Method and system for limiting energy to a sensor
US8736113B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 2011 |
| Grant date | May 27, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 7, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H9/008
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for limiting energy to a sensor and/or an environment in which the sensor is located. A high current sensor driver is powered through a resistance-capacitance (RC) circuit. In a failure mode, the RC circuit constrains output of a sensor driver to the sensor in order to limit average current applied to the sensor. In one embodiment, the capacitor is chosen so that it can provide adequate current to the sensor driver for a short period of time. The value of the resistor may be chosen to ensure that under short circuit conditions direct current (DC) is limited to a safe value. The combined values of the resistor and capacitor may be adjusted such that the capacitor can charge to a prescribed level during the interval between active pulses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.