Patent ID: 7573694

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling operation of a solenoid-operated valve, which is combined with the solenoid-operated valve for energizing a drive coil of the solenoid-operated valve in a rated-voltage mode at a rated-voltage and at a duty ratio of 100% during a predetermined first period, which is sufficiently long to move a movable element in said drive coil, from the time when an operation command signal starts being applied to the solenoid-operated valve, and for repeatedly energizing said drive coil in a power-saving mode at a duty ratio smaller than the duty ratio in said rated-voltage mode during a predetermined second period following said rated-voltage mode, wherein said drive coil is continuously energized alternately in multiple applications of said rated-voltage mode and said power-saving mode without gaps or interruption between said power-saving mode and said rated-voltage mode until application of said operation command signal to the solenoid-operated valve is terminated.