US 6,051,895 A · Electronic switch relay

Abstract

An electronic relay for use with an ultrasonic transducer. The electronic relay selectively couples the ultrasonic transducer to an electronic circuit. The transducer includes an input/output port for receiving excitation signals from the circuit and for transmitting echo signals back to the circuit. The electronic relay comprises a solid state switch and a leakage control circuit. The solid state switch is connected between the transducer and the electronic circuit. The switch is responsive to an actuation signal from the circuit for opening and closing the switch. The leakage control circuit is coupled to the switch and functions to control leakage current when the switch is open so as to electrically isolate the transducer from the electronic control circuit.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An electronic relay for selectively coupling a transducer to an electronic circuit, the transducer including an input/output port for receiving excitation signals from the electronic control circuit and transmitting echo signals to the electronic control circuit, said electronic relay comprising:

(a) a solid state switch having a first port connected to the input/output port of the transducer, a second port coupled to the electronic control circuit, and means for actuating said switch to electrically connect the input/output port of the transducer to the electronic control circuit in an on-state and isolate the input/output port from the electronic control circuit in an off-state, said means for actuating being responsive to a control signal from the electronic control circuit;
(b) leakage current control means coupled to said solid state switch for controlling leakage current when said solid state switch is open so that the transducer is electrically isolated from the electronic control circuit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronic switch relay

Life of this patent

Electronic switch relay

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14