Solenoid assembly with included constant-current controller circuit
AssigneeHanchett Entry Systems, Inc.
InventorsRandall Shaffer, Brett L. Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A constant-current controller that supplies a constant-current to a solenoid driver for use with an electromechanical device. The controller comprises a PCB containing a constant-current control circuit. The circuit comprises a GaNFET primary switch and a secondary switch. The PCB is integrated with and made a part of the solenoid driver. A standard electromechanical device may be converted to a constant-current controlled electromechanical device by exchanging the solenoid driver.
Claims17
A method for converting a first electromechanical device without a constant-current control circuit to a second electromechanical device with said constant-current control circuit, wherein said first electromechanical device includes a first solenoid assembly comprising a first solenoid driver, said method comprising steps of:
- a) removing said first solenoid assembly from said first electromechanical device;
- b) providing a second solenoid assembly comprising a second solenoid driver having a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) integrated with and made a part of said second solenoid assembly, wherein said second solenoid driver includes an outer surface that extends along a length of said second solenoid driver, wherein said PCB is secured to said outer surface of said second solenoid driver and assumes a contour of said outer surface of said second solenoid driver, wherein said PCB includes a switching circuit having a primary GaNFET switch and a secondary switch, wherein said primary GaNFET switch and said secondary switch are connectable to a coil of said second solenoid driver;
- c) replacing the removed said first solenoid assembly with said second solenoid assembly;
- and
- d) making required feed wire connections to said second solenoid assembly to convert the first electromechanical device without said constant-current control circuit to said second electromechanical device having said constant-current control circuit.
A method for converting a first electromechanical device without a constant-current control circuit to a second electromechanical device with said constant-current control circuit, wherein said first electromechanical device includes a first solenoid assembly comprising a first solenoid driver, said method comprising steps of:
- a) removing said first solenoid assembly from said first electromechanical device;
- b) providing a second solenoid assembly comprising a second solenoid driver having a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) integrated with and made a part of said second solenoid assembly, wherein said PCB is formed into an arcuate shape, wherein said PCB is secured to a cylindrical outer surface of said second solenoid driver and assumes a contour of said cylindrical outer surface of said second solenoid driver, wherein said PCB includes a switching circuit having a primary GaNFET switch and a secondary switch, wherein said primary GaNFET switch and said secondary switch are connectable to a coil of said second solenoid driver;
- c) replacing the removed said first solenoid assembly with said second solenoid assembly;
- and
- d) making required feed wire connections to said second solenoid assembly to convert the first electromechanical device without said constant-current control circuit to said second electromechanical device having said constant-current control circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.