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. 05, 2016
Filed:
Aug. 13, 2012
Riccardo Viancino, Turin, IT;
Fabio Bernardi, Osasco, IT;
Giovanni Giuffre', Turin, IT;
MAGNETI MARELLI S.P.A., Corbetta, IT;
Abstract
A discharge device and method actively discharge a main capacitor in an electric-power system of an electric-drive vehicle. The discharge device comprises a discharge branch of a circuit that is connected in parallel to the main capacitor and includes a discharge transistor that is biased to 'conduction' mode when the main capacitor is required to be discharged. A control device is connected to a 'gate/base' terminal of the discharge transistor and commands the discharge transistor, biasing the discharge resistor to “conduction” mode when the main capacitor is required to be discharged. The control device includes a safety capacitor that is interposed between the “gate/base” terminal and a power supply and charges when the discharge transistor is in the “conduction” mode, causing a progressive decrease of current at the “gate/base” terminal, until the discharge transistor is biased to the “non-conductive” state.