US 11,904,333 B2
Systems and methods for controlling operation of a valve
Duane Needham, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to Capstan Ag Systems, Inc., Topeka, KS (US)
Filed by Capstan Ag Systems, Inc., Topeka, KS (US)
Filed on Feb. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/650,174.
Application 17/650,174 is a continuation of application No. 16/703,427, filed on Dec. 4, 2019, granted, now 11,241,706.
Application 16/703,427 is a continuation of application No. 16/392,056, filed on Apr. 23, 2019, granted, now 10,953,423, issued on Mar. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/661,344, filed on Apr. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0152641 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. B05B 12/00 (2018.01); A01B 79/00 (2006.01); B05B 1/30 (2006.01); A01B 79/02 (2006.01); H01H 47/04 (2006.01)
CPC B05B 12/004 (2013.01) [A01B 79/005 (2013.01); A01B 79/02 (2013.01); B05B 1/30 (2013.01); B05B 12/00 (2013.01); H01H 47/04 (2013.01); Y10T 137/7761 (2015.04)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solenoid valve comprising:
a solenoid coil;
a poppet configured to transition within the solenoid valve between a first position and a second position based on a coil current flowing through the solenoid coil; and
a drive circuit comprising:
a first semiconductor device controlled by a gate signal to control the coil current; and
a flyback circuit coupled with the solenoid coil, the flyback circuit comprising a second semiconductor device in series with a diode, wherein the second semiconductor device is controlled by a flyback control signal to: (i) enable the flyback circuit to maintain the coil current through the solenoid coil above a threshold value by recirculating the coil current through the solenoid coil, the second semiconductor device, and the diode when the first semiconductor device is controlled by the gate signal to transition the poppet to the second position, and (ii) disable recirculation of the coil current through the solenoid coil when the first semiconductor device is controlled by the gate signal to transition the poppet to the first position; and
a controller configured to transition the poppet from the first position to the second position using the gate signal, to enable the flyback circuit using the flyback control signal, and to reduce at least one of a duty cycle of the gate signal and a frequency of the gate signal when the flyback circuit is enabled.