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:
Aug. 12, 2025
Filed:
Jul. 08, 2022
Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp., Kirkland, WA (US);
Frederick J. Potter, Trumbauersville, PA (US);
Patrick Mills, Bradenton, FL (US);
Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp., Kirkland, WA (US);
Abstract
The present invention detects contact bouncing in a contactor by measuring contact voltage fluctuations caused by the bouncing power delivery contacts controlled by the contactor. When these fluctuations are detected, a circuit causes a pull-in coil of the contactor to be temporarily re-energized to re-establish a higher magnetic field needed to pull and maintain the power delivery contacts into proper position, which eliminates the bouncing. Because of the high power required by the pull-in coil, the time that the pull-in coil is actuated is limited in order to avoid thermal damage to the coil or other electronic components. After the pull-in coil is activated to move the power delivery contacts into proper position, a lower magnetic field hold coil is instead energized to maintain the power delivery contacts in place. The time that the pull-in coil is activated is dynamic and correspond to each disturbance as the disturbance happens, or the time is a set time determined by a timer, or the time is controlled by a Pulse Width Modulation scheme.