an electromagnet, a flapper, and a yoke material, and elastically deform the flapper itself by Maxwell attractive force generated between a magnetic pole of the electromagnet and the flapper to make the separation distance between the nozzle and the flapper variable. As opposed to a rigid flapper structure that swingably moves around a supporting point, like a conventional servo valve, the electromagnet, the magnetic pole, the nozzle, the flapper, and the like are arranged such that a change in magnetic gap directly leads to a change in air gap.

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.