Telemetry for testing switch configuration in ion propulsion system
First Claim
1. An ion propulsion system comprising first and second power controllers making available a high-voltage power, first and second ion thrusters and a multiplicity of high-voltage relays, said multiplicity of high-voltage relays having first and second switch states, said first and second power controllers being connected to provide high-voltage power to said first and second thrusters respectively when said multiplicity of high-voltage relays are in said first switch state, said first and second power controllers being connected to provide high-voltage power to said second and first thrusters respectively when said multiplicity of high-voltage relays are in said second switch state, said system further comprising a low-voltage power supply making available a low-voltage power and low-voltage self-test circuitry which is capable of selectively providing said low-voltage power to said high-voltage relays of said multiplicity and detecting voltages in respective conductors of said high-voltage relays when said low-voltage power is provided.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A relay telemetry system enables an ion propulsion system to self-test the critical relay configuration prior to supplying high-voltage power to any thruster. This test detects whether any critical relay has failed to switch properly or is in the wrong configuration. In the test mode, an onboard computer initiates the application of a low-voltage test voltage (nominally 15 V) to the high-voltage circuits (when the high voltage is off) by a stimulus circuit. Sensing circuits detect the inputs and outputs of the system connections in response to this stimulus. If the test voltage appears on an input or output where it is not expected, then a relay fault has occurred and will be detectable in telemetry sent back to the onboard computer.
18 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. An ion propulsion system comprising first and second power controllers making available a high-voltage power, first and second ion thrusters and a multiplicity of high-voltage relays, said multiplicity of high-voltage relays having first and second switch states, said first and second power controllers being connected to provide high-voltage power to said first and second thrusters respectively when said multiplicity of high-voltage relays are in said first switch state, said first and second power controllers being connected to provide high-voltage power to said second and first thrusters respectively when said multiplicity of high-voltage relays are in said second switch state, said system further comprising a low-voltage power supply making available a low-voltage power and low-voltage self-test circuitry which is capable of selectively providing said low-voltage power to said high-voltage relays of said multiplicity and detecting voltages in respective conductors of said high-voltage relays when said low-voltage power is provided.
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9. An electronic system configured to deliver high-voltage power to either of first and second electronic devices of an ion propulsion system, comprising:
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a high-voltage power supply making available said high-voltage power; a multiplicity of high-voltage switching circuits, said multiplicity of high-voltage switching circuits having first and second switch states, wherein said multiplicity of high-voltage switching circuits in said first switch state provides said high-voltage power to said first electronic device and electrically isolates said second electronic device from said high-voltage power supply, and wherein said multiplicity of high-voltage switching circuits in said second switch state provides said high-voltage power to said second electronic device and electrically isolates said first electronic device from said high-voltage power supply; a low-voltage power supply providing low-voltage power; and low-voltage self-test circuitry which is capable of selectively providing said low-voltage power to said high-voltage switching circuits and to detect voltages in respective first conductors of said high-voltage switching circuits arising from the application of said low-voltage power to said high-voltage switching circuits. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification