# US 2009/0168276 A1 · Protection of Polarity-Sensitive Components Connected In Parallel With A Direct Current Motor Or Inductor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0168276 A1 - Document ID: US20090168276A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/968,439 - Filed: 2008-01-02 - Published: 2009-07-02 - Earliest claimed: 2008-01-02 - Assignees: Glj, LLC - Inventors: Harry Chen; Eric Junkel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090168276A1 ## CPC - H02H 11/002: {in case of inverted polarity or connection; with switching for obtaining correct connection} - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) ## Abstract Circuits and methods for protecting polarity-sensitive components, such as light emitting diodes, electrolytic capacitors or integrated circuits, operating from a DC current source including a DC motor, an inductor or relay having a positive terminal and a negative terminal for receiving current from the current source, a protection diode connected parallel with the positive and negative terminals of the motor in a reverse bias configuration, at least one polarity-sensitive component connected in parallel with the protection diode and the DC motor, and a polarity protection transistor connected either between the nominally positive current source terminal and the positive motor terminal, or between the nominally negative current source terminal and the negative motor terminal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components operating from a current source of direct current, said current source having a nominally positive terminal and a nominally negative terminal, said circuit comprising: a direct current motor having a positive terminal and a negative terminal for receiving direct current from the current source, a protection diode coupled parallel with the positive and negative terminals of the motor in a reverse bias configuration, at least one polarity-sensitive component coupled in parallel with the protection diode and the direct current motor, and a polarity protection transistor coupled in series with the direct current motor between the nominally positive terminal and the nominally negative terminal of the current source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 1, said polarity protection transistor coupled either between the nominally positive current source terminal and the positive motor terminal, or between the nominally negative current source terminal and the negative motor terminal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 1, wherein said polarity protection transistor which is coupled between the nominally negative current source terminal and the negative motor terminal is of the NPN type, with a collector terminal of the NPN transistor coupled to the negative terminal of the motor, with an emitter terminal of the NPN transistor is coupled to the nominally negative terminal of the current source, and with a base terminal coupled through a resistor to the nominally positive terminal of the current source to bias the NPN transistor to conduct current through the motor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 1, wherein said polarity protection transistor which is coupled between the nominally negative current source terminal and the negative motor terminal is of the PNP type, with a collector terminal of the PNP transistor coupled to the positive terminal of the motor, with an emitter terminal of the PNP transistor coupled to the nominally positive terminal of the current source, and with a base terminal coupled through a resistor to the nominally negative terminal of the current source to bias the PNP transistor to conduct current through the motor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 1, wherein said polarity-sensitive component comprises a light emitting diode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 5, wherein said light emitting diode is of the white light type. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 1, wherein said polarity-sensitive component comprises an electrolytic capacitor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 1, wherein said polarity-sensitive component comprises an integrated circuit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a flywheel coupled to the motor, said flywheel having kinetic energy in the form of angular momentum. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 9, wherein said flywheel comprises a fan blade. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 9, wherein said flywheel comprises a pump mechanism. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 9, wherein said flywheel is further comprised of a clutch which permits the flywheel to spin ahead of the motor to prevent transfer of kinetic energy to the motor. ### Claim 13 A circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components operating from a current source of direct current, said current source having a nominally positive terminal and a nominally negative terminal, said circuit comprising: an inductor having a positive terminal and a negative terminal for receiving direct current from the current source, a protection diode coupled parallel with the positive and negative terminals of the inductor in a reverse bias configuration, at least one polarity-sensitive component coupled in parallel with the protection diode and the inductor, and a polarity protection transistor coupled in series with the inductor between the nominally negative current source terminal and the negative inductor terminal of the current source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 13, said polarity protection transistor coupled either between the nominally positive current source terminal and the positive inductor terminal, or between the nominally negative current source terminal and the negative inductor terminal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 13, wherein said polarity protection transistor which is coupled between the nominally negative current source terminal and the negative inductor terminal is of the NPN type, with a collector terminal of the NPN transistor coupled to the negative terminal of the inductor, with an emitter terminal of the NPN transistor is coupled to the nominally negative terminal of the current source, and with a base terminal coupled through a resistor to the nominally positive terminal of the current source to bias the NPN transistor to conduct current through the inductor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 13, wherein said polarity protection transistor which is coupled between the nominally negative current source terminal and the negative inductor terminal is of the PNP type, with a collector terminal of the PNP transistor coupled to the positive terminal of the inductor, with an emitter terminal of the PNP transistor coupled to the nominally positive terminal of the current source, and with a base terminal coupled through a resistor to the nominally negative terminal of the current source to bias the PNP transistor to conduct current through the inductor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 13, wherein said polarity-sensitive component comprises a light emitting diode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 17, wherein said light emitting diode is of the white light type. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 13, wherein said polarity-sensitive component comprises an electrolytic capacitor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The circuit for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 13, wherein said polarity-sensitive component comprises an integrated circuit. ### Claim 21 A method for protecting polarity-sensitive components operating from a current source of direct current, said current source having a nominally positive terminal and a nominally negative terminal, said method comprising the steps of: providing a direct current motor having a positive terminal and a negative terminal for receiving direct current from the current source, coupling a protection diode in parallel with the positive and negative terminals of the motor in a reverse bias configuration, coupling at least one polarity-sensitive component in parallel with the protection diode and the direct current motor, and coupling a polarity protection transistor in series with the direct current motor between the nominally positive terminal and the nominally negative terminal of the current source. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 21, said method comprising the further steps of: coupling the polarity protection transistor between the nominally positive current source terminal and the positive motor terminal, or coupling the polarity protection transistor between the nominally negative current source terminal and the negative motor terminal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 21, said method comprising the further steps of: providing said polarity protection transistor which is coupled between the nominally negative current source terminal and the negative motor terminal of the NPN type, coupling a collector terminal of the NPN transistor to the negative terminal of the motor, coupling an emitter terminal of the NPN transistor is to the nominally negative terminal of the current source, and coupling a base terminal of the transistor of the NPN type through a resistor to the nominally positive terminal of the current source to bias the NPN transistor to conduct current through the motor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 21, said method comprising the further steps of: providing said polarity protection transistor which is coupled between the nominally positive current source terminal and the positive motor terminal of the PNP type, coupling a collector terminal of the PNP transistor to the positive terminal of the motor, coupling an emitter terminal of the PNP transistor is to the nominally positive terminal of the current source, and coupling a base terminal of the transistor of the PNP type through a resistor to the nominally negative terminal of the current source to bias the PNP transistor to conduct current through the motor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 21, said method comprising the further step of: selecting the polarity-sensitive component to be a light emitting diode. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The method for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 21, said method comprising the further step of: selecting the polarity-sensitive component to be an electrolytic capacitor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The method for protecting polarity-sensitive components in accordance with claim 21, said method comprising the further step of: selecting the polarity-sensitive component to be an integrated circuit.