Patent · US Active

Systems and methods to safely discharge inductors without energy limitations

US11676752B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 3, 2021
Grant dateJun 13, 2023
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 5, 2041

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K2017/0806
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments of a discharge circuit are disclosed for quickly and safely discharging energy from an inductor load. The discharge circuit comprises a first switch, a second switch and a voltage regulator. The inductor load couples between the first switch and the second switch. During fast demagnetization, a high side switch is tuned off to decouple the load from a voltage source and the second switch is turned on. Voltage on one end of the load is pushed high and maintained at a predetermined level due to the voltage regulator. The predetermined voltage pulls down the current at the inductive load and causes temperature of the discharge circuit going up quickly. Once the temperature reaches a predetermined threshold, a comparing circuit outputs a signal to a driver and eventually pulls down voltage of the inductor load for low-power demagnetization.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.