Method and apparatus for operation of a piezo-actuator

1. A method for operating a piezoelectric actuator, comprising the steps of:

driving the piezoelectric actuator in a first operating mode by pulsed supplying of a first electrical quantity for the purpose of charging or discharging the piezoelectric actuator taking into account at least one control parameter of the piezoelectric actuator,

driving the piezoelectric actuator in a second operating mode by non-pulsed impressing of the first electrical quantity for the purpose of charging or discharging the piezoelectric actuator with a predefined profile of the first electrical quantity, which profile is essentially independent of a change in load at the piezoelectric actuator,

recording a profile of a second electrical quantity of the piezoelectric actuator during at least one measurement period during the impressing of the predefined profile of the first electrical quantity, and

determining the at least one control parameter of the piezoelectric actuator as a function of the recorded profile of the second electrical quantity.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrical quantity has an essentially constant value during the charging or discharging of the piezoelectric actuator in the second operating mode.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one measurement period includes at least one change in load over time at the piezoelectric actuator and the at least one control parameter is determined based on the at least one change in load.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is disposed in a valve in such a way that the valve opens and closes in the first operating mode as a function of the driving of the piezoelectric, and the valve is closed in the second operating mode and a period of time for the impressing or a maximum absolute value of the first electrical quantity is predefined such that the valve remains closed.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined profile of the first electrical quantity is ramp-shaped.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined profile of the first electrical quantity has the shape of a sinusoidal halfwave.

7. A device for operating a piezoelectric actuator, which device is operable to drive the piezoelectric actuator in a first operating mode by pulsed supplying of a first electrical quantity for the purpose of charging or discharging the piezoelectric actuator taking into account at least one control parameter of the piezoelectric actuator, to drive the piezoelectric actuator in a second operating mode by non-pulsed impressing of the first electrical quantity for the purpose of charging or discharging the piezoelectric actuator, more specifically with a predefined profile of the first electrical quantity, which profile is essentially independent of a change in load at the piezoelectric actuator,

to record a profile of a second electrical quantity of the piezoelectric actuator during at least one measurement period during the impressing of the predefined profile of the first electrical quantity and

to determine the at least one control parameter of the piezoelectric actuator as a function of the recorded profile of the second electrical quantity.

8. The device according to claim 7 , which, for the purpose of impressing the predefined profile of the first electrical quantity in the second operating, includes a measurement source which is provided in addition to an energy source provided for the purpose of driving the piezoelectric actuator in the first operating mode.

9. A method for operating a piezoelectric actuator, comprising the steps of:

in a first operating mode, charging or discharging the piezoelectric actuator by a pulsed first electrical quantity taking into account at least one control parameter of the piezoelectric actuator,

in a second operating mode charging or discharging the piezoelectric actuator by a non-pulsed first electrical quantity with a predefined profile of the first electrical quantity being essentially independent of a change in load at the piezoelectric actuator,

recording a profile of a second electrical quantity of the piezoelectric actuator during at least one measurement period during the second operating mode, and

determining the at least one control parameter of the piezoelectric actuator as a function of the recorded profile of the second electrical quantity.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first electrical quantity has an essentially constant value during the charging or discharging of the piezoelectric actuator in the second operating mode.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the predefined profile of the first electrical quantity is ramp-shaped.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the predefined profile of the first electrical quantity has the shape of a sinusoidal halfwave.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one measurement period includes at least one change in load over time at the piezoelectric actuator and the at least one control parameter is determined based on the at least one change in load.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is disposed in a valve in such a way that the valve opens and closes in the first operating mode as a function of the driving of the piezoelectric actuator, and the valve is closed in the second operating mode and a period of time for the impressing or a maximum absolute value of the first electrical quantity is predefined such that the valve remains closed.