Patent ID: 6366868
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: F02D,F02M,G01R,H02N

Abstract:
A method of diagnosing a capacitive actuator and an associated drive circuit, which comprises:transmitting a predeterminable amount of energy to an actuator from a charge-storage capacitor through a ringing coil; deducing a functional status of at least one of the actuator and an associated drive circuit from a discrepancy between reference values and at least one determined variable including: actuator voltage; actuator current; and actuator charge; deducing a short-circuit of at least one of an electrical connection within the actuator and an electrical connection between the drive circuit and the actuator if the actuator voltage is less than a lower voltage value of the reference values; and deducing an interruption in at least one of the electrical connection within the actuator and the electrical connection between the drive circuit and the actuator if an actuator peak current is less than a lower current value of the reference values.