Solenoid coil discharging circuit

A method of discharging a solenoid coil, the method comprising:

• rectifying an alternating current signal to provide a rectified signal;
• biasing a transistor in an on state in response to the alternating current signal being rectified, thereby enabling operative coupling of the rectified signal to the solenoid coil through the transistor, wherein biasing the transistor in the on state comprises creating a negative bias to turn on the transistor;
• and
• discharging current from the solenoid coil through the diode in response to discontinuing rectification of the alternating current signal.

A solenoid coil discharging circuit, which comprises:

• a rectifier, the rectifier being selectively coupled to an alternating current signal, the rectifier providing a rectified signal in response to being operatively coupled to the alternating current signal;
• a radiation resistant JFET (Junction Field Effect Transistor), the radiation resistant JFET being operatively coupled to the rectifier circuit, the radiation resistant JFET being biased in an on state in response to the alternating current signal being operatively coupled to the rectifier, thereby enabling operative coupling of the rectified signal to a solenoid coil;
• and
• a Transient Suppressor Diode operatively coupled to the rectifier, the TVS diode discharging current from the solenoid coil in response to the alternating current signal being operatively de-coupled from the rectifier.