Medium-voltage drivers in a safety application
AssigneeNXP B.V.
InventorLuc van Dijk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a current driver for controlling a safety control device, including: a clamp circuit connected to a first output configured to clamp the voltage at the first output to a clamp voltage value, wherein the first output is configured to be connected to a high voltage switch; a plurality of medium voltage switches; a plurality of switch drivers, wherein each switch driver is connected to one of the medium voltage switches; a plurality of second outputs wherein each of the plurality of second outputs are configured to be connected across one of a plurality of loads; and a controller configured to control the high voltage switch.
Claims18
A safety control device, comprising:
- a clamp circuit connected to a first output configured to clamp a voltage at the first output to a clamp voltage value, wherein the first output is configured to be connected to a high voltage switch;
- a plurality of medium voltage switches;
- a plurality of switch drivers, wherein each switch driver is connected to one of the plurality of medium voltage switches;
- a plurality of second outputs, wherein each of the plurality of second outputs is configured to be connected across one of a plurality of loads;
- and
- a controller configured to control the high voltage switch.
A safety control device, comprising:
- a clamp circuit connected to a first output configured to clamp a voltage at the first output to a clamp voltage value, wherein the first output is configured to be connected to a high voltage switch;
- a plurality of second outputs, wherein each of the plurality of second outputs is configured to be connected to one of a plurality of medium voltage switches and its associated load;
- a plurality of switch drivers each connected to one of the plurality of second outputs, wherein each switch driver is configured to be connected to one of the medium voltage switches;
- and
- a controller configured to control the high voltage switch.
A method of controlling a maximum voltage applied to loads, comprising:
- controlling a state of a high voltage switch;
- controlling a state of a plurality of medium voltage switches, wherein the medium voltage switches have an associated load;
- detecting an over voltage situation;
- and
- clamping a voltage at the high voltage switch to a clamp voltage value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.