Fast current control of inductive loads
First Claim
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1. A circuit arrangement for the fast dissipation of the stored magnetic energy in an inductive load, the circuit arrangement comprising of:
- an inductive load;
a constant-voltage-drop diode path across said inductive load, said constant-voltage-drop diode path including a first constant-voltage diode;
a first switch connected to said inductive load and operable to control same, said first switch being a field effect transistor having a drain terminal connected to said inductive load and a gate terminal;
a high-voltage-drop energy dissipation path also that includes a series combination of a voltage regulating diode and a second constant-voltage diode connected between said drain and gate terminals of said field effect transistor; and
a second switch that is operable to selectively make and break said constant-voltage drop diode path, so that while said second switch is closed to make said constant-voltage-drop diode path, dissipation of the stored magnetic energy is able to take place due to current flow through said constant-voltage-drop diode path, and so that opening said second switch to break said constant-voltage-drop diode path, in response to excess current in the inductive load, enables current flow through the high-voltage-drop energy dissipation path and consequent fast dissipation of the stored magnetic energy.
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Abstract
A circuit arrangement for the fast dissipation of the stored magnetic energy in an inductive load controlled by a first switch, comprising a high voltage-drop energy dissipation path disposed across the first switch and a second switch by which a constant-voltage diode drop path across the load can be selectively opened.
24 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A circuit arrangement for the fast dissipation of the stored magnetic energy in an inductive load, the circuit arrangement comprising of:
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an inductive load; a constant-voltage-drop diode path across said inductive load, said constant-voltage-drop diode path including a first constant-voltage diode; a first switch connected to said inductive load and operable to control same, said first switch being a field effect transistor having a drain terminal connected to said inductive load and a gate terminal; a high-voltage-drop energy dissipation path also that includes a series combination of a voltage regulating diode and a second constant-voltage diode connected between said drain and gate terminals of said field effect transistor; and a second switch that is operable to selectively make and break said constant-voltage drop diode path, so that while said second switch is closed to make said constant-voltage-drop diode path, dissipation of the stored magnetic energy is able to take place due to current flow through said constant-voltage-drop diode path, and so that opening said second switch to break said constant-voltage-drop diode path, in response to excess current in the inductive load, enables current flow through the high-voltage-drop energy dissipation path and consequent fast dissipation of the stored magnetic energy. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A circuit arrangement for the fast dissipation of the stored magnetic energy in each of a plurality of inductive loads with each of the inductive loads controlled by a corresponding first switch, the circuit comprising:
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a plurality of high-voltage-drop energy dissipation paths, with one of said high-voltage-drop energy dissipation paths disposed across each of the first switches; a plurality of constant-voltage diode drop paths, with each of said constant-voltage diode drop paths connected across a corresponding one of the inductive loads; and a second switch commonly connected to said constant-voltage diode drop paths, said second switch selectively operative to control the opening of said constant-voltage diode drop paths to redirect current flowing through the constant-voltage diode drop paths to flow through the high-voltage drop energy dissipation paths whereby energy stored in the inductive loads is dissipated at a higher rate.
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4. A circuit arrangement for the fast dissipation of the stored magnetic energy in each of a plurality of inductive loads with each of the inductive loads controlled by a corresponding first switch, the circuit comprising:
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a plurality of high-voltage-drop energy dissipation paths, with one of said high-voltage-drop energy dissipation paths disposed across each of the first switches; a plurality of constant-voltage diodes, with each of said constant-voltage diodes connected across a corresponding one of the inductive loads to provide a constant-voltage drop path across said corresponding inductive load; and a single field effect transistor commonly connected to said plurality of constant voltage diodes with said field effect transistor cooperating with each of said constant voltage diodes to form a series circuit across a corresponding series combination of one of the inductive loads and a current sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A circuit arrangement for the fast dissipation of the stored magnetic energy in an inductive load, the circuit arrangement comprising:
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an inductive load; a current sensing element connected in a series combination with said inductive load; a constant-voltage-drop diode path connected across said series combination of said inductive load and said current sensing element, said constant-voltage-drop diode path including a first constant-voltage diode; a first switch connected to said inductive load and operable to control same, said first switch being a field effect transistor having a drain terminal connected to said inductive load and a gate terminal; a high-voltage-drop energy dissipation path connected between said drain and gate terminals of said field effect transistor, said high-voltage dissipation path including a series combination of a voltage regulating diode and a second constant-voltage diode; and a second switch that is operable to selectively make and break said constant-voltage drop diode path, so that while said second switch is closed to make said constant-voltage-drop diode path, dissipation of the stored magnetic energy is able to take place due to current flow through said constant-voltage-drop diode path, and so that opening said second switch to break said constant-voltage-drop diode path, in response to excess current in the inductive load as sensed by said current sensing element, enables current flow through the high-voltage-drop energy dissipation path and consequent fast dissipation of the stored magnetic energy. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification