Apparatus and method for driving a load and device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10962997-B2
Application number	US-201816218742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2018
Priority date	Jul 7, 2016
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

The invention refers to an apparatus for driving a load with a drive signal. The apparatus includes an AC voltage source, a DC voltage source, a capacitor and a control apparatus. The AC voltage source outputs an AC voltage. The DC voltage source outputs a DC voltage. The capacitor includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The AC voltage source is connected to the first terminal, and a signal output is connected to the second output. The control apparatus controls, depending on a voltage present at the signal output, a connection between the DC voltage source and the second terminal. Furthermore, the invention refers to a corresponding method as well as to a device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for driving a load with a drive signal, the apparatus comprising an AC voltage source, a DC voltage source, a capacitor and a control apparatus,
wherein the AC voltage source is configured to output an AC voltage,
wherein the DC voltage source is configured to output a DC voltage with a predeterminable magnitude,
wherein the capacitor comprises a first terminal and a second terminal,
wherein the AC voltage source is connected to the first terminal,
wherein a signal output is connected to the second terminal, and
wherein the control apparatus is configured to control, depending on a voltage present at the signal output, a connection between the DC voltage source and the second terminal.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the drive signal is an AC voltage signal with a positive amplitude and a negative amplitude,
wherein a magnitude of the positive amplitude of the drive signal depends on the magnitude of the DC voltage of the DC voltage source, and
wherein a magnitude of the negative amplitude of the drive signal depends on a magnitude of a difference between a magnitude of a positive amplitude of the AC voltage of the AC voltage source and the magnitude of the DC voltage of the DC voltage source.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the magnitude of the DC voltage of the DC voltage source is smaller than a magnitude of a positive amplitude of the AC voltage of the AC voltage source.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control apparatus is configured to connect the DC voltage source to the second terminal if the voltage present at the signal output is larger than or equal to the DC voltage of the DC voltage source.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the AC voltage source comprises a controllable current source,
wherein the current source is configured to generate an AC current, and
wherein the current source is connected to the first terminal of the capacitor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein the current source comprises at least two current regulating circuits.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein the AC voltage source comprises a DC voltage converter,
wherein the DC voltage converter is configured to, based on a DC voltage, generate a drive voltage, and
wherein the drive voltage generated by the step-up converter is supplied to the current source.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the AC voltage source is configured such that the AC voltage that is output is free of a negative amplitude.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 ,
wherein the AC voltage source is configured such that the AC voltage that is output comprises a positive amplitude and an amplitude with 0 volts.

10. The apparatus according claim 1 ,
wherein the load is connected to a ground.

11. The apparatus according claim 1 ,
wherein the control apparatus comprises at least one rectifier.

12. The apparatus according claim 1 ,
wherein the control apparatus comprises at least one diode which is connected on the cathode side to the DC voltage source and on the anode side to the signal output.

13. A device comprising at least a load and an apparatus for driving the load with a drive signal,
wherein the apparatus comprises an AC voltage source, a DC voltage source, a capacitor and a control apparatus,
wherein the AC voltage source is configured to output an AC voltage,
wherein the DC voltage source is configured to output a DC voltage with a predeterminable magnitude,
wherein the capacitor comprises a first terminal and a second terminal,
wherein the AC voltage source is connected to the first terminal,
wherein a signal output is connected to the second terminal, and
wherein the control apparatus is configured to control, depending on a voltage present at the signal output, a connection between the DC voltage source and the second terminal.

14. The device according to claim 13 ,
wherein the apparatus is configured according to claim 2 .

15. The device according to claim 13 ,
wherein the load is a piezo actuator.

16. The device according to claim 13 ,
wherein the device is configured as a micropump.

Assignees

• Fraunhofer Ges Forschung

Inventors

• Vanselow Frank
• Kinzel Bernadette
• Isa Erkan

Classifications

• H02M3/156

  with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators · CPC title

• G05F1/56 Primary

  using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices (G05F1/461 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05F1/44

  semiconductor devices only · CPC title

• F04B43/046

  with piezoelectric drive · CPC title

• H01L41/042

  Electricity · mapped topic