Patent ID: 6894460
Filing Date: 2005-05-17
Classification: H02N

Abstract:
1. A method for passively discharging energy stored in a piezoelectric device, and for storing said energy of said piezoelectric device, comprising: disposing at least one inductor and an energy storage element in a circuit including said piezoelectric device; orienting a plurality of diodes in said circuit biasable to form a plurality of discharge flow paths within said circuit to discharge said energy from said piezoelectric device; forward biasing select ones of said diodes in said circuit; discharging said energy from said piezoelectric device in one of said flow paths formed by said selected ones of said forward biased diodes, through said inductor and said energy storage element; storing said energy in each of said inductor and said energy storage element; temporarily storing a first portion of said energy in said inductor; transferring a second portion of said energy to said energy storage element; changing a bias of at least one of said diodes; and discharging said first portion of said energy from said inductor to said energy storage element.