Claims
- 1. A method for controlling an actuator, the actuator including an actuating element and an actuating drive with at least one electromagnet having a coil, and an armature movably disposed between a first contact surface on the electromagnet and a second contact surface, the method which comprises:conducting an initial high holding current with a given polarity through the coil until a time at which the armature is reliably in contact with the first contact surface on the electromagnet; subsequently selecting an operating state of high-speed current reduction, and thereby applying to the coil an opposite polarity of a supply voltage in comparison with the given polarity until a holding current has been reached; and conducting the holding current through the coil for keeping the armature in contact with the first contact surface on the electromagnet.
- 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating state of high-speed current reduction comprises charging an electrical energy store from the coil.
- 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating state of high-speed current reduction is selected for a predetermined time period, and the time period is determined as a function of the holding current and the initial high holding current.
- 4. In an internal combustion engine, a method for controlling an actuator encompassing a gas exchange valve of the internal combustion engine and an actuating drive with at least one electromagnet having a coil, and an armature operatively connected with the gas exchange valve and movably disposed between a first contact surface on the electromagnet and a second contact surface, the method which comprises:conducting an initial high holding current with a given polarity through the coil until a time at which the armature is reliably in contact with the first contact surface on the electromagnet; subsequently selecting one of the following two operating states: an operating state of high-speed current reduction, and thereby applying to the coil an opposite polarity of a supply voltage in comparison with the given polarity until a holding current has been reached; and an operating state of free-wheeling when a condition is satisfied that depends on at least one variable representing a load on the internal combustion engine; and subsequently conducting a holding current through the coil for keeping the armature in contact with the first contact surface on the electromagnet.
- 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the variable representing the load on the engine is selected from at least one parameter from the group consisting of an air mass flow and a speed of the engine.
- 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating state of high-speed current reduction is selected for a predetermined time period, and the time period is determined as a function of the holding current and the initial high holding current.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
100 02 322 |
Jan 2000 |
DE |
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of copending International Application No. PCT/DE01/00225, filed Jan. 19, 2001, which designated the United States and which was not published in English.
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Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/DE01/00225 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
Child |
10/200654 |
|
US |