Detecting a position of an armature in an electromagnetic actuator
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsAndrew E. Carlson, Kyle B. Adkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system may include an armature configured to move between a first position that electrically couples the armature to a first contact and a second position that electrically couples the armature to a second contact. The system may also include a coil configured receive a current, such that the current conducting in the coil is configured to magnetize a core. The magnetized core may cause the armature to move from the first position to the second position. The system may also include a control system configured to detect a position of the armature based on an inductance of the coil.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- an armature configured to move between a first position that electrically couples the armature to a first contact and a second position that electrically couples the armature to a second contact;
- a coil configured receive a current, wherein the current conducting in the coil is configured to magnetize a core, thereby causing the armature to move from the first position to the second position;
- and
- a control system configured to detect a position of the armature based on an inductance of the coil.
A method, comprising:
- sending, via circuitry, a plurality of gate signals to a plurality of switches configured to cause the plurality of switches to open, wherein the plurality of switches is part of an H-bridge circuit;
- sending, via the circuitry, a first signal to a first switch, wherein the first signal is configured to cause the first switch to close;
- sending, via the circuitry, a pulse-width modulated signal to a second switch that is part of the H-bridge circuit;
- and
- measuring, via the circuitry, a current conducting via the first switch while the pulse-width modulated signal is provided to the second switch, wherein the current corresponds to a state of an actuator coil.
A circuit, comprising:
- a plurality of switches configured to be part of an H-bridge circuit;
- a coil configured to magnetize a core of an actuator based on a current conducting in the coil;
- a diode configured to couple to the coil;
- a resistor configured to couple to the diode;
- and
- a switch configured to couple to the resistor, wherein the switch is configured to close and conduct the current received from the coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.