Patent ID: 7823860

Claim:
An electromagnetic valve driving apparatus comprising: a discharging capacitor in which electrical energy is stored to perform discharge to a coil of an electromagnetic valve; charging means that charges the discharging capacitor by generating high voltage from power source voltage, the high voltage being higher than that of the power source voltage; a discharge switching element, which is provided in series in a current path extending from the discharging capacitor to a high-side terminal of the coil and is turned on at the beginning of a driving period for supplying current to the coil to establish electrical connection between the discharging capacitor and the coil, so that current is discharged from the discharging capacitor to the coil, for bringing the electromagnetic valve into an operation state; controlling means that performs on/off control of the discharge switching element; circulating means, which is provided in the current path residing between a point closer to the coil than from the discharge switching element and a ground line, that circulates current to the coil when the discharge switching element is turned off and discharge from the discharging capacitor to the coil is completed in response to turning off of the discharge switching element; and sub-discharging means, which is provided in the current path at a point closer to the coil than from the discharge switching element, that starts discharge to the coil in response to the turning off of the discharge switching element, and that circulates current to the coil through the circulating means in response to the completion of the discharge to the coil.