| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 361170000 | Condition responsive (e.g., external circuit condition) | 74 |
| 20090027824 | Current Zero Cross Switching Relay Module Using A Voltage Monitor - Assemblies, systems, and methods which prolong relay life by dynamically compensating the make and break contact timing between the contact points of the relay and a zero crossing point of the power supply's waveform are provided according to the present disclosure. The life cycle of the relay components are dramatically increased through the use of these assemblies, systems, and methods due to a decrease in arcing and other physically damaging phenomena between the contacts of the relay. The present disclosure also provides for assemblies, systems, and methods whereby a processor analyzes the inductive kickback effect in the relay load voltage signal and dynamically adjust the relay open time such that the inductive kickback effect is minimized. In exemplary embodiments, the systems/methods provided herein advantageously adjust the relay open time such that the relay switching time corresponds with current zero cross and do so without requiring complicated current monitoring components. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090052107 | AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURING VACUUM CONTACTOR - A controller for a vacuum contactor or the like measures barometric pressure and provides a short impedance characterizing pulse to the coils of the vacuum contactor coils to assess proper operating conditions of the coils and to check for coil or sensor faults. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090147427 | BATTERY DISCONNECT DEVICE - A battery disconnect device for a motor vehicle and the like includes a housing with a monitor circuit and a sealed relay. The monitoring circuit senses various conditions, such as current drawn from the battery, drop in the battery voltage, engine starting, engine running, and the like and in response operates the relay to insure that the battery does not get damaged or depleted. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090296304 | Switch - A switch is obtained in which whether the counting of the number of operations is performed in accordance with an on-operation counting method or an off-operation counting method can readily be selected and changed, and an operation check can readily be performed. The switch is provided with a main contact; an operation mechanism that on/off-operates the main contact; an on-operation circuit that is configured with a first relay contact, an on-operation coil, and a first auxiliary contact that are connected in series, and drives the operation mechanism in accordance with an on-command from outside so that the main contact performs an on-operation; an off-operation circuit that is configured with a second relay contact, an off-operation coil, and a second auxiliary contact that are connected in series, and drives the operation mechanism in accordance with an off-command from outside so that the main contact performs an off-operation; and a counter that is electrically connected to the on-operation circuit or the off-operation circuit and counts the number of operations of the operation mechanism, in conjunction with the operation of the circuit to which the counter is connected. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100053838 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTELY OPERATING AC POWERED APPLIANCES FROM VIDEO INTERPHONES OR SHOPPING TERMINALS - A method for adding and connecting a remotely operated SPDT relay to an electric power circuit of an AC appliance connected to a manually actuated electrical SPDT switch for integrating said AC appliance into an home automation network, each said relay and said SPDT switch includes a pole terminal and dual traveler terminals and said relay is similar to a shape and a size of an AC switch fit for installation into a standard electrical box. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100085676 | NESTED PULSE WIDTH MODULATION CONTROL - A PWM control circuit includes a first PWM driver, a duty cycle compensator, and a second PWM driver. The first PWM driver receives duty cycle commands and generates a first PWM driver signal having a duty cycle that varies based on the duty cycle commands. The duty cycle compensator receives the first PWM driver signal and a sensor signal representative of a value of a sensed physical parameter. The duty cycle compensator supplies compensated duty cycle commands based on the duty cycle of the first PWM driver signal and the value of the sensed physical parameter. The second PWM driver receives the compensated duty cycle commands and generates a hybrid PWM driver signal having a duty cycle that varies based on the compensated duty cycle commands. The resulting hybrid signal provides improved resolution for control that cannot be provided by a single PWM driver alone. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100157502 | System for decoupling a power source from a load - A relay switch decoupler is disclosed. The relay switch decoupler may include a first contact, and a second contact selectively coupled to the first contact. The relay switch decoupler may further include an insulating decoupler situated proximate to the first contact and the second contact. The relay switch decoupler may further include an actuator coupled to the insulating decoupler and configured to cause the insulating decoupler to decouple the first contact from the second contact in response to a control signal. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100296221 | PROTECTIVE RELAY AND HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE THEREFOR - A fully operational digital protective relay or Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) are provided for protecting electrical equipment of a power distribution system. The relay includes an input module, a processing module and an output module. Signals received from current transformers connected to the input module are evaluated by the processing module, and in reaction thereto, trip signals can be output to an actuator of a circuit breaker via the output module. A base Human Machine Interface (HMI) enables a user to enter operating parameters such as a delay time or nominal current to the processing module. Optionally, a further HMI may be attached to the protective relay and connected, via a suitable interface for data exchange, to the processing module for the purpose of displaying protection-related information to a user. This further HMI is both optional and detachable. For example, the further HMI can be repeatedly attached to and detached from the protection device. The detachable HMI provides for an increased flexibility in the use of the protective relay, as a user may adapt its interfacing capability by acquiring a detachable HMI of the type and at the time that best suits his evolving needs. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20110116201 | LIGHT ACTIVATED HOLD SWITCH - An automatic hold switch is disclosed. The automatic hold switch provides a means for automatically switching a hold feature on and off. When the hold feature is on, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are disabled or prevented from providing input signals. When the hold feature is off, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are enabled or allowed to provide input signals. Because the user no longer has to manually control the hold feature, the number of actions that need to be taken by the user is reduced. In one example, the automatic hold switch is embodied with light sensors that detect when the device is in a dark environment and when the device is in a light environment. A dark environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes not to input and therefore the hold feature is turned on. A lighted environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes to input and therefore the hold feature is turned off. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110141648 | ELECTRICAL SAFETY DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING, AND METHODS FOR USING SAME - Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring an electrical flat wire. An appropriate safety device is utilized to monitor the electrical flat wire. The safety device includes a line side input configured to connect a line side power source and receive an electrical power signal from the line side power source. Additionally, the safety device includes a flat wire connection configured to connect to an electrical flat wire. The safety device further includes at least one relay configured to control the communication of the electrical power signal onto the electrical flat wire. The safety device also includes a control unit configured to test the electrical flat wire for at least one of miswires, wire faults, or abnormal conditions and, based at least in part on the results of the testing, to control the actuation of the at least one relay. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110194224 | Control Circuit for Electric Unlocking Devices Using Actuating Solenoids - A system and method is provided for an enhanced and user friendly control circuit for an electric unlocking device, such as for example, an electric door strike or other unlocking devices utilizing actuating solenoids. The control circuit minimizes the potential for human error while also providing a small footprint, minimal DC in-rush current, over current protection, and minimized heat dissipation. Additionally, the present invention is directed to providing visual notification/diagnostics and improved field compatibility with existing electric unlocking devices. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110205682 | HYBRID POWER RELAY USING COMMUNICATIONS LINK - A control circuit for controlling an arc suppression circuit includes a serial communication link communicating a serial signal therethrough. The control circuit includes a microprocessor having a serial input communicating with the serial communication link. The microprocessor generates a control output signal in response to the serial signal. The control circuit further includes the arc suppression circuit having an electrical contact and operating in response to the control output signal to reduce an arc at the electrical contact. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110273813 | Leak Detection and Leak Protection Circuit - A leak detecting and leak protecting circuit comprises a rectification circuit comprising positive and negative power output ends, current limiting resistors, a diode, a silicon control comprising control poles, a switch capable of linking to a resetting button, and a tripping coil comprising a built-in iron core. The rectification circuit outputs DC power. The tripping coil, switch, and silicon control are connected in series and then are connected to the positive and negative power output ends of the DC power output from the rectification circuit. The control poles of the silicon control are capable of connection with a shielding layer of output wires through at least one of the current limiting resistors and a diode. And, when the switch is in a resetting state, the switch is closed, and, when the switch is in a tripped state, the switch is open. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20120057266 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INDEPENDENT SELF-MONITORING - An Intelligent Electronic Device (IED), such as a protective relay, may monitor and/or protect an electrical power system by detecting fault conditions using stimulus inputs from the electrical power system. The IED may operate (take protective actions) when fault conditions are detected. A monitoring device may supervise the IED. The monitoring device may detect power system disturbances independently of the IED, using the same stimulus inputs (or a subset thereof) used by the IED to implement its protection function(s). The monitoring device may supervise the IED using hard-coded supervision, soft-coded supervision, and/or user-configurable supervision. The IED may be prevented from operating outside of an operating window defined by the monitoring device. Components of the monitoring device may be separated and/or isolated from the IED, such that a failure in certain IED components may not cause a simultaneous failure or malfunction of the monitoring device. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120099239 | CONFIGURABLE SOLENOID ACTUATION METHOD AND APPARATUS - A configurable, connectorized method and apparatus for driving a solenoid coil reduces energy consumption and heating of the solenoid coil, allows detection of the solenoid state, and simplifies connections to the solenoid. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20130148251 | RELAY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING RELAY OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A relay control system for an electric vehicle includes an electric power line, a relay, an operation member, a state sensor, a rotational speed detector, a shift position detector, and a relay disconnection permitting device. The state sensor is configured to sense that a signal circuit through which a signal related to a state of the operation member flows is changed into a disconnecting operation state. The rotational speed detector is configured to detect a rotational speed of the electric motor. The shift position detector is configured to detect a shift position of the electric vehicle. The relay disconnection permitting device permits disconnection of the relay based on the rotational speed detected by the rotational speed detector and the shift position detected by the shift position detector if the state sensor senses that the signal circuit is changed into the disconnecting operation state. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130222966 | DIP SWITCH CHANGE DETECTION IN A SELF POWERED RELAY - An interface is disclosed for a self powered protection relay that uses mechanical switches for its configuration. The protection relay can include a base relay for measurement of line current and for generation of a trip signal, and a Human Machine Interface (HMI) unit for specifying, by a user, a base setting of an operating parameter of the protection relay. The base relay can be self-powered from the line and the HMI unit can include an auxiliary power supply. The protection relay is configured with mechanical switches provided in the protection relay. The HMI unit in the protection relay is designed to detect and alert the user of the relay of any change in the base setting carried out with one or more mechanical switches provided in the relay in powered and unpowered conditions of the base relay. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130229743 | ENERGY EFFICIENT POWER ADAPTER - According to one embodiment, an AC power adapter for providing voltage to an electrically-operated device includes a power converter module electrically coupled to a power source via at least one hot lead and at least one neutral lead. The power converter module is configured to convert voltage received from the power source to voltage suitable for use by the electrically-operated device. The AC power adapter also includes a relay circuit coupled to the hot lead to control the voltage passing from the power source to the power converter module. | 09-05-2013 |
| 20130235503 | HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE FOR A SELF-SUPPLIED RELAY - A design of a protection relay, and interface with an operator of a protection relay, are disclosed. The protection relay can include a base relay for measurement of line current and for generation of a trip signal, a base Human Machine Interface (HMI) for user specifying of a base setting of an operating parameter of the protection relay, and an optionally active Human Machine Interface (HMI) unit having a processing unit to manage plural activities with controlled power consumption. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130342950 | Systems and Methods for Determining Actuation Duration of a Relay - An example system for determining the actuation duration of a relay can include a relay, a current-sensing device, and a controller. The relay can have an actuation coil, and armature, and a first and second contact. The current-sensing device can measure a current through the actuation coil. The controller can actuate the relay. The controller can also receive from the current-sensing device a plurality of measurement values for the current through the actuation coil. The controller can determine an actuation duration based on a local minimum value for the plurality of measurement values. The actuation duration can correspond to a duration of a movement of an armature of the relay from the first contact of the relay to the second contact of the relay. An actuation delay of the relay can be calculated based on the zero-crossing time of an input voltage value and the actuation duration. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140002946 | ELECTROMAGNETIC OPENING/CLOSING DEVICE | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140071577 | RELAY FOR AUTOMATICALLY SELECTING A MONITORING RANGE - A relay for automatically selecting a monitoring range for monitoring a parameter of an input source and a method for monitoring a parameter of an input source can be provided whereby the relay comprises one or more terminals for coupling to the input source; a plurality of switchable circuits coupled to the one or more terminals; a processing module coupled to the plurality of switchable circuits for automatically selecting a monitoring range from a plurality of monitoring ranges based on a value of the parameter of the input source, each monitoring range associated with one or more of said switchable circuits; and a relay switch being configured to provide or disrupt electrical communication to a circuit, based on a trigger signal provided by the processing module. A signal conditioning module may also be provided for e.g. conditioning signals prior to selection of the monitoring range. | 03-13-2014 |
| 20140104740 | SWTICHING PHASE OFFSET FOR CONTACTOR OPTIMIZATION - A system and methods providing for minimizing the arc energy delivered to the pads of a plurality of contactors using a single control coil based on monitoring the electrical sine waves of the three alternating current electrical poles and calculating the instant to energize or deenergize a single control coil. The remainder of the contactors will make or break based on an offset in time from the making or breaking of the control contactor. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140211362 | DEVICE CONTROL MODULES FOR DEMAND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - A device control module for making a non-demand management system capable electrical device demand responsive to a demand management system includes a relay configured to be electrically connected to a power circuit of the electrical device to control power supply to a load device of the electrical device. The device control module includes a relay driver operated to open and close the relay and a controller operating the relay driver. The controller receives a demand state signal from the demand management system supplying power to the electrical device and operates the relay driver based on the demand state signal. The relay is configured to power off the load device of the electrical device irrespective of the main control operation of the electrical device. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140334056 | ELECTRIC CHARGING APPARATUS AND FAILURE DETERMINATION METHOD THEREFOR - An electric charging apparatus and a failure determination method therefor are provided. In the electric charging apparatus, a relay allows a current to flow inside the electric charging apparatus by switching of a switch. An acceleration sensor detects a vibration of the relay and generating an acceleration sensing signal. A control unit receives the acceleration sensing signal from the acceleration sensor and detects failure of the electric charging apparatus. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140340808 | DRIVE DEVICE FOR OPENING/CLOSING BODY - An opening/closing-body drive device is achieved, in which a malfunction, caused by the electrical contacts of the relay switch freezing, can be reliably prevented from occurring. The control unit | 11-20-2014 |
| 20150016007 | Safety Relay Circuit - Safety relay circuit, in particular, comprising two series-connected or parallel-connected relay switches (k | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150055269 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESTORING MECHANICAL RELAY FROM STUCK FAULT TO NORMAL CONDITION - Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for restoring a mechanical relay from a stuck fault to a normal condition. The method may include detecting, by an MCU, a short state or open state of a relay, repeatedly transferring, by the MCU, a current application signal and a current non-application signal to a relay driver when the relay is in the short state, repeating, by the relay driver, an operation of periodically applying an electric current from a power source unit to the relay in response to the current application signal and the current non-application signal so that the release of the contact point of the relay is induced, detecting, by the MCU, the release state of the contact point of the relay, and maintaining, by the MCU, an ECU in an operating state when the contact point of the relay is released. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150070808 | Switched Power Distribution Unit - Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided in which power control relay switches may be configured to switch at or near a predetermined time during an AC cycle and/or that are configured to control a velocity of an armature of the relay switch during switching. An input power source may provide alternating current (AC) power and a voltage or current level of the AC power may be sensed. A relay controller may switch the relay switch based on a time at which the voltage or current is at or near a zero-crossing. The relay controller may be configured to close the relay switch based on when a voltage of the power input is at a zero-crossing, and is configured to open the relay switch based on when a current of the power input is at a zero-crossing. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150138685 | PROTECTION MODULE FOR CONTROL AND PROTECTIVE SWITCHING DEVICE - The present invention discloses a protection module for a control and protective switching device, comprising a control power supply processing unit, an auxiliary power supply processing unit, a power supply converting unit, a signal processing and controlling unit, a trip electromagnet driving unit, a control electromagnet driving unit, and a man-machine interaction device. The control power supply processing unit and the auxiliary power supply processing unit receive a power supply signal from a high voltage power supply, and process the signal for supplying power for other components. The signal processing and controlling unit receives a mutual-induction signal from a current mutual inductor, outputs a first control signal and a second control signal to the trip electromagnet driving unit and the control electromagnet driving unit, and receives a first feedback signal and a second feedback signal from an operation mechanism and a control electromagnet. The trip electromagnet driving unit outputs a first operation signal to a trip electromagnet, and the trip electromagnet outputs a mechanical signal to the operation mechanism. The control electromagnet driving unit outputs a second operation signal to the control electromagnet. The man-machine interaction device performs signal interaction with the signal processing and controlling unit. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150300522 | ELECTROMAGNETIC-VALVE CONTROLLER - An electromagnetic-valve controller includes a control switch, a control portion regulating a supply current supplied to the electromagnetic valve by controlling a drive of the control switch and controlling to open or close the electromagnetic valve, and a current detection portion detecting the supply current. The control portion controls the drive of the control switch based on a detection result of the current detection portion. The control portion controls the drive of the control switch by using a first pulse signal having a duty ratio that is variable, in a closed period. The control portion controls the drive of the control switch by using a second pulse signal maintaining the supply current to be constant so as to maintain the electromagnetic valve to be in the fully closed state, in a closed-state maintaining period. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150318100 | ACTUATOR ASSISTED ALIGNMENT OF CONNECTIBLE DEVICES - A first electronic device is positionable between one or more contact positions and an aligned position with respect to a second electronic device. One or more actuators of the first electronic device are activated in response to one or more sensors of the first electronic device determining that the first electronic device and second electronic device are misaligned. Activation of the actuator may result in the first electronic device moving to the aligned position. In some implementations, the actuator may move the first electronic device toward the aligned position when activated. In other implementations, the actuator may overcome static friction to put the first electronic device in motion when activated and when the first electronic device is in motion one or more alignment mechanisms may overcome the kinetic friction to move the first electronic device to the aligned position. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150325353 | Redundant Current-Sum Feedback Actuator - A system and methods for redundant current-sum feedback control of an actuator system is presented. An actuator comprises actuation coils configured to actuate the actuator, and an actuation coil current sensor senses a measured total coil current comprising a sum of coil currents of each of the actuation coils. Actuator coil controllers control the actuation coils based on a commanded total coil current and the measured total coil current. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150348728 | METHOD OF REDUNDANT MONITORING AND PROTECTION OF AC POWER GENERATION CHANNELS - A power quality control circuit is connected to monitor an AC input power and selectively connect the AC input power through a contactor. The power quality control circuit includes power quality monitor circuitry that determines whether the AC input power has an overfrequency condition, an underfrequency condition, an overvoltage condition or an undervoltage condition, and prevents closing of the contactor in response to a determination of any of those conditions. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20160078990 | Configurable Solenoid Actuation Method and Apparatus - A configurable, connectorized method and apparatus for driving a solenoid coil reduces energy consumption and heating of the solenoid coil, allows detection of the solenoid state, and simplifies connections to the solenoid. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160203932 | CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH HYBRID SWITCH | 07-14-2016 |
| 361171000 | Code responsive | 3 |
| 361172000 | Including electronic element | 3 |
| 20100085677 | MOTOR CONTROL CENTER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A motor control center communication system configured to interface with a communication network. The system includes a plurality of motor control units (MCUs), and a MCU controller configured to transmit and receive data signals via the communication network to and from, the plurality of MCUs. Each of the plurality of MCUs includes a magnetic contactor having electrical contacts operable between open and closed positions, and a local control module operatively connected to the associated magnetic contactor and to the MCU controller, and configured to monitor a status of the electrical contacts, transmit the monitored status information to the MCU controller, and actuate the associated magnetic contactor based on data signals received from the MCU controller. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20130235504 | POWER RELAY APPARATUS, POWER RELAY METHOD, POWER SUPPLY CONTROL APPARATUS, POWER SUPPLY CONTROL METHOD, AND POWER SUPPLY CONTROL SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a power relay apparatus, power relay method, power supply control apparatus, power supply control method, and power supply control system which can readily manage individual power consumption. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20140334057 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SECTIONING THE PHASE CONDUCTORS OF AN ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK - The invention relates to an apparatus ( | 11-13-2014 |
| 361173000 | Light | 1 |
| 361175000 | Including electronic element | 1 |
| 20100208408 | Light-Activated Switch and Circuit for Select-Fire Perforating Guns - Apparatus and method are provided for selectively firing apparatus in a well when the apparatus is fired by an electrical voltage and produces light upon firing. A photoresistor or other device changes in an electrical property when the light from firing of a section of the apparatus impinges on the photoresistor or other electronic device. The change in electrical property shifts the state of a relay such that the following section of the device can be fired with a voltage of the opposite polarity to that used in firing the preceding section. A test and resetting apparatus for the select-fire apparatus is also provided. | 08-19-2010 |
| 361178000 | Fluid (e.g., liquid level, humidity) | 3 |
| 20140240886 | Control Apparatus for Fuel Injector - In consideration of a force acting on a valve, wear in the valve or in a valve seat is suppressed and thereby the frequency of lifetime use of a fuel injector is increased. In a control apparatus for controlling a driving current that is allowed to pass to a fuel injector including a solenoid, after a first injection pulse width for injecting fuel is finished and before a second injection pulse width, which is to be output subsequently to the first injection pulse width for injecting the fuel, is started, a third pulse width | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140285942 | Electronic Control Device - An electronic control device has a resin case to which a circuit board having a terminal contact pad is fixed; a hydraulic unit having an electromagnetic solenoid which controls a hydraulic circuit and a pressure sensor which detects a pressure of the hydraulic circuit; a motor post having a current-carrying member which electrically connects a motor and the circuit board and extending from the resin case and inserted in the hydraulic unit; and a fixing member which is provided at the resin case and holds an outer periphery of the pressure sensor. Positioning between the pressure sensor and the terminal contact pad of the circuit board is made by the motor post inserted in the hydraulic unit and fixation of the pressure sensor by the fixing member. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20150055270 | HYBRID RELAY | 02-26-2015 |
| 361179000 | Proximity or contact | 4 |
| 20110080685 | ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED SAFING OF A LINEAR ACTUATOR TO PROVIDE SHOCK TOLERANCE - Electrically assisted safing of a solenoid linear actuator to provide shock tolerance is provided for a solenoid actuator, the actuator having an armature and at least one electromagnetic inductive coil. A controller, receiving an output from a motion sensor, adjusts an electrical power input to the electromagnetic inductive coil. When the output of the motion sensor indicates onset of an environmental transient exceeding a predetermined threshold of intensity, the controller adjusts the electrical power input such that an electromagnetic field generated by the coil is sufficient to restrain the armature in a desired position during the environmental transient. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20120087056 | INDUCTION TOUCH KEY - The present invention provides an induction touch key, which comprising: a touch key unit with at least a conductor layer and an insulation layer; a first resistor electrically connected with the conductor layer; a processing unit electrically connected with the first resistor; A second resistor electrically connected with the processing unit; a switch electrically connected with the second resistor and processing unit. When the insulation layer is touched manually, the processing unit is used to detect the change of surface charge, and then output a start signal to drive the switch for an improved safety. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20130294001 | ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCHING APPARATUS - An electromagnetic switching apparatus includes a contact block to be inserted in an electric path, an electromagnet block for driving the contact block, the electromagnet block being configured to drive the contact block to close the electric path so as to become conductive when an excitation current is supplied from outside, a normally-closed type switch member inserted in a supply path of the excitation current, an acquisition unit configured to obtain an impact detection signal from an impact sensor that is configured to detect an impact, and a control unit configured, based on the impact detection signal obtained by the acquisition unit, to turn off the switch member so as to break the supply path when the impact sensor detects an impact of which magnitude is larger than a predetermined threshold. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20140268473 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT HAVING A SMART PLUG WITH A RELAY CONTROL CIRCUIT - A smart plug for coupling an electric vehicle to a power supply includes a relay including contacts, the relay configured to operate in a closed state to enable power to be supplied to the electric vehicle and an open state to prohibit power from being supplied to the electric vehicle. The smart plug also includes a microcontroller (MCU) coupled to the relay, the microcontroller outputting a control signal to operate the relay in the closed state. The smart plug further includes a zero crossing detector (ZCD) coupled to the relay, the ZCD outputting a close signal to the relay when a voltage of the power is substantially zero and outputting an open signal to the relay when a current of the power is substantially zero. | 09-18-2014 |
| 361182000 | Frequency (e.g., audio, radio) | 2 |
| 20130201593 | REMOTE CONTROL POWER ISOLATION SWITCH - A remote control power isolation switch including: an isolation circuit having: a conditioned power supply (CPS) powered from an incoming power; a receiver powered by the CPS and a reception antenna connected thereto; a toggling circuit powered by the CPS and connected to the receiver; and a relay powered by the CPS and operable between “on” and “off” by electrical connection to the toggling circuit; and a remote control circuit having: a portable power supply (PPS); a momentary contact switch operable to connect the PPS to a programmable integrated circuit (PIC); a transmitter powered by the PPS for transmitting a signal matched to the receiver; an electrical connection between the PIC and the transmitter for controlling the transmitter by the PIC; the relay having contacts which connect the incoming power to an outgoing power when “off” and disconnecting the incoming power from the outgoing power when “on”. | 08-08-2013 |
| 361184000 | Specific frequency responsive relay | 1 |
| 20120275079 | FREQUENCY ADDRESSABLE MICROACTUATORS - Frequency addressable micro-actuators having one or more movable resonating elements actuators, such as cantilevers, can be forced into oscillation by, e.g., electromagnetic actuation. The movable structure is designed to latch at a certain amplitude using one of several latching techniques, such as a near-field magnetic field. In operation, the movable element is driven into resonance, producing a large amplitude, which results in the structure latching. Through resonance, a small force applied in a repeating manner can result in the latching of the actuator, an operation which would normally require a large force. If two or more units, each with different harmonic frequencies, are placed under the same influence, only the one with a harmonic response to the driving force will latch. A single influencing signal may be used to latch more than one device on demand by tuning the frequency to match the natural frequency of the device of interest. | 11-01-2012 |
| 361185000 | Phase | 4 |
| 20090073627 | Method and Apparatus for Optimizing Synchronous Switching Operations in Power Systems - A method and an apparatus for optimizing switching operations executed by a switching device coupled to an AC power line, wherein signals related to the waveform of the electrical phases of the power line are acquired. When a command for executing a switching operation on one of the electrical phases is issued, the signals acquired are stored. Based on the signals stored, data indicative of the severity of switching transients occurred during the executed switching operation and second data indicative of the time occurred for the executed switching operation are calculated and correlated to each other. Based on the data calculated, it is determined whether a parameter representative of a target point on the waveform for executing future switching operations substantially synchronous with the waveform has to be adjusted. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20130163141 | INPUT CIRCUIT FOR ALTERNATING CURRENT SIGNAL, AND MOTOR STARTER INCLUDING THE SAME - An input circuit includes an interface structured to output a logic signal from an alternating current signal of a pair of elongated conductors. A load is switchable to the elongated conductors. A processor outputs a control signal to switch the load to the elongated conductors asynchronously with respect to the alternating current signal for a first predetermined time, inputs the logic signal, determines if the input logic signal is active a plurality of times during the first predetermined time and responsively sets a first state of the alternating current signal, and, otherwise, sets an opposite second state of the alternating current signal, and delays for a second predetermined time, which is longer than the first predetermined time, for the opposite second state before repeating the output, and, otherwise, delays for a third predetermined time, which is longer than the second predetermined time, for the first state before repeating the output. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20140126100 | Method For Controlling A Current-Interrupting Device In A High-Voltage Electrical Network - The invention relates to a method of controlling switchgear in order to estimate the remanent flux value of a power transformer during disconnection from a high-voltage electrical network using voltage measurements delivered by a capacitive voltage transformer by correcting the transfer function of the capacitive voltage transformer, and in which said value is delivered to a controller that determines the optimum switchgear switching instant. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20150098164 | CONTROLLING A CONTROLLABLY CONDUCTIVE DEVICE BASED ON ZERO-CROSSING DETECTION - A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse. | 04-09-2015 |
| 361186000 | Pulse | 3 |
| 20100309601 | Micro-Power pulse Controller for Magnetic Latch Solenoids, Relays and Valves - A solid-state magnetic latch solenoid controller which is a multi-terminal device that includes an edge (slope) detector, an adjustable one-shot pulse generator, an input status detector, two or more selectable gate drivers and output powerful MOSFETs. The controller is an extremely low-power consumption device. There is virtually no power consumption (from 1-10 uA) from an internal power source or an external source of energy during either normally closed or open stages. This maintains battery voltage and hence output condition for years. A noticeable amount of power consumed only during the transitional cycles from the open to the closed and vice versa. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20110242723 | RELAY DRIVER CIRCUIT - Power that is supplied to a primary coil of a transformer from a DC power supply that is connected to the primary coil is modulated based on continuous pulses supplied from a microcontroller, and power that is induced between terminals of a secondary coil of the transformer is supplied to a relay. A large driving current can be supplied to the relay thereby, thus making it possible to reduce the ripple component, and, as a result, to achieve stabilized operation. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20160042901 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE TO REGULATE RELAY COIL SWITCHING - Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to regulate relay coil switching are disclosed. A disclosed example method of regulating switching times of a relay having a pair of contacts to selectively and electrically couple an analog alternating current (AC) power source and a load includes forming a digital pulse train representative of an AC signal at the load, determining a first value corresponding to a representative pulse width of the digital pulse train, providing a first relay switching signal to the relay at a first time relative to a zero crossing of the AC signal, selecting a second time for providing a second relay switching signal to the relay based the first value and a second value representative of the width of a first pulse of the digital pulse train associated with the first relay switching signal at the first time, and providing the second relay switching signal to the relay at the second time. | 02-11-2016 |
| 361187000 | Voltage or current level discriminators | 18 |
| 20080225459 | POWER CONTROL DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A first switching unit and a second switching unit are connected in series to an electric power load. A voltage supply unit, which is connected between the first switching unit and the second switching unit, supplies a voltage to the second switching unit. A determining unit determines an occurrence of a malfunction in at least one of the first switching unit and the second switching unit. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20090103228 | Method and Apparatus for Remotely Operating AC Powered Appliances from Video Interphones or Shopping Terminals - A method for adding and connecting a remotely operated SPDT relay to an electric power circuit of an AC appliance connected to a manually actuated electrical SPDT switch for integrating said AC appliance into an home automation network, each said relay and said SPDT switch includes a pole terminal and dual traveler terminals and said relay is similar to a shape and a size of an AC switch fit for installation into a standard electrical box. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20110228438 | RELAY FAILURE DETECTING DEVICE, POWER-SUPPLY DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, RELAY FAILURE DETECTING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A relay failure detecting device includes: an opening-closing unit that is driven by a coil for opening and closing a current pathway; a detecting unit that detects a current value of a current flowing in the coil; an opening-closing instructing unit that outputs an instruction signal to instruct opening and closing of the opening-closing unit; and a failure detecting unit that detects a failure in the opening-closing unit by using the current value output by the detecting unit within a predetermined period of time starting from when the instruction signal is output. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20120002340 | Relay Controller - The invention relates to a relay controller for controlling an excitation current of a relay, wherein the relay controller is designed, upon the energization of the relay by means of a switch, to control the excitation current through the excitation winding of the relay in such a way that through the excitation winding there flows firstly a pull-in current and, after a pull-in time has elapsed, through the excitation winding there flows a holding current that is lower than the pull-in current, and wherein the relay controller is designed, upon the switching-off of the relay by means of the switch, to feed a commutation current that flows through the excitation winding to the commutation device through the first terminal and through the second terminal of the relay controller. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120002341 | Relay Controller for Defined Hold Current for a Relay - The invention relates to a relay controller for controlling an excitation current of a relay, wherein the relay controller is designed, upon the energization of the relay by means of a switch, to control the excitation current through the excitation winding of the relay in such a way that through the excitation winding there flows firstly a pull-in current and, after a pull-in time has elapsed, through the excitation winding there flows a holding current that is lower than the pull-in current, and wherein the relay controller is designed, upon the switching-off of the relay by means of the switch, to feed a commutation current that flows through the excitation winding to the commutation device through the first terminal and through the second terminal of the relay controller. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120154972 | ELECTRICAL WIRING DEVICE WITH PROTECTIVE FEATURES - The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device for use in an electrical distribution system. The device includes a plurality of line terminals configured to terminate the plurality of line conductors and a plurality of load terminals configured to terminate the plurality of load conductors. The protective circuit assembly includes at least one fault detector configured to generate a fault detection signal based on electrical perturbations propagating on at least one of the plurality of line terminals or at least one of the plurality of load terminals. A device integrity evaluation circuit includes a timing circuit coupled to the source of AC power by way of the plurality of load terminals and configured to generate a time measurement. The device integrity evaluation circuit is configured to reset the time measurement if the protective circuit assembly generates the fault detection signal during a predetermined test interval in the properly wired condition. The device integrity evaluation circuit is configured to generate a device integrity fault signal when the time measurement exceeds a predetermined threshold. A circuit interrupter assembly includes movable contacts configured to be latched into a reset state in response to a reset stimulus. The movable contacts are configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the fault detection signal or the device integrity fault signal. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120212873 | ENERGIZING A COIL OF A SOLENOID OF A DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVE - A method of energizing a coil of a solenoid of a directional control valve, wherein an armature of the solenoid moves between a first position in which the solenoid is operating and a second position in which the solenoid is not operating, the method comprising energizing the coil with a voltage, controlling the voltage, detecting a current in the coil at which the armature of the solenoid moves between the first position and the second position, and using the current at which the armature of the solenoid moves between the first position and the second position increased by a margin as an operating current for energizing the coil of the solenoid. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20130057998 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SWITCHING A RELAY AT ZERO CROSS - Circuitry, systems and methods that address the need to coordinate relay switching with another event, such as a zero crossing of an alternating current (AC) voltage waveform are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods continuously or periodically calibrate the timing of control signals to a relay, such that the switching of the relay in response to some (e.g., second or subsequent) control signals occurs closer in time to a zero crossing of an AC line voltage than the switching of the relay in response to other (e.g., initial or first) control signals. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130114178 | RELAY DRIVE UNIT - A relay drive unit drives a relay by supplying a power source voltage from a battery. The relay drive unit includes a power source voltage detector, a drive signal generator, and a relay drive circuit. The power source voltage detector detects the power source voltage. The drive signal generator generates a PWM signal as a drive signal for maintaining the relay in an ON state. The PWM signal has a preset duty ratio according to a magnitude of the power source voltage detected by the power source voltage detector. The relay drive circuit turns a supply of the power source voltage from the battery on/off based on a duty ratio of the drive signal generated by the drive signal generator. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130120892 | EARTH LEAKAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER - An earth leakage circuit breaker includes a level discriminator operable to compare an output level of a zero-phase-sequence current transformer placed in an electric circuit with each of a plurality of reference levels set in advance and output a plurality of pulses each indicating a time period during which the output level of the zero-phase-sequence current transformer has exceeded one of the plurality of reference levels; a duration counting portion operable to count a time period during which each of the plurality of pulses is being continuously outputted from the level discriminator; a circuit interruption determiner having a plurality of circuit-breaking levels associated with respective reference levels and operable to output a signal to break the electric circuit when the time period obtained from the duration counting portion has exceeded each of the circuit-breaking levels; and a relay coil-driving circuit operable to drive the coil of a circuit cutout relay in response to the signal outputted from the circuit interruption determiner. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130235505 | SOLENOID CONTROL DEVICE - A solenoid control device executes feedback control such that a drive current for a solenoid follows a target current, by driving, through PWM, a MOSFET provided on a power supply line to the solenoid. An overcurrent detection circuit that outputs an overcurrent detection signal when the drive current for the solenoid reaches an overcurrent determination current value is provided, and it is determined whether an overcurrent is generated. Whether a short-circuit occurs between both terminals of the solenoid is determined by monitoring whether the overcurrent detection circuit is repeating an output of the overcurrent detection signal and a stop of the output of the overcurrent detection signal. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20150092313 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DRIVING A RELAY CIRCUIT - A system and method for driving a relay circuit involves driving a relay circuit using a first driver circuit if a voltage of a battery supply for the relay circuit is lower than a voltage threshold and driving the relay circuit using a second driver circuit if the voltage of the battery supply for the relay circuit is higher than the voltage threshold. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20160069466 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A SOLENOID ACTUATOR - A solenoid actuator for an injection valve or an intake valve is driven with current control during closed-loop control phases. In between the closed-loop current control, the actuator must be clamped to an opposite voltage so as to quickly decrease the current through the solenoid. The current is measured immediately following the clamping phase so as to determine whether or not the clamping phase resulted in the correct current level. If the measured current indicates an extraneous reduction in the current, the clamping phase duration is shortened for the next activation of this clamping phase. If the measured current indicates an insufficient decrease, the clamping phase duration is lengthened for the next following activation cycle. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160104592 | Contactor Drive Circuit - A contactor drive circuit includes a power supply, a processor, a line connection and control unit, a first drive end, and a second drive end; when a contactor is connected between the first drive end and the second drive end, the processor determines, according to a value of a current flowing through the contactor, a type of the contactor connected between the first drive end and the second drive end; and according to a result of the determining, the processor controls the line connection and control unit to enable the first drive end to be electrically connected to an anode of the power supply, and controls the second drive end to be electrically connected to a cathode of the power supply. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160133411 | INTELLIGENT TIMED ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCHING - One embodiment describes a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor in a control circuitry. The instructions include instructions to receive an instruction to make a switching device; determine, using the control circuitry, a voltage waveform of a power source; determine, using the control circuitry, a desired time to make the switching device based at least in part on the source voltage waveform; determine, using the control circuitry, an expected make time of the switching device; and determine, using the control circuitry, when to apply a pull-in current to make the switching device at the desired time based at least in part on the expected make time and the desired time to make. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160133412 | TEMPERATURE-BASED ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCHING - One embodiment describes a method that includes determining, using a control circuitry, temperature of a switching device before a make operation by applying a measurement current to an operating coil of the switching device, wherein the measurement current is insufficient to make the switching device; and determining voltage at the operating coil when the measurement current is applied, in which the voltage at the operating coil is directly related to the temperature. The method further includes determining, using the control circuitry, when to apply a pull-in current to the operating coil to close the switching device based at least in part on the voltage at the operating coil, such that the switching device makes at a desired time. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160133414 | SINGLE-POLE, SINGLE CURRENT PATH SWITCHING SYSTEM AND METHOD - One embodiment describes a three-phase electromechanical switching device, which includes three single-phase switching devices mechanically and electrically coupled in parallel with one another, each single-phase switching device including a direct current electromagnetic operator that in operation receives a direct current control signal for switching of the device, stationary contacts disposed in a respective device housing, and a movable assembly that in operation is displaced by energizing the operator and that include movable contacts that open and close, with the stationary contacts, a single current carrying path through the respective single-phase switching device; in which each of the single-phase switching devices receives control signals from control circuitry coupled to the operators of the respective single-phase switching devices to cause at least one of the single-phase switching devices to open or close the single current carrying path at a desired time coordinated with a current zero-crossing or a predicted current zero-crossing of a phase of three-phase power. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160133415 | WEAR-BALANCED ELECTROMAGNETIC MOTOR CONTROL SWITCHING - One embodiment describes a method that includes in a first switching operation of an electrical power switching system including three separately controllable single pole, single current-carrying path switching devices that provide three-phase power to a load, and control circuitry coupled to the switching devices to control closing and opening of the current-carrying paths, commanding at least one of the switching devices to open or close in advance of at least one other of the switching devices based upon a current zero-crossing or a predicted current zero-crossing of input three-phase power; and in subsequent switching operations alternating which of the three switching devices is closed or opened in advance of another of the switching devices. | 05-12-2016 |
