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:
Apr. 19, 2022
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2017
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Gregory Harris Smith, Placentia, CA (US);
Kenneth A. Seidner, Fountain Valley, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
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.