| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
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| 20090323247 | INTRINSICALLY SAFE CIRCUIT FOR DRIVING A SOLENOID VALVE AT LOW POWER - A system and method for providing an intrinsically safe (IS) circuit for driving a solenoid valve at a low power is disclosed. A voltage source generates a first voltage and is connected to a first side of the solenoid valve. A voltage inverter is connected to the voltage source and generates a second voltage from the first voltage. The second voltage is of opposite magnitude to the first voltage. A controller selectively controls the first voltage and the second voltage to be applied to the solenoid valve. In order to actuate the solenoid valve, the first voltage is applied to the first side of the solenoid valve and the second voltage is applied to the second side of the solenoid valve. In order to hold the solenoid valve in an on position, the first voltage is maintained and the second voltage is no longer applied to the second side of the solenoid valve. This circuit utilizes a reduced voltage, which allows the use of capacitance high enough to effectively drive a solenoid valve while still being compliant with IS standards due to a common, lower voltage magnitude. Also, this circuit allows for higher power solenoids to comply with IS standards. Further, this circuit is certifiable as IS without complex and expensive testing procedures. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100033890 | SOFT START CLUTCH CONTROLLER - A clutch actuator for an electromechanical clutch having a solenoid actuating coil initially provides power to the solenoid at a high rate by using a high duty cycle pulse with a modulated controller. When the initial engagement of the clutch elements is sensed by a decrease in current, the duty cycle of the pulse width modulator is reduced and thereafter increased in a controlled fashion to accomplish a soft start. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20130027831 | SWITCH MODULE - A switch module used for position sensing may be operated in a number of modes for compatibility with a number of legacy position sensing products. A dry switch circuit can be configured to provide a direct output, emulating dry reed, high-side or low-side switched configurations. Alternatively, the dry switch circuit can be connected to an input of a NAMUR circuit to provide the known current output for that standard. In another configuration the dry switch can be selectively coupled to one of two NAMUR circuits allowing the switch module to provide a low-to-high current NAMUR output or a high-to-low current NAMUR output. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20100265629 | Relay Coil Drive Circuit - Relay contacts operate with a snap action when disclosed electronic waveforms, profile its coil current. Snap action reduces the prolonged low pressure that damages relay contacts. This means of driving the relay coil also reverses the properties of its voltage and current. Coil voltage now varies with movement of its armature, frame current, coil resistance, back-EMF, and temperature. Coil current follows a profile that is stable and independent of these changing electrical, mechanical, and environmental factors. Since coil voltage has no direct magnetic or mechanical effect its changes do not affect relay operation. However the relays new stable current profile has a dramatic affect. It moves, makes, breaks and seats predictably, regardless of its temperature, residual magnetism, or mechanical wear. Power-line synchronization means takes advantage of this new stability, concentrating on the position and pressure of the contact. The contact starts to move closed after the peak power-line voltage and makes at zero voltage. Full contact pressure is maintained until load-current is near zero and contact break occurs before zero current. Several types of coil current profiles are disclosed along with analog and software controlled embodiments. New relay friendly electronic reset logic is disclosed to maintain contact pressure during power losses caused by load-surge and load-shorts. Zero crossing and power-line voltage are combined with logic that does not disable but delays relay operation. Relay contact to coil noise problems are disclosed along with suppression techniques to stop electronic circuitry induced contact chatter. Diagnostic techniques and production methods are disclosed for relays that are sealed inside an enclosure. Automatic and manual timing adjustment means are also disclosed. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20090303653 | ENERGY PRESERVING WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM - A system for switching on an electrical device includes a startup circuit for an associated electrical device. The electrical device has a main power circuit comprising first and second paths and a main switch for selectively connecting the electrical device with an associated power source. The startup circuit uses a pulse of electromagnetic energy transmitted wirelessly from an associated remote control device to form a third path, whereby power is supplied from the associated power source for actuating the main switch. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20110096451 | ELECTRICAL DEVICE - A relay and a controller for the same are disclosed. The relay includes an isolated power supply configured to receive a voltage input and generate a voltage output based upon the voltage input, an isolator configured to receive an input signal and generate an isolated output signal based upon the input signal, at least one switch, and a driver in electrical communication with the isolated power supply, the isolator, and the at least one switch for controlling the at least one switch in response to the isolated output signal, wherein the driver receives the voltage output from the isolated power supply as an operating voltage. The controller is in signal communication with the isolator to generate and transmit the input signal thereto. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110299212 | RELAY DRIVE CIRCUIT - A relay drive circuit electrically connects to an alternating current power source for driving a relay includes a zero crossing test circuit, a logic control circuit, and a switch. The zero crossing test circuit is electrically connected to the alternating current power source and is for obtaining zero crossing regions of the alternating current power source and outputting a corresponding zero crossing detect signal. The logic control circuit is electrically connected to the zero crossing circuit and is capable of receiving the zero crossing detect signal and a corresponding switch control signal. The switch is electrically connected to the logic control circuit and the relay and is switched on or off in the zero crossing regions under the control of an output signal from the logic control circuit to corresponding control and power the relay on or off. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110149458 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING SOLENOID ARMATURE MOVEMENT - A method for detecting actuation of an armature associated with a solenoid includes providing a voltage potential to a solenoid coil associated with the solenoid. The method also includes measuring a current flowing through the solenoid coil. The method further includes switching the voltage potential off when the measured current reaches a predetermined maximum value. The method also includes switching the voltage potential on when the measured current reaches a predetermined minimum value. The method further includes measuring a chop period between pulses associated with the switching on and off of the voltage potential. The method also includes analyzing successive chop periods to detect armature movement and armature seating. The method further includes determining, based on the comparison of chop periods, a pull-in time of an armature associated with the solenoid. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20080212253 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DRIVING AN INDUSTRIAL CONTROL DEVICE - A process control apparatus including an actuator configured to effect changes in an industrial process, a power supply, a plurality of current switches coupled between the actuator and the power supply and a controller coupled to the plurality of current switches. The controller is configured to selectively close one or more of the plurality of current switches so as to provide a selectable level of current from the power supply to the actuator. In variations, a plurality of discharge switches are coupled to the actuator and the controller is configured to selectively close the discharge switches so as to provide a selectable level of charge to discharge from the actuator. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20110267734 | SWITCHGEAR OPERATING APPARATUS AND THREE-PHASE SWITCHGEAR - A switchgear operating apparatus provided with an electronic switching device ( | 11-03-2011 |
| 20090237856 | SOLENOID VALVE DRIVE CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRIVING A SOLENOID VALVE - A solenoid valve drive control apparatus includes a MOSFET connected in series with the drive coil of a solenoid valve, a varistor connected in parallel with the drive coil, and a diode connected in parallel with the drive coil and the MOSFET. Due to the MOSFET being turned OFF, because the varistor immediately becomes conductive when a back EMF is generated in the drive coil, an electric current caused by the back EMF flows through a closed circuit constituted by the drive coil and the varistor. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20100265628 | Redundant Power Supply with a Switchable, Linear Voltage Regulator - A system is provided that effectively obviates shortcomings of conventional, diode-ORed, redundant power supply systems by forcing a primary power source to provide power to the system load most the time, even when the primary source provides a lower voltage than that of a secondary power source. This preferential selection of the lower-voltage primary is achieved by interposing a power switching unit between the secondary power source and the ORing diode in front of the load. The power switching unit of the illustrative embodiment comprises a voltage regulator that is regulated at a first voltage level, which is lower than the nominal output voltage level provided by the primary power source. Meanwhile, the primary power source is able to charge the secondary power source, which is a battery in the illustrative embodiment, so that the secondary power source can provide power to the load when the primary power source is either interrupted or falls below the first voltage level. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100259861 | Solenoid drive method that conserves power - A drive method for an impact-printhead solenoid is provided that improves power efficiency with an extremely simple circuit configuration and no sensors. Consisting only of a power-FET (Field-Effect Transistor) and PWM (pulse-width-modulation) signals from a printer-controller, this system, using a novel PWM frequency-optimization technique, reduces printhead power usage by as much as 13%. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100259862 | SAFETY SWITCHING DEVICE AND MODULAR FAILSAFE CONTROL SYSTEM - A safety switching device for a modular failsafe control system for switching on and safely switching off an electrical load, having at least one switching element which is subject to wear and is designed to carry out a switching process by means of a control signal which is generated by the control system, in order to switch the electrical load, comprising an apparatus for detection of the number of switching processes carried out and having a memory apparatus for permanent failsafe storage of the detected number. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100226059 | CONTACTOR ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A battery control module for a battery system includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) module that generates N PWM signals. The battery control module also includes a contactor control module that consecutively applies the N PWM signals to close a contactor in order to connect a battery to a load. Application of a first one of the N PWM signals moves the contactor at a first velocity from an open position and application of a second one of the N PWM signals moves the contactor at a second velocity to a closed position. The first velocity is less than the second velocity. N is an integer greater than one. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100246086 | SOLENOID DRIVING DEVICE AND ACTIVE VIBRATION ISOLATING SUPPORT DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - A solenoid driving device with excellent electric power efficiency which drives and controls an actuator including a solenoid and an active vibration isolating support device with excellent electric power efficiency which includes the solenoid driving device are disclosed. The solenoid driving device includes a booster circuit | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100226060 | STANDBY POWER CUT-OFF DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - Provided are a standby power cut-off device for automatically cutting off standby power according to power-on/off of an electronic product and a control method for the standby power cut-off device. By providing an electronic product to which the standby power cut-off device and the control method therefor are applied, the present invention can efficiently cut off standby power by using an existing general outlet without a need to use an outlet having a separate function added thereto. Moreover, the present invention automatically cuts off the standby power according to power-off of the electronic product without unplugging the electronic product, thereby maximizing user's convenience. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100321852 | SWITCHING MEANS FOR CONNECTING A LOAD TO A POWER SUPPLY AND ITS METHOD OF OPERATION - A switching device for controlling the supply of power from a supply to a load comprises a solid-state switch arranged in parallel with a relay of normally closed type. The solid-state switch and the relay are arranged in series with the load and the power supply. The switch also comprises a control adapted to connect the power supply to the load by applying an activation signal to the solid-state switch to cause it to conduce, then de-energizing the relay and then removing the activation signal to the solid-state switch in that order. The control is also adapted to disconnect the power supply from the load by applying an activation signal to the solid-state switch to cause it to conduct, then energizing the relay and then removing activation signal to the solid-state switch in that order. A corresponding method of operation is also disclosed. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110019329 | CONTROLLABLE POWER RELAY - Device, system and method of controllable power relay. For example, a power relay device, to controllably relay an electric power signal to a first device based on a control signal from a second device, may include a power input to receive an input electric signal; a power output; a control-signal receiver to receive the control signal from the second device, while the power relay device is galvanically separated from the second device; and a control module to controllably output the electric signal via the power output based on the control signal. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110019328 | RELAY DRIVING CIRCUIT AND BATTERY PACK USING SAME - A capacitor | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110176249 | SWITCHING APPARATUS AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF - A switching apparatus includes a DC voltage output unit, a switching element to supply the DC voltage to a load, a power detection unit to detect power supplied from the switching element to the load, a drive unit to control the switching element in PWM manner according to an output from the power detection unit, and a stop unit to stop the PWM control if a value of the DC voltage is lower than a first threshold value. The first threshold value is lower than a minimum operation voltage value of the power detection unit. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20100309600 | APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AND/OR MONITORING A PROCESS VARIABLE - An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable. The apparatus includes at least one relay, at least one voltage source, and at least one voltage increasing unit. The relay, the voltage source and the voltage increasing unit as embodied, are matched to one another, and are connected with one another in such a manner that, when the voltage source supplies the relay with voltage for pull-in of the relay, the voltage increasing unit causes such an increase of the voltage applied to the relay, that the applied voltage corresponds at least to the pull-in voltage of the relay. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100165535 | Method and Device for Operating a Switching Device - A method is disclosed for operating a switching device using at least one electromagnetic drive, which has a displaceable armature for opening and closing at least one main contact of the switching device. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a modification of the magnetic flux between a first position, when the main contact is deactivated, and a second position, when the main contact is activated, is identified in the electromagnetic drive and a solenoid current of the electromagnetic drive is restricted to a predetermined minimum current value in the second position, if the magnetic flux modification exceeds a predeterminable value. One advantage of at least one embodiment is that an actuation displacement of the armature can be identified as reliable, if an associated modification of the magnetic flux is also measured. The metrological recording of the magnetic flux is contactless. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20090316324 | Drive Circuit for DC Latching Devices - A drive circuit for a DC latching device includes a battery, a storage element, and a plurality of switches connecting the battery to the storage element for charging the storage element from the battery and discharging the storage element into the coil of a DC latching device. The drive circuit further includes components for determining a state of the DC latching device. The drive circuit may include components for terminating the discharge of the storage element into the coil of the DC latching device in response to determining that the DC latching device has changed states to add reliability to the system and reduce energy consumption. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20110261498 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT - There is provided a power supply circuit, in which cost reduction is realized by reducing the number of electric wires. An inverter | 10-27-2011 |
| 20100027183 | SINGLE COIL ACTUATOR FOR LOW AND MEDIUM VOLTAGE APPLICATIONS - A single coil actuator for low and medium voltage applications which comprises a single coil electromagnet and a power and control unit operatively connected to said single coil electromagnet. The power and control unit comprises:
| 02-04-2010 |
| 20090190282 | RELAY CONNECTION - A relay connection with at least two relays (K | 07-30-2009 |
| 20100214711 | +28V AIRCRAFT TRANSIENT SUPPRESSION - An apparatus and method for suppressing voltage fluctuations across a relay coil is disclosed. The method includes the steps of monitoring a voltage drop across a relay coil by a difference amplifier; providing an output of a reference source and an output of the difference amplifier to an integrator amplifier; providing an output of the integrator amplifier to a transistor; and driving the relay coil by controlling an output of the transistor based on the output of the integrator amplifier, wherein the output of the reference source is selectively applied to the integrator amplifier in response to a monitored undesired voltage fluctuations across the relay coil. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20120014032 | TRIP CIRCUIT SUPERVISION RELAY FOR LOW AND MEDIUM VOLTAGE APPLICATIONS - A Trip Circuit Supervision (TCS) relay for Low and Medium Voltage applications operatively connectable to a trip circuit of a Low or Medium Voltage apparatus, said TCS relay comprising first means for detecting the current circulating in said trip circuit, second means for detecting the continuous component of the current circulating in said trip circuit, third means for detecting the presence of pulses in the current circulating in said trip circuit, first enabling means for enabling said third means for detecting the presence of pulses in the current circulating in said trip circuit, signal generating means connected in input to said second and third means for detecting, respectively, the continuous component of and the presence of pulses in the current circulating in said trip circuit, and connected in output to control means operatively connectable to alarm generating means. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120300354 | ELECTRO-MAGNETIC CONTACTOR AND MONITORING SYSTEM OF THE SAME - Disclosed herein is an electro-magnetic contactor and an electro-magnetic contactor monitoring system. The present disclosure may sense and display the status of input power that supplies electric energy to a power input end of the electro-magnetic contactor in real time, and when a failure occurs to generate a low voltage or over voltage, it may be sensed in real time to notify it to a user or the like, thereby allowing the user to monitor the status from a remote location. According to the present disclosure, it may be possible to prevent a load from being damaged by a fire due to a phenomenon of chattering in the electro-magnetic contactor, and eradicating a phenomenon that a coil of the contactor is damaged by a fire due to the over voltage, and minimizing losses that can be caused in a factory management system. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20100290170 | Power Controller, Electronic Apparatus, and Control Method of Power Controller - According to an aspect of the invention, a power controller includes: a latching relay module configured to be connected to an external power source; a first monitoring module configured to monitor first power input from the external power source and configured to output a first monitoring result; a second monitoring module configured to monitor second power output from a power module connected to a downstream of the latching relay module and configured to output a second monitoring result; and a control module configured to instruct the latching relay module to turn on based on the first monitoring result and the second monitoring result. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20120162846 | HEAT GENERATION INHIBITING CIRCUIT FOR EXCITING COIL IN RELAY - A resistor is provided between an exciting coil and the ground, and a diode is provided between a point p | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120188679 | LOW ENERGY ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY - A low energy electromagnetic relay and method of reducing power consumption in electromagnetic relays. The electromagnetic relay includes an electrical coil having a first end connected to a first contact and a second end connected to first side of a normally closed switch, a second side of the switch connected to a second contact; a resistor connected between the first end of the coil and the second contact; and an armature configured to move to an actuated position and open the first switch when power is applied across the first and the second contacts. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120081829 | SAFETY ISOLATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SWITCHING DC LOADS - Safety isolation systems and methods adapted for switching DC electrical power applications, including high voltage DC, are provided. A contactor is in series with a solid state DC switch and a switching circuit controls the operation of the contactor and the solid state DC switch. Mirror contacts may be added to the system that are capable of providing a reliable indication about the open/closed status of the main contacts of the contactor. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120327549 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATION - A method of controlling a circuit breaker that has a movable contact and an actuator for moving the movable contact between an open position and a closed position. With the movable contact in the open position, a voltage is applied to the actuator to cause the movable contact to move towards the closed position. The voltage is applied for a limited time period ending before the movable contact reaches the closed position. At the end of the limited time period, the voltage is adjusted to reduce the acceleration exerted on the contact. The voltage is subsequently increased just before, after, or substantially at the same time as the contact reaches its closed position. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20110038092 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING POWER TO A VOLTAGE- OR CURRENT-RELEASING SWITCHING DEVICE - A power supply for a voltage or current-releasing switching device having at least one coil for one of a voltage and current release includes a device which activates a switch means in a pulse-width modulated manner, the device configured for setting the current flowing in the coil, wherein inductance of the coil functions as an impedor of a clocked power supply which, via a rectifier diode and a storage capacitor, provides a first supply voltage that is predefinable via a comparison value. A voltage regulation device provides at least one second supply voltage. A measurement-resistor-free regulation device is provided for setting the current through the coil. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20120275078 | Engine Starting Apparatus - An engine starting apparatus is provided which can start an engine without inducing malfunctions of various electronic components. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120281331 | ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATED SWITCHING DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SWITCHING OPERATIONS OF SAID SWITCHING DEVICE - A switching device comprising control means for controlling the switching operations of the device, the control means receiving the sensing signals generated by a sensor means; the control means are arranged so that, during execution of a switching operation, the control means send a first control signal to a power supply means to start with the supply of excitation current from a first instant onwards; determine, on the base of the information provided by the sensing signals, a second instant, at which the power supply means have to stop with the supply of excitation current, the second instant occurring before the movable plunger has reached the stop position during the movement from the start position towards the stop position; send a second control signal to the power supply means to stop with supply of excitation current from the second instant and until a movable plunger reaches the stop position. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20110157758 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS - A current control output (CCO) system for transmission solenoids includes a current determination module, a current compensation module, and a current control module. The current determination module determines a desired current for the solenoids based on a desired pressure. The current compensation module generates a compensated current by adjusting the desired current based on a system pressure and a temperature of oil in the transmission. The current control module performs current-based control of and applies hysteresis to the solenoids based on the compensated current. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20130021713 | ELECTRONIC MAGNETIC CONTACTOR - Disclosed is an electronic magnetic contactor, the contactor including: an operation power supply unit inputting an operation power; an electronic switch driving unit receiving a power from the operation power supply unit to drive a power supply of a load; a switching unit switched by a pulse signal to drive the electronic switch driving unit; an operation state determination unit determining whether the electronic magnetic contactor is in an opened state or in a closed state; an input voltage sensing unit sensing an amplitude of an input voltage supplied from the operation power supply unit; and an input signal generation unit generating an input signal for determining whether the electronic magnetic contactor is inputted based on determined state by the operation state determination unit and the sensed amplitude by the input voltage sensing unit. | 01-24-2013 |
