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US 5,627,411 AGranted
Switching circuit with lockout feature
AssigneeAtoma International Inc.
InventorJeffrey Bochenek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical circuit for a switch having a lockout feature is described. The circuit permits both a primary operator and an auxiliary operator to operate a bi-directional motor by activating separate low-current switches. The circuitry enables the primary operator to disable the auxiliary operator's ability to operate the motor by activating a lockout switch. With the lockout switch activated, the primary operator can operate the motor without interference from the auxiliary operator. High-current power switches, activated via logic circuitry rather than by the operators, are used to complete a power circuit for energizing the motor.
Claims20
An electrical circuit for selectively activating a bi-directional motor in a first or a second direction comprising:
- a power source;
- a bi-directional motor having a first and a second motor terminal;
- a lockout switch switchable between an ON and an OFF position, said lockout switch outputting a lockout signal reflective of said lockout switch position;
- a first primary switch switchable between an ON and an OFF position, said first primary switch outputting a first primary signal reflective of said first primary switch position;
- a second primary switch switchable between an ON and an OFF position, said second primary switch outputting a second primary signal reflective of said second primary switch position;
- a first auxiliary switch switchable between an ON and an OFF position, said first auxiliary switch outputting a first auxiliary signal reflective of said first auxiliary switch position;
- a second auxiliary switch switchable between an ON and an OFF position, said second auxiliary switch outputting a second auxiliary signal reflective of said second auxiliary switch position;
- a primary circuit having means for supplying a first tri-state signal having a level responsive to said lockout signal and said first primary signal, and a second tri-state signal having a level responsive to said lockout signal and said second primary signal;
- an auxiliary circuit having means for supplying a first switching signal having a level responsive to said first auxiliary signal and said first tri-state signal, and a second switching signal having a level responsive to said second auxiliary signal and said second tri-state signal;
- a first power switch for connecting said power source to said first motor terminal in response to said first switching signal;
- a second power switch for connecting said power source to said second motor terminal in response to said second switching signal;
- wherein said bi-directional motor is operated in said first direction by switching ON one of said first primary switch and said first auxiliary switch and said bi-directional motor is operated in said second direction by switching ON one of said second primary switch and said second auxiliary switch, said first and second auxiliary switches causing said motor to operate only when said lockout switch is OFF.
9 more elements
An electrical circuit for controlling a passenger window in a passenger vehicle comprising:
- a power source;
- a window motor having first and second motor terminals;
- a driver lockout switch switchable between an ON and an OFF position, said lockout switch outputting a lockout signal reflective of said lockout switch position;
- a normally neutral driver switch selectively switchable from said neutral position to one of an UP position and a DOWN position, said driver switch outputting a driver UP signal reflecting said driver switch being in said UP position and said driver switch outputting a driver DOWN signal reflecting said driver switch being in said DOWN position;
- a normally neutral passenger switch selectively switchable from said neutral position to one of an UP position and a DOWN position, said passenger switch outputting a passenger UP signal reflecting said passenger switch being in said UP position and said passenger switch outputting a passenger DOWN signal reflecting said passenger switch being in said DOWN position;
- a driver UP circuit having means for supplying an UP tri-state signal, said UP tri-state signal having a level responsive to said lockout signal and said driver UP signal;
- a driver DOWN circuit having means for supplying a DOWN tri-state signal, said DOWN tri-state signal having a level responsive to said lockout signal and said driver DOWN signal;
- a passenger UP circuit having means for supplying an UP switching signal having a level responsive to said UP tri-state signal and said passenger UP signal;
- a passenger DOWN circuit having means for supplying a DOWN switching signal having a level responsive to said DOWN tri-state signal and said passenger DOWN signal;
- an UP power switch for connecting said power source to said first window motor terminal in response to said UP switching signal;
- a DOWN power switch for connecting said power source to said second window motor terminal in response to said DOWN switching signal;
- wherein said window motor is operated by activating one of said driver switch and said passenger switch, said passenger switch causing said window motor to operate only when said lockout switch is OFF.
9 more elements
An electrical circuit for controlling a passenger window in a passenger vehicle comprising:
- a power source;
- a window motor having first and second motor terminals;
- a driver lockout switch switchable between an ON and an OFF position, said lockout switch outputting a lockout signal reflective of said lockout switch position;
- a normally neutral driver switch selectively switchable from said neutral position to one of an UP position and a DOWN position, said driver switch outputting a driver UP signal reflecting said driver switch being in said UP position and said driver switch outputting a driver DOWN signal reflecting said driver switch being in said DOWN position;
- a normally neutral passenger switch selectively switchable from said neutral position to one of an UP position and a DOWN position, said passenger switch outputting a passenger UP signal reflecting said passenger switch being in said UP position and said passenger switch outputting a passenger DOWN signal reflecting said passenger switch being in said DOWN position;
- a driver circuit having means for supplying an UP tri-state signal, said UP tri-state signal having a level responsive to said lockout signal and said driver UP signal, and a DOWN tri-state signal, said DOWN tri-state signal having a level responsive to said lockout signal and said driver DOWN signal;
- a passenger circuit having means for supplying an UP switching signal having a level responsive to said UP tri-state signal and said passenger UP signal, and a DOWN switching signal having a level responsive to said DOWN tri-state signal and said passenger DOWN signal;
- an UP power switch for connecting said power source to said first window motor terminal in response to said UP switching signal;
- a DOWN power switch for connecting said power source to said second window motor terminal in response to said DOWN switching signal;
- wherein said window motor is operated by activating one of said driver switch and said passenger switch, said passenger switch causing said window motor to operate only when said lockout switch is OFF.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.