Switching circuits and methods of testing
AssigneeGE Aviation Systems LLC
InventorsPeter Michael TYLER, John Oliver Collins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switching circuit for connection to a load and to a voltage source is provided. The switching circuit comprises: at least one switching devices for switching on and off power to the load a pulldown device for shorting out the load thereby isolating the load from the voltage source; and a controller operable while the load is shorted to activate at least one of the switching devices at a time, wherein a current passes through the or each activated switching device and is measurable to test whether the or each activated switching device is operating correctly.
Claims15
A switching circuit for connection to a load and to a voltage source, the switching circuit comprising:
- at least one switching devices for switching on and off power to the load;
- a pulldown device for shorting out the load thereby isolating the load from the voltage source;
- and
- a controller operable while the load is shorted to activate at least one of the switching devices at a time,
- wherein a current passes through the or each activated switching device and is measurable to test whether the or each activated switching device is operating correctly.
The switching circuit according to claim I, wherein the pulldown device comprises a switch disposed in parallel with the load, wherein closure of the switch shorts out the load.
A method of testing a switching circuit that connects a load to a voltage source, the switching circuit comprising at least one switching device, the method comprising:
- shorting out the load by activating a pulldown device;
- activating at least one of the at least one switching devices;
- measuring the current through the at least one switching device that is activated;
- and
- determining from the measured current signal whether the at least one activated switching device is operating correctly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.