Patent ID: 8578896

Claim:
A method for bounce suppression of a valve member operated by a piezo actuator during a closing phase of a valve having a valve seat in an internal combustion engine, comprising: partially discharging the piezo actuator using a first discharge pulse, whereby a residual charge is left after a termination of the first discharge pulse and the valve member is braked before reaching the valve seat; at a first point in time, interrupting the discharging of the piezo actuator by terminating the first discharge pulse, in response to which interruption the piezo actuator is upset by the valve member and, as a result of the upset, builds up an electric charge; at a second point in time, renewing discharge of the piezo actuator using a second discharge pulse, the residual charge left after partial discharge and the electrical charge built up during the charge interruption being at least partially dissipated as a result of the renewed discharge; and selecting the first point in time so that the electric charge exceeds a first specified value required for the piezo actuator to absorb a predetermined amount of kinetic energy of the valve member.