Circuit arrangement for mutually independant switching of several inductive switching units in paralell

• US 5,909,353 A
• Filed: 08/07/1997
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Temic Telefunken Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Temic Telefunken Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Gutbrod, Wolfgang, Breu, Gunther, Alberter, Gunther
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM NGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/908,313
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 361/159, 361/152-156, 361/191
• US Class Current: 361/191
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/36 including a pilot valve responding to an electromagnetic force
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/2041 for controlling the current in the free-wheeling phase
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/2075 Type of transistors or particular use thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/20 Output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/1877 controlling a plurality of loads
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/04163 in field-effect transistor switches

Abstract

A circuit arrangement for independently switching the induction coils of several d.c.-operated solenoid valves connected in parallel that, with a reduction of power loss, features a disconnection time which is independent of the voltage of the d.c. voltage source.

Claims

1. Circuit arrangement with a d.c. voltage source for switching independently of each other several inductive switch units connected in parallel, wherein:

each inductive switch unit is made up of an inductive load, a main switch and a blocking diode;

the blocking diodes are connected to a common connection between the inductive loads and the main switches and connected in the reverse direction with the minus pole of the d.c. voltage sources;

the inductive switch units are connected in parallel to a free-wheeling circuit including a free- wheeling diode;

the free-wheeling circuit is connected, at a junction between the inductive loads and the free-wheeling diode, via a free-wheeling switch to the minus pole of the d.c. voltage source; and

, in the free-wheeling circuit between the plus pole of the d.c. voltage source and said junctions, a switch group is arranged that blocks the free-wheeling circuit when at least one of the inductive switch units is disconnected until the voltage between the inductive loads and the switch group exceeds a threshold value at said junction.

2. Circuit arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inductive loads of the inductive switch units are inductive coils of solenoid valves.

3. Circuit arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the switch group in the free-wheeling circuit has a metal oxide field effect transistor with a suitable circuitry.

4. Circuit arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the threshold value is the maximum permissible voltage for the free-wheeling switch.

5. Circuit arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein free-wheeling switch, free-wheeling diode, blocking diodes and switch group are an integrated circuit arrangement.

6. Circuit arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the disconnection time of the inductive switch units is independent of the voltage of the d.c. voltage source.

7. Circuit arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein part of the energy stored in the magnetic field of the inductive switch units is fed back to the d.c. voltage source.

8. Circuit arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the current through the free-wheeling switch is regulated by means of pulse width modulation.

9. Circuit arrangement with a d.c. voltage source for switching, independently of each other, several inductive switch units, comprising:

a plurality of inductive switch units connected in parallel, with each inductive switch unit including the series connection of an inductive load and a main switch, and a blocking diode which is connected between a common connection of the inductive load and the main switch and the minus pole of the d.c. voltage source in the reverse direction;

a free-wheeling circuit, including a free-wheeling diode, connected in parallel with the inductive switch units;

a free-wheeling switch connecting the free-wheeling circuit, at a junction between the inductive loads and the free-wheeling diode, to the minus pole of the d.c. voltage source;

a controllable switch connected in the free-wheeling circuit between the plus pole of the d.c. voltage source and said junction; and

a control circuit that controls the controllable switch to block the free-wheeling circuit when at least one of the inductive switch units is disconnected, by opening of the respective main switch, until the voltage between the inductive loads and the controllable switch at said junction exceeds a threshold value.