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. 21, 2015
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2012
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
John F. Stickelmaier, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Philip D. Nguyen, Seal Beach, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A relay telemetry system enables an ion propulsion system to self-test the critical relay configuration prior to supplying high-voltage power to any thruster. This test detects whether any critical relay has failed to switch properly or is in the wrong configuration. In the test mode, an onboard computer initiates the application of a low-voltage test voltage (nominally 15 V) to the high-voltage circuits (when the high voltage is off) by a stimulus circuit. Sensing circuits detect the inputs and outputs of the system connections in response to this stimulus. If the test voltage appears on an input or output where it is not expected, then a relay fault has occurred and will be detectable in telemetry sent back to the onboard computer.