Control of relay opening events
US6903554B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 15, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jun 7, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2047/008
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring an operating parameter of a relay armature operating a pair of relay contacts, and for controlling the voltage that occurs between the pair of relay contacts when they open or close. The apparatus includes a microcontroller that senses a reference voltage, and a sensed voltage signal that comprises a voltage component representing a relay coil voltage, a power supply voltage component, and a voltage component induced by a motion of the armature. The microcontroller uses discrete digital samples of the signals to deduce the operating parameter. The microcontroller provides a control signal to cause the relay to open or close the relay contacts at a time when a predefined voltage occurs therebetween. The predefined voltage can be substantially zero volts. Methods of use of the apparatus to control the opening and closing of relay contacts are described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.