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Thermal clamp for an ignition coil driver

  • US 5,045,964 A
  • Filed: 04/30/1990
  • Issued: 09/03/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A circuit for driving an inductive load coupled thereto, comprising:

  • charging means for providing current through the inductive load when enabled and for inhibiting current through the inductive load when disabled;

    a control circuit being responsive to a first input logic signal for providing a first output logic signal for enabling and disabling said charging means when said first output logic signal respectively is in a first and second logic state, said control circuit being responsive to a second input logic signal for both providing a second output logic signal and causing said first output logic signal to be in said second logic state; and

    thermal clamping means responsive to said second output logic signal and being coupled between the inductive load and said charging means for providing current to said charging means thereby enabling said charging means to both discharge the inductive load at a predetermined rate and clamp the voltage across the inductive load to a predetermined voltage wherein a collapse of current through the inductive load is prevented.

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