Solenoid assembly with included constant-current controller circuit
AssigneeHanchett Entry Systems, Inc.
InventorsRandall Shaffer, Brett L. Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A constant-current controller that supplies a constant-current to a solenoid driver for use with an electromechanical device. The controller comprises a PCB containing a constant-current control circuit. The circuit comprises a GaNFET primary switch and a secondary switch. The PCB is integrated with and made a part of the solenoid driver. A standard electromechanical device may be converted to a constant-current controlled electromechanical device by exchanging the solenoid driver.
Claims14
A solenoid assembly including an integrated constant-current control circuit, wherein said solenoid assembly is used to drive an associated electromechanical device, said solenoid assembly comprising:
- a) a solenoid driver including a coil;
- b) a solenoid bracket for connecting said solenoid assembly to said associated electromechanical device;
- c) a PCB integrated with and made part of said solenoid assembly, wherein said PCB is configured to provide a constant-current to said coil, and wherein said PCB includes:
- i. a switching circuit comprising:
- a) a source voltage;
- b) a primary GaNFET switch connected with said coil;
- and
- c) a secondary switch connected with said coil, wherein said coil has an inductance,
- wherein, from a time (t0) to a time (ton) when said primary switch is closed and said secondary switch is open, and said source voltage is applied across said coil, a counter EMF decays until the voltage across said coil equals said source voltage at ton,
- wherein, from said time (ton) to a time (T), when said primary switch is open and said secondary switch is closed, a positive EMF equal to said source voltage is applied across said coil until said positive EMF decays to zero at time (T), and
- wherein said average current is dependent upon the rate at which said primary switch and said secondary switch are opened and closed with respect to each other.
A method for converting a first electromechanical device without a constant-current control circuit to a second electromechanical device with a constant-current control circuit, wherein said first electromechanical device includes a first solenoid assembly comprising a first solenoid driver, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) removing said first solenoid assembly from said first electromechanical device;
- b) providing a second solenoid assembly comprising a second solenoid driver having an integrated PCB, wherein said integrated PCB includes a switching circuit having a primary GaNFET switch and a secondary switch, wherein said primary GaNFET switch and said secondary switch are connectable to a coil of said solenoid driver;
- d) replacing the removed said first solenoid assembly with second solenoid assembly;
- and
- e) making the required feed wire connections to convert the first electromechanical device without a constant-current control circuit to said second electromechanical device having said constant-current control circuit.
A solenoid assembly for an electromechanical device, wherein a mechanical portion of said electromechanical device is driven by said solenoid assembly, said solenoid assembly comprising:
- a solenoid driver, including a coil, wherein power to said coil of said solenoid driver is provided by a control circuit;
- a housing surrounding said solenoid driver;
- and
- a PCB defining said control circuit,
- wherein said PCB is attached to said solenoid assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.