Method for detecting the switching state of a switching contact of an electromechanical switching device, the switching contact having at least one pair of contacts, and circuit assembly for detecting the switching state
AssigneePhoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsMatthias Altmann, Tobias Langer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of detecting a switching state of a switching contact of an electromechanical switching device, the switching contact having at least one pair of contacts, during an operating phase for detecting the switching state, includes: applying a switching current to the switching contact; and analyzing the switching current using an evaluation unit to determine whether the switching contact is in a closed switching state or in an open switching state. A switching current in a form of a clocked voltage or current signal is applied to the switching contact.
Claims10
A method of detecting a switching state of a switching contact of an electromechanical switching device, the switching contact having at least one pair of contacts, during an operating phase for detecting the switching state, the method comprising:
- applying a switching current to the switching contact;
- and
- analyzing the switching current using an evaluation unit to determine whether the switching contact is in a closed switching state or in an open switching state,
- wherein the switching current in a form of a clocked voltage or current signal that is applied to the switching contact, and
- wherein a pulse-pause ratio of the switching current is varied subject to at least one operating parameter of the electromechanical switching device so that a reduction of power dissipation within the electromechanical switching device is operably coupled to a power dissipation generated in the electromechanical switching device.
A circuit assembly for detecting the switching state of a switching contact of an electromechanical switching device, comprising:
- an electromechanical switching device having at least one switching contact;
- and
- an evaluation and control unit configured to actuate the electromechanical switching device and to evaluate a switching current flowing through the at least one switching contact of the electromechanical switching device,
- wherein the evaluation and control unit is configured such that, during an operating phase for detecting the switching state of the switching contact, the switching current in a form of a clocked voltage or current signal is applicable to the at least one switching contact and the switching current is analyzable to determine whether the at least one switching contact is in a closed switching state or in an open switching state, and
- wherein a pulse-pause ratio of the switching current is variable subject to at least one operating parameter of the electromechanical switching device so that a reduction of power dissipation within the electromechanical switching device is operably coupled to a power dissipation generated in the electromechanical switching device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.