Universal driver circuit for actuating both valves and ordnances
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsGregory H. Smith, Roland D. Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A universal driver circuit is provided for actuating both valves and ordnances, such as the valves and ordnances carried by a missile or other unmanned air vehicle. The universal driver circuit includes at least one valve driver circuit for controllably opening and closing a valve and at least one ordnance driver circuit for controllably activating an ordnance. In addition, the universal driver circuit includes a controller capable of independently directing each valve driver circuit and each ordnance driver circuit to open the valve and to activate the ordnance, respectively.
Claims19
An apparatus for actuating both valves and ordnances comprising:
- at least one valve drive circuit for opening and closing a valve, said valve driver circuit comprising:
- a power switch for providing current to the valve in order to open the valve;
- and
- a comparator for comparing a measure of the current provided to the valve by said power switch to a predetermined value;
- at least one ordnance driver circuit for activating an ordnance, said ordnance comprising a power switch for providing current to the ordnance to activate the ordnance;
- and
- a controller, communication with both said at least one valve driver circuit and said at least one ordnance driver circuit, for independently directing said power switches of said at least one valve driver circuit and said at least one ordnance driver circuit to open the valve and to activate the ordnance, respectively, said controller also responsive to said comparator of said at least one valve driver circuit so as to modify the current provided via said power switch of said at least one valve driver circuit to maintain the current provided to the valve near the predetermined current level.
An apparatus for actuating both valves and ordnances comprising:
- a circuit board;
- at least one valve driver circuit, disposed upon said circuit board, for opening and closing a valve;
- at least one ordnance driver circuit, disposed upon the same circuit board as said at least one valve driver circuit, for activating an ordnance;
- and
- a controller, disposed upon the same circuit board as both said at least one valve driver circuit and said at least one ordnance driver circuit, for independently directing said at least one valve driver circuit and said at least one ordnance driver circuit to open the valve and to activate the ordnance, respectively.
An unmanned air vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body;
- at least one ordnance disposed within said vehicle body;
- at least one valve for delivering thrust to said vehicle body;
- a universal driver circuit for actuating both said valves and said ordnances, said universal driver circuit comprising:
- a valve driver circuit, associated with said valve, for opening and closing said valve;
- an ordnance driver circuit, associated with a respective ordnance, for activating said ordnance;
- and
- a controller for independently directing both said valve driver circuit and said ordnance driver circuit to open said valve and to activate said ordnance, respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.