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:
Jan. 19, 1988
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1986
Bay Estes, Palatine, IL (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
Disclosed is an arrangement for controlling the current in a solenoid. A microcomputer is used to control three states of a 3-state output device (high impedance, high and low) which are designed to correspond to three current modes of the solenoid: no current, full current and reduced current. The 3-state output device produces a signal which is used to control a solenoid drive circuit. The drive circuit includes first means for generating a first drive signal in response to the 3-state signal being in the high impedance state or the low state, and second means for generating a second drive signal in response to the 3-state signal being in the high impedance state or the high state. The circuit further includes third means for coupling the first and second drive signals to the solenoid such that the current in the solenoid is controlled according to the states of the 3-state signal.