Solenoid driver circuit
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A drive circuit, comprising:
- a solenoid;
a boost device that stores energy; and
at least one switch that controls current flow through the solenoid and the boost device by directing energy from the boost device to the solenoid in a first state and directing energy from the solenoid to the boost device for storage in a second state, wherein at least one of a current rise rate and a current fall rate in the solenoid is controlled by the solenoid and the boost device.
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Abstract
A solenoid drive circuit includes a boost energy storage device, such as a capacitor, that captures energy from and discharges energy to a solenoid. Switches control the connection between the boost device, the solenoid, and a power source. This allows the solenoid response time to be variable based on the characteristics of the boost device as well as the solenoid. By providing two different solenoid current rise and decay rates and by capturing and re-using energy stored in the solenoid, the inventive drive circuit enhances solenoid response and increases efficiency.
35 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A drive circuit, comprising:
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a solenoid;
a boost device that stores energy; and
at least one switch that controls current flow through the solenoid and the boost device by directing energy from the boost device to the solenoid in a first state and directing energy from the solenoid to the boost device for storage in a second state, wherein at least one of a current rise rate and a current fall rate in the solenoid is controlled by the solenoid and the boost device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A drive circuit, comprising:
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a solenoid;
a power source;
a boost device that stores energy;
a first switch and a second switch that control current flow through the solenoid and the boost device by discharging energy from the boost device to the solenoid in a first state and directing energy from the solenoid to the boost device for storage in a second state, a switch controller that controls operation of the first switch and the second switch;
a first current steering device and a second current steering device that selectively direct current through the solenoid, the power source, and the boost devices based on the states of the first switch and the second switch;
wherein at least one of a current rise rate and a current fall rate in the solenoid is controlled by the solenoid and the boost device at a first rate and a second rate slower than the first rate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for operating a drive circuit having a solenoid, a power source, a boost device that stores energy and at least one switch that controls current flow through the solenoid, the method comprising:
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charging the solenoid by discharging current from the boost device to the solenoid at a first rate, and charging the solenoid from the power supply at a second rate slower than the first rate;
discharging the solenoid; and
charging the boost device during the discharging step by capturing energy from the solenoid during the discharging step in the boost device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A drive circuit, comprising:
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a solenoid;
a boost device that stores energy, wherein at least one of a current rise rate and a current fall rate in the solenoid occurs at a first rate and at a second rate different than the first rate;
a controller that controls current flow through the solenoid and the boost device according to a plurality of operating modes, in which in a first operating mode, current flows from the boost device to the solenoid at the first rate;
in a second operating mode, current alternately flows between the solenoid and the boost device at the second rate. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification