The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 15, 2022
Filed:
Nov. 05, 2019
Semiconductor Components Industries, Llc, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Mikio Yamagishi, Fukaya, JP;
SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Abstract
A circuit configured to control a switching device to reduce a current in a charged coil is disclosed. The circuit is configured to monitor a kickback voltage generated by the decreasing current in the coil. The circuit is further configured to adjust a rate at which the current is reduced in order to limit the kickback voltage. Limiting the kickback voltage during shutdown can prevent a spark at a spark gap that is inductively coupled to the coil and can allow for greater flexibility in the time taken to shut down the coil without overheating components or generating an unwanted spark. Additional, limiting the kickback voltage during shutdown can allow for a pseudo ramp wave to control the circuit during the shutdown because voltage spikes cause by abrupt changes in the pseudo ramp wave are limited.