Pulsed-energy controllers and methods of operation thereof

A controller circuit for electromagnetic actuators having at least one energizing coil with first and second coil leads comprising:

• first and second switches;
• an inductor having first and second inductor leads, the first inductor lead being coupled to a first power supply terminal, the first and second inductor leads being coupled to the first coil lead through first and second diodes, respectively;
• the first switch controllably coupling the second inductor lead to a second power supply terminal;
• the second switch controllably coupling the second coil lead to the second power supply terminal, and,
• a third switch and a third diode coupled in series together and in parallel with the inductor between the first and second inductor leads.

A controller circuit for electromagnetic actuators having at least one energizing coil with first and second coil leads, the controller circuit comprising:

• a first switch having a first switch terminal, a second switch terminal, and a first switch control terminal;
• a second switch having a third switch terminal, a fourth switch terminal, and a second switch control terminal;
• a third switch having a fifth switch terminal, a sixth switch terminal, and a third switch control terminal, the fifth switch terminal coupled to the second coil lead;
• a first inductor having a first inductor lead and a second inductor lead, the first inductor lead coupled to a positive voltage supply and the second inductor lead coupled to the first switch terminal of the first switch;
• a second inductor having a third inductor lead and a fourth inductor lead, the third inductor lead coupled to the positive voltage supply and the fourth inductor lead coupled to the third switch terminal of the second switch;
• a first diode having a first anode and a first cathode, the first anode coupled to the positive voltage supply and the first cathode coupled to the first coil lead;
• a second diode having a second anode and a second cathode, the second anode coupled to the second inductor lead and the first terminal of the first switch, the second cathode coupled to the first cathode and the first coil lead;
• a third diode having a third anode and a third cathode, the third anode coupled to the fourth inductor lead of the second inductor and the third switch terminal of the second switch, the third cathode coupled to the first coil lead and the first cathode and second cathode of the first and second diodes respectively and the first coil lead;
• the first switch controllably coupling the second inductor lead of the first inductor to a low level voltage supply responsive to the first switch control terminal;
• the second switch controllably coupling the fourth inductor lead to the low level voltage supply responsive to the second switch control terminal, and,
• the third switch controllably coupling the second coil lead to the low level voltage supply responsive to the third switch control terminal.

A method of rapidly energizing an electromagnetic actuator having at least one energizing coil to move a movable member, the method comprising:

• establishing a first current through a first inductor in a first circuit;
• coupling the first inductor in series with the coil in a second circuit;
• interrupting the first circuit and directing the first current in the first inductor of the first circuit to flow through the coil in the second circuit;
• establishing a second current through a second inductor in a third circuit;
• coupling the second inductor in series with the coil in the second circuit;
• and
• interrupting the third circuit and directing the second current in the second inductor of the third circuit to flow through the coil in the second circuit.

A controller circuit for electromagnetic actuators having a first energizing coil to move a movable member of the electromagnetic actuator in a first direction and a second energizing coil to move the movable member of the electromagnetic actuator in a second direction, comprising:

• the first coil having first and second coil leads;
• first and second switches;
• a first inductor having first and second inductor leads, the first inductor lead being coupled to a first power supply terminal, the first and second inductor leads being coupled to the first coil lead through first and second diodes, respectively;
• the first switch controllably coupling the second inductor lead to a second power supply terminal;
• the second switch controllably coupling the second coil lead to the second power supply terminal;
• the second coil having third and fourth coil leads;
• third and fourth switches;
• a second inductor having third and fourth inductor leads, the third inductor lead being coupled to the first power supply terminal, the third and fourth inductor leads being coupled to the third coil lead through third and fourth diodes, respectively;
• the third switch controllably coupling the fourth inductor lead to the second power supply terminal;
• and,
• the fourth switch controllably coupling the fourth coil lead to the second power supply terminal.