Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Control circuits for electromagnetic devices – For relays or solenoids
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-21
2002-01-01
Tso, Edward H. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Control circuits for electromagnetic devices
For relays or solenoids
Reexamination Certificate
active
06335854
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a driver for a high voltage relay, and more particularly to a high voltage relay driver having a switching circuit and a transformer.
BACKGROUND ART
Typically, in satellite systems, a power controller is used to control the propulsion thruster system for the satellite. In general, the power controller has a power supply that requires switching of large signals.
Switching large signals is commonly achieved by relay technology. A relay driver is used to operate the relays, usually by means of a switching circuit having a transformer. In the prior art, the transformer, also known as an isolation transformer, processes an entire command pulse in one cycle. Therefore, the size of the transformer is typically 16 cubic inches, which is quite large especially for space applications.
It is a goal in most applications, and particularly space applications, to reduce the size and weight of components used on board a spacecraft. At the same time, it is critical that the operation and reliability of the application are not compromised in any way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a high voltage isolated relay driver that significantly reduces the size and weight of an isolation transformer. The present invention provides a method and apparatus that reduces the size of the isolation transformer by processing a command pulse in many cycles instead of one cycle. It is possible using the method and apparatus of the present invention to reduce the size and weight of the isolation transformer from the typical 16 cubic inches, to one cubic inch or less.
In the present invention, a switching circuit is provided that divides the command pulse into many smaller pulses. The smaller pulses are imposed on the isolation transformer, which in turn drives the high voltage relay. Because the transformer is processing many smaller pulses, it can be small in physical size and still provide the high voltage isolation necessary to drive the relay.
The present invention has a circuit to divide the command pulse into a series of smaller pulses. The output of the transformer is converted to a DC pulse. Each side of a relay is attached to a driver circuit, such that the relay can be driven in two directions.
It is an object of the present invention to provide high voltage isolation for a relay driver. It is another object of the present invention to significantly reduce the size and weight of a transformer component used in the relay driver.
It is a further object of the present invention to divide a command pulse into a series of smaller pulses so that the size of the transformer can be significantly reduced.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4951468 (1990-08-01), Sasajima et al.
patent: 5914622 (1999-06-01), Inoue
Gudmestad Terje
Tso Edward H.
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