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:
Feb. 06, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 20, 1994
Scott W Braun, Watertown, WI (US);
Fred W Haselow, Watertown, WI (US);
Slobodan Krstic, Brookfield, WI (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
Solenoid control circuitry can be used with either a first solenoid requiring a relatively large holding current or a second solenoid requiring a relatively small holding current. A solenoid connected with the solenoid control circuitry is initially energized to effect operation of the solenoid from an unactuated condition to an actuated condition. A detector detects whether a characteristic of the initial energization of the solenoid corresponds to a characteristic of the first solenoid or the second solenoid. The solenoid control circuitry varies the amount of holding current supplied to the solenoid as a function of whether the detector detects the first solenoid requiring the relatively large holding current or the second solenoid requiring a relatively small holding current. A fault detection circuit is provided to interrupt energization of the solenoid in the event of an excessive flow of current.