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Method and apparatus for control and fault detection of an electric load circuit

  • US 6,759,851 B2
  • Filed: 07/02/2002
  • Issued: 07/06/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A circuit to control and monitor an electric load having a first and a second end, comprising:

  • a first switch electrically coupled between a first electric potential and said first end of the electric load;

    a second switch electrically coupled between said second end of the electric load and a second electric potential;

    a load drive controller operable to control each of said switches; and

    a comparison circuit for detecting a fault condition in said circuit by comparing an electric potential at said first end of the electric load with a first known potential and by comparing an electric potential at said second end of the electric load with a second known potential;

    wherein the comparison circuit comprises a plurality of comparators such that a first input to each of said comparators is in electrical contact with said electric load, and a second input to each of said comparators comprises the first or the second known potential; and

    ,wherein said each switch and the first and second known potentials are appropriately biased with an effective amount of electric potential to enable detection of a type and location of a fault condition.

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