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:
Jul. 25, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 24, 1996
Gregory G Imblum, Monroeville, PA (US);
Charles H Etheridge, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
William R Frank, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and a method for controlling and detecting faults in a pump system for use in a gas detection device. The system comprises a power source and a switch in operative or electrical connection with the power source. The system further comprises a pump motor in operative connection with the switch such that the pump motor receives energy from the power source when the switch in a first state, and the pump motor does not receive energy from the power source when the switch in a second state. The system preferably also comprises regeneration circuitry in operative connection with the pump motor. The regeneration circuitry operates to redirect energy produced from momentum of the pump motor while the switch is in the second state back to the pump motor. Transmitting circuitry is preferably provided to transmit a motor signal proportional to the speed of the pump motor during the second state of the switch. Preferably, the switch is modulated between the first state and the second state using a processing or control unit such as a microprocessor. The processing unit preferably controls the modulation of switch in response to the motor signal received from the transmitting circuitry.