International Business Machines Corporation

Errol Ray Williams, Jr

J Rothe Kinnard

A driving circuit for driving a number of solenoid type devices which have very accurate voltage requirements and which utilizes the inductive kick of both the driven devices and internal transformers to efficiently utilize power. A feedback path is provided to an integrated circuit regulator to provide an indication of the power being consumed by the devices. The integrated circuit regulator, along with accompanying circuitry, regulates the voltage output by a power driver such that the voltage output remains steady regardless of the number of solenoid type devices which are being operated. In addition, a feedback path is also provided from each of the driven devices and the internal transformers to the power source such that when the devices are deenergized logically, the inductive kick from each of the devices and the transformers is applied to the power source for power conservation as well as to prevent the necessity for having heat sinks to dissipate the power. In addition, this feedback to the power source is clamped at a controlled minimum voltage to protect the transistors in the power driver to prevent damage to them. The circuit thus provides an ideal current for driving an inductive load since the inductive kick results in a rapid fall of the current through the winding such that the armature of the solenoids can be returned to their deenergized position by an inexpensive spring arrangement.

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Leander, TX, United States of America

Errol Ray Williams, Jr