Circuit arrangement for driving a group of relays
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorRichard Siepmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit arrangement for driving a group of relays includes a voltage regulator for supplying a normal holding voltage and for supplying a briefly increased pick-up voltage upon connection of each additional relay. An ammeter recognizes the increase in current as the result of the connection of each additional relay and generates a control signal to the voltage regulator for increasing the voltage. Simple and effective control of the relays without high heat loss is thus achieved without requiring individual sensor lines and the like.
Claims11
A circuit arrangement for controlled operating of a group of relays driven by a common drive voltage, comprising:
- switching means for activating and deactivating individually each of the relays;
- a voltage regulator having an input for receiving a control signal and an output connected to the group of relays to supply a holding voltage to the group of relays in the absence of the control signal and to supply an increased pick-up voltage to the group of relays when the control signal is received at said input;
- and
- a current sensing means for detecting an increase in total current flowing through the group of relays resulting from activation of an additional relay and for transmitting for a predetermined period of time the control signal to said input of said voltage regulator upon detection of the increase in current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.