Isolated voltage detection with current limiters
AssigneeKoninklijke Fabriek Inventum B.V.
InventorDennis Mulders
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Abstract
A circuit comprises an optical coupling including an illuminator optically coupled to an optical sensor to output a voltage from the optical sensor based on intensity of illumination from the illuminator. The circuit includes a voltage input node with a resistance connected in series between the voltage input and a Zener diode. A method includes powering an illuminator with current from a first voltage input node. The method includes sensing illumination level in illumination from the illuminator with a sensor and outputting output proportionate to illumination sensed by the sensor indicative of voltage detected at the voltage input node. The method can include limiting current between the voltage input node and the illuminator.
Claims15
A circuit comprising:
- an optical coupling including an illuminator optically coupled to an optical sensor to output a voltage from the optical sensor based on intensity of illumination from the illuminator;
- a voltage input node with a resistance connected in series between the voltage input and a Zener diode oriented to block current from the voltage input node through the resistance below a threshold voltage, and to allow current from the voltage input node through the resistance above the threshold voltage, wherein the Zener diode is operatively connected to the illuminator to power the illuminator;
- and
- a current limiter connected between the voltage input node and the Zener diode to provide consistent current to the illuminator above the threshold voltage.
A method of voltage detection in an aircraft oven comprising:
- powering an illuminator with current from a first voltage input node;
- sensing illumination level in illumination from the illuminator with a sensor and outputting output proportionate to illumination sensed by the sensor indicative of voltage detected at the voltage input node, wherein powering the illuminator includes limiting current between the voltage input node and the illuminator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.