Programmable logic controller having micro-electromechanical system based switching
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A programmable logic controller comprising:
- a central processing unit;
a digital input/output interface operably coupled to said central processing unit, said digital input/output interface having at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal; and
a micro-electromechanical system (“
MEMS”
) switch connected to each of said at least one input terminal and to each of said at least one output terminal, thereby defining input MEMS switches and output MEMS switches, each MEMS switch having a source connection, a drain connection and gate connection.
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Abstract
A programmable logic controller is disclosed. The programmable logic controller includes control circuitry integrally arranged with a current path and at least one micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed in the current path. The programmable logic controller further includes a hybrid arcless limiting technology (HALT) circuit connected in parallel with the at least one MEMS switch facilitating the opening of the at least one MEMS switch. The programmable logic controller also may include a MEMS switch and a voltage sensor for measuring the voltage across the MEMS switch. The MEMS switches are arranged to transmit or receive logic signals.
70 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A programmable logic controller comprising:
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a central processing unit; a digital input/output interface operably coupled to said central processing unit, said digital input/output interface having at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal; and a micro-electromechanical system (“
MEMS”
) switch connected to each of said at least one input terminal and to each of said at least one output terminal, thereby defining input MEMS switches and output MEMS switches, each MEMS switch having a source connection, a drain connection and gate connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An input/output interface module for a programmable logic controller comprising:
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a programmable logic controller interface; at least one interface terminal electrically coupled to said controller interface; at least one MEMS switch connected to said interface terminal, said MEMS switch having a source connection, a drain connection and a gate connection; a gate driver coupled to each of said MEMS switch; and
,a circuit electrically connected with said gate driver switch facilitating opening of said MEMS switch. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A programmable logic controller comprising:
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a central processing unit; an interface module electrically coupled to said central processing unit wherein said interface module includes; at least one first MEMS switch having a drain connection, a source connection and a gate connection; and
,a gate driver operably coupled to said first MEMS switch and electrically coupled to receive a first logic signal from said central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification