Fail-safe interface
AssigneeControl Techniques Limited
InventorColin HARGIS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fail-safe interface circuit arranged to provide an inverter enable input to drive an inverter, the circuit being supplied by a first voltage and comprising: a charge pump comprising a charge pump input and a charge pump output, the charge pump output being coupled to a circuit output; and a pulsed input arranged to supply pulsed power to the charge pump input; wherein the charge pump output is arranged to produce a second voltage distinct from the first voltage only when the pulsed input is supplying pulsed power to the charge pump input, and wherein the circuit output is arranged to provide the inverter enable input when the second voltage is produced at the charge pump output.
Claims20
A fail-safe interface circuit arranged to provide an inverter enable input to drive an inverter, the circuit being supplied by a first voltage and comprising:
- a charge pump comprising a charge pump input and a charge pump output, the charge pump output being coupled to a circuit output;
- and
- a pulsed input arranged to supply pulsed power to the charge pump input;
- wherein the charge pump output is arranged to produce a second voltage distinct from the first voltage only when the pulsed input is supplying pulsed power to the charge pump input, and wherein the circuit output is arranged to provide the inverter enable input when the second voltage is produced at the charge pump output.
A method of providing a fail-safe interface, the method providing an inverter enable input to drive an inverter, the method comprising:
- providing a first voltage to a charge pump, the charge pump comprising a charge pump input and a charge pump output;
- coupling the charge pump output to a circuit output;
- supplying the charge pump input with pulsed power from a pulsed input and thereby producing a second voltage at the charge pump output, the second voltage being distinct from the first voltage;
- and
- providing the inverter enable input via the circuit output when the second voltage is produced at the charge pump output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.