SOLENOID DRIVER CIRCUIT

An electrical circuit applies an oscillatory electrical current to a coil of a s olenoid in order to cause the solenoid to move in response to a command signal. The circuit inclu des a signal divider for generating an upper peak current signal value from the comman d signal and a lower peak current signal value which is a fixed percentage of the upper p eak current signal value. A current sense resistor generates a current sense voltage represe nting current through the coil. A first comparator compares the current sense voltage to the upper current signal value. A second comparator compares the current sense voltage to the lower current signal value. A set/reset flipflop latches a current driver on and off. A current driver applies a driving current to the solenoid coil as a function of output signals g enerated by the first and second comparators so that the coil current will have a lower peak cur rent value which is substantially a fixed percentage of the upper peak current value.