Electric relay control circuit
AssigneeYazaki North America, Inc.
InventorsSam Guo, James Jones, III, Chidambarakrishnan Rajesh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit and method for controlling two or more electric relays, wherein at least one of the relays are rated to handle a higher voltage level while at least one of the relays are rated to handle a lower voltage level. A controller selectively activates the relays such that the higher voltage rated relay(s) open before but close after the lower voltage rated relay(s) within the system.
Claims20
An electric relay circuit for providing current to a load, comprising:
- at least one first relay, said first relay rated for a first voltage level;
- at least one second relay connected in series with said first relay, said at least one second relay rated for a second voltage level that is less than said first voltage level;
- and
- a controller that selectively activates said first relay and said second relay so that said second relay closes before said first relay closes, wherein the current is substantially switched to the load through said at least one first relay when said at least one first relay is closed.
A method for selectively connecting a plurality of power sources to a load comprising the steps of:
- closing at least one first relay that is connected in series to a first power source, said first relay being rated for a first voltage level;
- and
- subsequent to closing said first relay, closing a second relay that is connected in series to said first power source and to a second power source, said second relay being rated for a second voltage level that is greater than said first voltage level, to connect said first and second power sources in series to a load, wherein the current is substantially switched to the load through said at least one first relay when said at least one first relay is closed.
An electric circuit, comprising:
- a first relay connected in series with a first power source and a load, said first relay being rated for a first voltage level;
- a plurality of lower-voltage relays each connected in series with a plurality of corresponding additional power sources, said lower-voltage relays being rated for one or more voltage levels lower than said first voltage level, wherein said series of lower-voltage relays is coupled between said first power source and ground;
- and
- a controller configured to selectively close said plurality of lower-voltage relays and subsequently close said first relay to connect said first power source and said additional power sources to a load, wherein the current is substantially switched to the load through said first relay when said first relay is closed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.