Patent · US Expired

Bi-directional driver system for electrical load

US4490655A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
10References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 27, 1982
Grant dateDec 25, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 27, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02P7/04
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A bi-directional driver system for an electrical load operable in response to two independent logic command signals provides a means for selecting the direction of current flow in the load when driven by the external command. A bridge circuit employs inputs to dual transistor switches operating in the saturated mode in series with the electrical load, cooperating with common emitter transistor linear amplifiers and diodes, and biased by the input logic signal so as to drive the load current in a predetermined direction. The circuit provides protection from undesired power supply current surges when logic command signals are applied to both inputs, and from transients due to failure of a saturated transistor switch at one input to cease conducting before the application of a command signal to the second input. Embodiments for inductive loads and annunciator lamps are described.

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