The Boeing Company

Gregory Harris Smith

Randall Wayne Watkins

Fernando C Teran

Son T Vo

B Wayne Pauley

Kenneth A Seidner

Julio C Martinez

Ronald A Kubinski

Anton B Monge

Romy Andrade Reyes

Huan N Nguyen

David M Wheeler

Tuan T Phan

Shamoon Sikora

Roland D Clark

William L Moon

Romeo Andrade Reyes

Robert N Bassett

John J Bollinger

Troy Cobb

James D Spear

Andrade Romeo Reyes

Wayne B Pauley

Randall W Watkins

Embodiments described herein provides a low-complexity solution and current protection for a current driver that provide current pulses to pyrotechnic initiators. The current drivers include current limiters that prevent high current transients during a current pulse. Further, a duration of the current pulse is controlled based on a thermal limit of the current driver to prevent thermal damage to the current driver. One embodiment comprises an apparatus that includes a control circuit and a current driver. The current driver is electrically couplable to a pyrotechnic initiator. The current driver includes a power switch circuit electrically coupled to a supply rail that supplies a current to a high side of the pyrotechnic initiator in response to receiving a drive signal from the control circuit.

High-performance current-limited pyrotechnic initiator drive circuits

Method and apparatus for controlling pressure in a pressure vessel. A plurality of valves between a pressure source and a pressure vessel can be selectively opened or turned off, singularly or in combinations, to control pressure in the pressure vessel. A maximum pressure threshold and a minimum pressure threshold can be established based on operating considerations of the pressure vessel. One or more of the valves can be turned on when the pressure in the pressure vessel reaches the minimum pressure threshold. One or more of the valves can be turned off when the pressure in the pressure vessel reaches the maximum pressure threshold.

Valve controller for pressure stabilization

Embodiments described herein provide short circuit detection capabilities for current drivers. One embodiment includes a controller and a current driver. The current driver includes a power switch circuit that couples a supply rail to a high side of a load in response to receiving a drive signal. The current driver further includes a continuity circuit that couples the supply rail to the high side and indicates to the controller whether a first current flow to the high side exceeds a first threshold. The current driver further includes a current sense circuit that couples a low side of the load to ground and indicates to the controller whether a second current flow from the low side exceeds a second threshold. The controller identifies, based on the first current flow, the second current flow, and the drive signal, a plurality of short circuit conditions that may exist at the current driver.

Current drivers that utilize short circuit protection

Technologies for sequentially initiating squibs in one or more release mechanisms in order to reduce delay between successive squibs are provided. A squib initiation sequencer is configured to initiate squibs of one or more release mechanisms in a pre-programmed sequence. The squib initiation sequencer is further configured to detect when the initiation of each squib in the sequence is complete, and immediately move to the next sequential step without waiting the entire maximum initiation time per the squib manufacturer's specifications.

Squib initiation sequencer

A current driver system and method for generating one or more independent current signals for controlling or driving an external device. In one embodiment the system includes a programmable controller having both serial and parallel interfaces, and controls six independent current driver channels. Each current driver channel may form a dual stage channel that generates two different level current signals. Each current driver channel may include an overcurrent monitoring circuit as well as a loop back subsystem, where the loop back subsystem generates a signal that the programmable controller, and thus an external device in communication with the controller, can use to verify that proper communication is occurring between the controller and the current driver channel. The controller also synchronizes the turn on and turn off points for each current signal to a master system clock.

Multi-purpose current driver system and method

A digital programmable driver for a solenoid valve comprises at least one valve driver circuit for opening and closing the valve and a controller capable of sending an output signal to the valve driver circuit. The valve driver circuit comprises a power switch for providing current to the valve in order to open the valve. The output signal sent by the controller directs the power switch of the valve driver circuit to provide current to the valve, thereby causing the valve to open. The controller receives a plurality of parameter values, and responsive to the plurality of parameter values, calculates a rise time, a pull-in duty cycle, a fall time, and a hold duty cycle so as to modify the output signal sent to the valve driver circuit. The plurality of parameter values comprises valve resistance, valve inductance, supply voltage, valve pull-in current, valve hold current, and valve pull-in time.

Digital programmable driver for solenoid valves and associated method

Switch card apparatus are disclosed. In one embodiment, a circuit includes a first portion having a first switch adapted to be coupled to a first voltage, a second portion including a second switch, and a third portion including a third switch. The first portion activates the first switch to couple the first voltage to the second portion. Similarly, the second portion activates the second switch in response to a second input signal and the first voltage to couple a second voltage to the third portion. Finally, the third portion activates the third switch in response to a third input signal and in response to the second voltage from the second portion to couple a control voltage to a load. Embodiments of the invention provide the desired reliability suitable for a variety of electrical systems, including arming and firing applications over a wide voltage and wide current range.

Switch card apparatus and methods

An ignition isolating interrupt control circuit ( ) includes a main transition circuit ( ) isolating a first activation circuit ( ) from an ignition circuit ( ). The main transition circuit ( ) includes a source terminal ( ) that is electrically coupled to and receives a first source power from the first activation circuit ( ). An input terminal ( ) is electrically coupled to a second activation circuit ( ) and receives an activation signal. An output terminal ( ) is electrically coupled to the ignition circuit ( ) and receives and supplies the first source power to the ignition circuit ( ) in response to the activation signal. A power source monitor cutoff circuit ( ) including a comparator is electrically coupled to the first activation circuit ( ) and to the ignition circuit ( ) and disables the ignition circuit ( ) when a source voltage level is less than a predetermined voltage level.

Ignition isolating interrupt circuit

A universal driver circuit is provided for actuating both valves and ordnances, such as the valves and ordnances carried by a missile or other unmanned air vehicle. The universal driver circuit includes at least one valve driver circuit for controllably opening and closing a valve and at least one ordnance driver circuit for controllably activating an ordnance. In addition, the universal driver circuit includes a controller capable of independently directing each valve driver circuit and each ordnance driver circuit to open the valve and to activate the ordnance, respectively.

Growing community of inventors

Placentia, CA, United States of America

Gregory Harris Smith