Patent · US Expired

Power amplifier with current limiter circuit

US4290000A · kind A · utility

29Cited by
10References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 2, 1979
Grant dateSep 15, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 2, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05B11/28
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A power amplifier is disclosed for controlling the current flow through a load, such as a d-c servo motor. The amplifier includes a plurality of switching elements connected in bridge fashion with the load and a predetermined power source for coupling the load across alternate output terminals of the power source in accordance with the levels of a plurality of control signals respectively coupled to the plurality of switching elements. Logic circuitry, when enabled, couples each of the control signals to their respective switching elements for controlling same. Sensing circuitry is coupled to the load for generating an actual current signal indicative of the actual level of current flow through the load. A current limiter is coupled to the sensing circuitry for comparing the actual current signal with high and low level limit signals and for generating a current disable signal when either the actual current signal exceeds the high limit signal or the low limit signal exceeds the actual current signal. Disable circuitry coupled to the current limiter disables the logic circuitry when a true current disable signal is present.

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