Diagnostic element for validation of bolt detection of a guard locking switch in a static state
US10789798B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 31, 2019 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 31, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2217/958
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An industrial locking switch includes an inductive sensing circuit that uses a non-contact technique to detect when the switch's locking bolt has transitioned to the lock position. The inductive sensing circuit can comprise an inductive coil, a capacitor, and a converter that converts a frequency of a current signal through the inductive coil to a digital frequency value. A controller detects when the locking bolt has advanced to the lock position by monitoring the digital frequency value for frequency shifts indicative of a disturbance of the induction coil's magnetic field by the locking bolt. To validate operation of the inductive sensing system without requiring actuation of the locking bolt, a diagnostic switch connects a diagnostic capacitor to the inductive circuit to simulate the frequency shift caused by the locking bolt, and the inductive sensing system is validated if the expected frequency shift is detected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.