Patent ID: 8128004

Claim:
A method for operating an injection valve with a nozzle body, a recess with a fluid outlet, a nozzle needle, which is arranged in an axially movable manner in the recess and in a closed position, prevents fluid flow through the fluid outlet and then opens it again with an electromagnetic actuating drive, which has a coil and an armature which is mechanically coupled to the nozzle needle, and a return spring, which is mechanically coupled to the nozzle needle, the method comprising the steps of: measuring a fluid pressure applied to the injection valve, determining, as a function of the measured fluid pressure applied to the injection valve, a starting time for controlling a freewheeling operating state, determining as a function of the measured fluid pressure applied to the injection valve, a starting time for generating a braking current pulse, as the nozzle needle moves to its closed position, controlling the freewheeling operating state beginning at the determined starting time for controlling the freewheeling operating state, and detecting the current through the coil as a freewheeling current during the freewheeling operating state, and as the nozzle needle moves to its closed position, beginning at the determined braking start time, generating a braking current pulse as a function of a time derivative of the freewheeling current and impressing the braking current pulse on the coil.