Discharge switch device for ignition excitation system

• US 9,622,331 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2013
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unison Industries LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Unison Industries LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Cochran, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Dharti
• Application Number:
  US14/018,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 361253
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2881 Load circuits; Control thereof

Abstract

A discharge switch device is provided that includes a comparator portion, a temperature compensation diode, and a trigger portion. The comparator portion is configured to compare an input voltage value to a reference voltage value. The temperature compensation diode is configured to reduce variation of the reference voltage value. The trigger portion is configured to discharge stored energy when the input voltage value exceeds the reference voltage value.

Claims

1. A discharge switch device comprising:

a comparator portion configured to compare an input voltage value to a reference voltage value;

a temperature compensation diode configured to reduce variation of the reference voltage value; and

a trigger portion configured to discharge stored energy when the input voltage value exceeds the reference voltage value, wherein the trigger portion comprises a trigger device and a discharge device and the trigger device comprises a trigger metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) and a trigger transformer.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said comparator portion is further configured to transmit a discharge signal to said trigger portion when the input voltage value exceeds the reference voltage value.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said trigger device is configured to:

switch on said trigger MOSFET when the input voltage value exceeds the reference voltage value; and

discharge energy stored in a first storage capacitor through a primary winding of said trigger transformer.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said trigger transformer is configured to output a trigger pulse signal to said discharge device.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said discharge device comprises a thyristor.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said thyristor is configured to discharge the stored energy upon receiving the trigger pulse signal from said trigger transformer.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said discharge switch device is a direct replacement for existing spark gap devices.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a voltage protection device configured to protect said comparator portion from feedback voltage during an initial charge cycle.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8, wherein said voltage protection device comprises a MOSFET.

10. A discharge switch device comprising:

a comparator portion configured to compare an input voltage value to a reference voltage value;

a temperature compensation diode configured to reduce variation of the reference voltage value;

a trigger portion configured to discharge stored energy when the input voltage value exceeds the reference voltage value; and

a voltage protection device configured to protect said comparator portion from feedback voltage during an initial charge cycle, wherein the voltage protection device comprises a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET).

11. A device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said trigger portion comprises a trigger device and a discharge device.

12. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said trigger device comprises a trigger metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) and a trigger transformer.

13. A device in accordance with claim 12, wherein said trigger device is configured to:

switch on said trigger MOSFET when the input voltage value exceeds the reference voltage value; and

discharge energy stored in a first storage capacitor through a primary winding of said trigger transformer.

14. A device in accordance with claim 13, wherein said trigger transformer is configured to output a trigger pulse signal to said discharge device.