Patent · US Expired

Current drive circuit

US4720762A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
7References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 29, 1986
Grant dateJan 19, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 29, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01H47/325
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Disclosed is an arrangement for controlling the current in a solenoid. A microcomputer is used to control three states of a 3-state output device (high impedance, high and low) which are designed to correspond to three current modes of the solenoid: no current, full current and reduced current. The 3-state output device produces a signal which is used to control a solenoid drive circuit. The drive circuit includes first means for generating a first drive signal in response to the 3-state signal being in the high impedance state or the low state, and second means for generating a second drive signal in response to the 3-state signal being in the high impedance state or the high state. The circuit further includes third means for coupling the first and second drive signals to the solenoid such that the current in the solenoid is controlled according to the states of the 3-state signal.

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