Electric actuator and module for supplying power during a power failure

A module for supplying power to an electric actuator, comprising:

• a detection circuit generating a signal indicating whether primary power is being supplied to the module;
• a power supply storing primary power supplied to the electric actuator, the power supply providing secondary power of a similar type as the primary power;
• and
• a switching circuit outputting, in response to the signal, one of the primary power or the secondary power.

A module for supplying power to an electric actuator, comprising:

• a detection circuit generating a first signal indicating whether primary power is being supplied to the module;
• a power supply storing primary power supplied to the module, the power supply providing secondary power of a similar type as the primary power;
• and
• a switching circuit outputting, in response to the first signal, one of the primary power or the secondary power;
• wherein the module generates, in response to the first signal, a second signal that specifies an output for the electric actuator when primary power is removed from the electric actuator.

An electric actuator system, comprising:

• an electric actuator;
• and
• a module detachably connected to the electric actuator;
• wherein the electric actuator comprises a rotatable shaft responsive to a first signal that is generated based at least in part on a second signal received from outside the electric actuator.

A method for providing an electric actuator with a shutoff function, the method comprising the steps of:

• deriving secondary power for the electric actuator from primary power for the electric actuator, the secondary power being of a similar type as the primary power;
• detecting whether primary power is available to the electric actuator, the detecting step being performed external to the electric actuator;
• providing the primary power to the electric actuator when the detecting step indicates that primary power is available to the electric actuator;
• and
• providing the secondary power to the electric actuator when the detecting step indicates that primary power is not available to the electric actuator.

A method for providing an electric actuator with a shutoff function, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating a first signal external to the actuator;
• supplying the first signal to the electric actuator;
• and
• generating a second signal internal to the electric actuator based at least in part on the first signal.