Other

Vanner, Inc.

Ventron Corporation

Inpower LLC

John A Melvin

James D Sullivan

A circuit for controlling at least two power switches that are series connected between a source of electrical power and an electrical load, for energizing the load in response to a signal at a control input. The circuit includes a programmed controller having an input as the control input and a voltage sensor circuit connected to sense the voltage between the power switches and apply a voltage signal to a controller input. It may also have a sensor for sensing the current through the switches and applying a current signal to the controller. The controller inputs the voltage between the switches or the current through the switches to provide a sensed first value. It compares the sensed first value to an expected first value that exists if both switches are turned off. One of the two switches is turned on if the sensed first value is equal to the expected first value. If the first switch was turned on, the voltage at the node between the switches or the current through the switches is sensed to provide a sensed second value. The sensed second value is compared to an expected second value that exists if the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off. If the sensed second value is equal to the expected second value, the second switch is turned on. At any of these stages, if a sensed value is unequal to the expected value, turning on of the switches is aborted and both switches are turned off.

Control and operating condition monitoring of dual series switch contactors for electric motor or other electrical load

A voltage regulator protecting both the regulator and the electrical system. A flyback diode is protected by an autoprotected MOSFET in series with the flyback diode and controlling it by a drive circuit connected to the vehicle ignition switch. Protection against overcurrent is provided by a resettable fuse, having a thermal protection circuit, in series with the power switch. A relay is in series with the resettable fuse. The controlled switch is controlled by the output of a voltage detector. A latching circuit holds it open as long as the circuit remains connected to the battery. Overvoltage protection is provided by a voltage detector which opens the relay if the battery voltage exceeds a pre-selected voltage. To accommodate lead-acid and maintenance-free batteries, the regulator has two input ignition terminals one of which controls the set point voltage. The resettable fuse is physically mounted in thermal connection to the power switch which switches the field.

Battery voltage regulator protection circuits

A three terminal battery equalizer which includes a DC--DC converter has a first filter inductor in the switched, current conducting path connected to the battery ground and a second filter inductor in the switched, current path connected to the non-grounded, non-interconnected terminal of a second battery, and has a capacitor connected between the filter inductors for maintaining the same magnitude of current in the battery equalizer during the time interval when the switching transistors of the DC--DC converter are turned off, as when the transistor switches are turned on. The circuit further includes an error signal feedback circuit for controlling the transistor switches and protective feedback circuits, all providing signals which are integrated to eliminate the effect of alternating voltages, resulting from isolation of the control circuit from the battery circuit. The protective circuits include output current detection for overload protection, reverse polarity protection and temperature compensation.

Storage battery equalizer with improved, constant current output filter,

A battery equalizer for equalizing the voltage on series connected batteries synchronously switches the opposite ends of a tapped autotransformer in alternately reversing connection to the distally opposite terminals of the battery by alternately turning transistor switches on and off in alternate pairs while maintaining a center tap of the autotransformer connected to an intermediate terminal of the series batteries. Switching is accomplished by power field effect transistors and a voltage converter converts the upper battery voltage to a floating voltage so that the voltages of the two batteries can be differenced. The differenced voltage provides an error signal for driving a pulse width modulator which switches the transistors. Two protective power switching field effect transistors are interposed in the circuit and connected to prevent damage to the circuitry in the event of misconnection.

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Westerville, OH, United States of America

John A Melvin