Control circuit for operating inductive load devices, a braking system, and a vehicle including a braking system

A braking system for a vehicle, the braking system including:

• a vehicle braking system control circuit for controlling the operation of a main switch device which manages an electrical current delivered to an inductive load device, the control circuit including:
• a current sense circuit configured to be coupled to the switch device and to output a signal representative of an electrical current through the inductive load device;
• a current comparator circuit configured to receive an actuation command signal, compare the signal representative of the electrical current through the inductive load device with a signal representative of a predetermined current, and to output a control signal based on the comparison for controlling the operation of the main switch device when the actuation command signal indicates that the inductive load device is to be activated;
• a recirculation circuit configured to recirculate current through the inductive load device, such that the current used to activate the inductive load device is selectively provided by the main switch device and the recirculation circuit with the recirculation current from the inductive load device providing a drive modulation for the main switch device;
• a current shaping circuit which is configured to cause a limit to be applied on the rate of rise of the electrical current through the inductive load device;
• and
• the inductive load device which is configured to be controlled by the control circuit and the main switch device.

A vehicle including a braking system for a vehicle, the braking system including:

• a vehicle braking system control circuit for controlling the operation of a main switch device which manages an electrical current delivered to an inductive load device, the control circuit including:
• a current sense circuit configured to be coupled to the switch device and to output a signal representative of an electrical current through the inductive load device;
• a current comparator circuit configured to receive an actuation command signal, compare the signal representative of the electrical current through the inductive load device with a signal representative of a predetermined current, and to output a control signal based on the comparison for controlling the operation of the main switch device when the actuation command signal indicates that the inductive load device is to be activated;
• a recirculation circuit configured to recirculate current through the inductive load device, such that the current used to activate the inductive load device is selectively provided by the main switch device and the recirculation circuit with the recirculation current from the inductive load device providing a drive modulation for the main switch device;
• a current shaping circuit which is configured to cause a limit to be applied on the rate of rise of the electrical current through the inductive load device;
• and
• the inductive load device which is configured to be controlled by the control circuit and the main switch device.

A vehicle braking system control circuit for controlling the operation of a main switch device which manages an electrical current delivered to an inductive load device, the control circuit including:

• a current sense circuit configured to be coupled to the switch device and to output a signal representative of an electrical current through the inductive load device;
• a current comparator circuit configured to receive an actuation command signal, compare the signal representative of the electrical current through the inductive load device with a signal representative of a predetermined current, and to output a control signal based on the comparison for controlling the operation of the main switch device when the actuation command signal indicates that the inductive load device is to be activated;
• a recirculation circuit configured to recirculate current through the inductive load device, such that the current used to activate the inductive load device is selectively provided by the main switch device and the recirculation circuit with the recirculation current from the inductive load device providing a drive modulation for the main switch device;
• and
• an inductance determining circuit which is configured to determine an inductance of the inductive load device and to derive a state of operation of the inductive load device from the determined inductance.

A braking system for a vehicle, the braking system including:

• a vehicle braking system control circuit for controlling the operation of a main switch device which manages an electrical current delivered to an inductive load device, the control circuit including:
• a current sense circuit configured to be coupled to the switch device and to output a signal representative of an electrical current through the inductive load device;
• a current comparator circuit configured to receive an actuation command signal, compare the signal representative of the electrical current through the inductive load device with a signal representative of a predetermined current, and to output a control signal based on the comparison for controlling the operation of the main switch device when the actuation command signal indicates that the inductive load device is to be activated;
• a recirculation circuit configured to recirculate current through the inductive load device, such that the current used to activate the inductive load device is selectively provided by the main switch device and the recirculation circuit with the recirculation current from the inductive load device providing a drive modulation for the main switch device;
• an inductance determining circuit which is configured to determine an inductance of the inductive load device and to derive a state of operation of the inductive load device from the determined inductance;
• and
• an inductive load device which is configured to be controlled by the control circuit and the main switch device.

A vehicle including a braking system for a vehicle, the braking system including:

• a vehicle braking system control circuit for controlling the operation of a main switch device which manages an electrical current delivered to an inductive load device, the control circuit including:
• a current sense circuit configured to be coupled to the switch device and to output a signal representative of an electrical current through the inductive load device;
• a current comparator circuit configured to receive an actuation command signal, compare the signal representative of the electrical current through the inductive load device with a signal representative of a predetermined current, and to output a control signal based on the comparison for controlling the operation of the main switch device when the actuation command signal indicates that the inductive load device is to be activated;
• a recirculation circuit configured to recirculate current through the inductive load device, such that the current used to activate the inductive load device is selectively provided by the main switch device and the recirculation circuit with the recirculation current from the inductive load device providing a drive modulation for the main switch device;
• an inductance determining circuit which is configured to determine an inductance of the inductive load device and to derive a state of operation of the inductive load device from the determined inductance;
• and
• an inductive load device which is configured to be controlled by the control circuit and the main switch device.