Methods and apparatus for improved latching relay driver
AssigneeRaritan Americas, Inc.
InventorStefan Oebser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus provide for at least one relay with contacts transitioning from: an OFF state to an ON state in response to an ON-pulse of current through a coil in a first direction; and the ON state to the OFF state in response to an OFF-pulse of current through the coil in a second, opposite direction. A driver circuit operates to produce the ON-pulse through the coil of the relay in response to a control signal commanding the ON-state of the contacts; produce the OFF-pulse of current through the coil of the relay in response to a control signal commanding the OFF-state of the contacts; and produce the OFF-pulse of current through the coil of the relay in response to a loss of operating potential across the pair of operating power nodes.
Claims12
An apparatus, comprising:
- at least one electromechanical, latching relay including a coil and at least one pair of contacts, the contacts transitioning from:
- (i) an OFF, disconnected state to an ON, connected state in response to an ON-pulse of current through the coil in a first direction;
- and (ii) the ON state to the OFF state in response to an OFF-pulse of current through the coil in a second, opposite direction;
- and
- a driver circuit having at least one control signal input node, at least one pair of coil current output nodes, and at least one pair of operating power nodes, wherein the driver circuit operates to:
- (i) produce the ON-pulse of current between the at least one pair of coil current output nodes and through the coil of the relay in response to a control signal commanding the ON-state of the contacts;
- (ii) produce the OFF-pulse of current between the at least one pair of coil current output nodes and through the coil of the relay in response to a control signal commanding the OFF-state of the contacts;
- and
- (iii) produce the OFF-pulse of current between the at least one pair of coil current output nodes and through the coil of the relay in response to a loss of operating potential across the pair of operating power nodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.