US 6,650,522 B2 · Semiconductor relay system and method for controlling the semiconductor relay system

Abstract

Because a semiconductor relay system of this invention comprises an across-element voltage detecting circuit 116 which delivers an across-element voltage detection signal depending on the presence/absence of an across-element voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold; an element driving circuit 112 for delivering an element driving signal in response to a control input signal; a logic-based judgement circuit 119 for delivering a logic-based judgement signal depending on the presence/absence of an across-element voltage detection signal; and a filtration circuit for removing a logic-based judgement signal of external disturbing elements to produce an element safety check signal, it is possible to reliably detect the disorder of a triac 114.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A semiconductor relay system comprising a semiconductor element portion which is inserted between terminals to connect/intercept passage of alternating current between the terminals in response to an element driving signal, and further comprising:

a both-end voltage detection circuit which detects a both-end voltage applied to both ends of the semiconductor element portion, which determines whether or not the both-end voltage stands within a predetermined detection threshold range, and which generates an across-element voltage detection signal with a predetermined pulse width based on the results of the determination;
and
an element disorder detecting circuit determines for the presence/absence of a disorder in the semiconductor element portion, based on the presence/absence of the element driving signal and the presence/absence of the across-element voltage detection signal.

A semiconductor relay system comprising:

a load circuit for driving a load being energized by a load power supply;
a for-safety intercepting portion having contacts through which connection/interception of the load with/from the load power supply is achieved in the load circuit;
a dummy load portion which enables disorder detection by insuring a route for the passage through the semiconductor element portion in case passage through the load is intercepted;
and
a control means, which puts the system into an initial check state when power is turned on during a state where no power is supplied to the semiconductor element portion, dummy load portion and for-safety intercepting portion, and then checks for the presence of disorder in the for-safety intercepting portion;
when it finds, based on the detection result, the for-safety intercepting portion is not in disorder, checks for the presence of disorder in the semiconductor element portion;
and when it finds, based on the detection result, the semiconductor element portion is not in disorder, insures connection of the for-safety intercepting circuit, thereby putting the load circuit into operation.

4 more elements

A semiconductor relay system comprising:

a load circuit for driving a load being energized by a load power supply;
a semiconductor element portion for controlling the load circuit;
an element driving circuit for driving the semiconductor element portion via an element driving signal;
a for-safety intercepting portion having contacts through which connection/interception of the load with/from the load power supply is achieved in the load circuit;
a sensor portion for monitoring the operation of the semiconductor element portion;
an element disorder detecting circuit for detecting disorder in the semiconductor element portion by comparing a sensor output signal from the sensor portion with an element driving signal from the element driving circuit, and for delivering an element safety check signal, when it finds the semiconductor element portion is in disorder;
a dummy load portion which enables disorder detection by insuring a route for the passage through the semiconductor element portion in case passage through the load is intercepted;
an intercepting circuit monitoring circuit which, when it finds the for-safety intercepting portion is normally operable, delivers an intercepting relay safety check signal;
an initial control circuit which, when power is turned on, activates the dummy load portion to enable the safety of the semiconductor element portion to be checked, intercepts the entry of a control input signal from outside, thereby allowing an element portion initial check signal to enter the element driving circuit, and a for-safety intercepting portion check signal to enter the intercepting circuit monitoring circuit, so as to check the welding of contacts of the for-safety intercepting portion;
and
a logic circuit which delivers a safety check signal to the for-safety intercepting portion when it finds the element safety check signal and the intercepting relay safety check signal rising to a high level.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Semiconductor relay system and method for controlling the semiconductor relay system

Life of this patent

Semiconductor relay system and method for controlling the semiconductor relay system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29