US4481554A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Voltage adaptive solenoid control apparatus
Assignee: TOWMOTOR Corp AN OH CORP
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Filing: 1983-08-18
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Granted: 1984-11-06
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Expires: 2003-08-18
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus (10) is provided for controllably operating at least one solenoid coil (12) in a battery operated system. The mean voltage applied to the coil (12) is controlled in response to at least the battery voltage, facilitating the use of various battery voltages with a single voltage coil (12). The apparatus (10) is readily adapted for controlling multiple coils (12) and is digital in design.
Inventors
- 👤 Gwenne A. E. Henricks
- 👤 William Pickering
- 👤 Wayne T. Wiblin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:54
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H47/00; H01H47/22; H01H47/32; H01H47/325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
In an apparatus (10) for controllably operating at least one solenoid coil (12), said apparatus (10) including a battery (14) and at least one coil switch (16), the improvement comprising: means (18) for receiving the battery voltage and producing a digital signal in response to said received voltage; means (20) for receiving said digital signal, comparing said signal with a multi-bit digital reference signal, and producing a predetermined output signal in response to said compared signals; and, logic means (24) for receiving said predetermined output signal and at least one coil command signal and delivering said output signal to at least one of said switches (16) in response to receiving both of said output and command signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
In an apparatus (10) for controllably operating at least one solenoid coil (12), said apparatus (10) including a battery (14) and at least one coil switch (16), the improvement comprising: means (18) for receiving the battery voltage and producing a digital signal in response to said received voltage; means (20) for receiving said digital signal, comparing said signal with a multi-bit digital reference signal, and producing a predetermined output signal in response to said compared signals; and, logic means (24) for receiving said predetermined output signal and at least one coil command signal and delivering said output signal to at least one of said switches (16) in response to receiving both of said output and command signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means (18) for receiving the battery voltage includes a plurality of voltage magnitude detectors (58,60,62,64), each having a predetermined magnitude reference value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reference signal varies in response to time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 3, wherein said predetermined output signal is a pulse train having a duty factor responsive to said compared signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 4, wherein said duty factor varies inversely with said battery voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 1, including at least one means (30) for receiving said coil command signal and continuously energizing said switch (16) for a predetermined time in response to receiving said command signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 1, including means (28) for continuously energizing said switch (16) in response to receiving said command signal and to said battery voltage having a magnitude less than a predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of coils (12), each of said coils (12) having a respective coil switch (16) and logic element (26).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 8, wherein the same predetermined output signal and a different coil command signal is delivered to each of said logic elements (26).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus (10) for operating at least one solenoid coil (12), said coil (12) being controllably connected to a battery (14) through a coil switch (16), comprising: an analog to digital converter (56) having an input (66,68,70,72) connected to said battery (14), and a set of outputs (98,124,126,102); a digital comparator (152) having a first set of inputs (154) connected to said converter outputs (98,124,126,102), a second set of inputs (156) connected to a digital reference signal generator (22), and an output (158); and, a logic circuit (26) having a first input (168) connected to said comparator output (158), a second input (170) connected to a command signal generator (172), and an output (206) connected to said coil switch (16).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus (10) for operating at least one solenoid coil (12), said coil (12) being controllably connected to a battery (14) through a coil switch (16), comprising: an analog to digital converter (56) having an input (66,68,70,72) connected to said battery (14), and a set of outputs (98,124,126,102); a digital comparator (152) having a first set of inputs (154) connected to said converter outputs (98,124,126,102), a second set of inputs (156) connected to a digital reference signal generator (22), and an output (158); and, a logic circuit (26) having a first input (168) connected to said comparator output (158), a second input (170) connected to a command signal generator (172), and an output (206) connected to said coil switch (16).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 10, wherein said analog to digital converter (56) includes a plurality of voltage magnitude comparators (58,60,62,64), each of said comparators (58,60,62,64) having a first input (66,68,70,72) connected to said battery (14) and a second input (74,76,78,80) connected to a different reference voltage source (82), and an output (96,98,100,102); and, a plurality of logic gates (106,112,118) having inputs (104,108,110,114,116) connected to said comparator outputs (96,98,100,102) and outputs (124,126) connected to said comparator first inputs (154).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 10, wherein said reference signal generator (22) includes a digital counter (136).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 10, wherein said logic circuit second input (170) includes a time delay circuit (30).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus (10), as set forth in claim 10, including a plurality of solenoid coils (12), each of said coils (12) having a respective coil switch (16) and logic circuit (26), each of said logic circuits (26) having an output (206) connected to the respective switch (16), a first input (168) connected to said comparator (152) and a second input (170) connected to a command circuit generator (172).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-11-06 | 1988-05-07 | 1988-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-11-06 | 1992-05-07 | 1992-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-11-06 | 1996-05-07 | 1996-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |