Actuator driver with open-circuit and stray ground protection

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 4614992
SERIAL NO

06768736

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

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Abstract

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Actuators typically include one or more coils which are driven by a current source to effect positioning of a movable member. However, faults can occur wherein a conductor connecting the coil to the current source is open circuited or short circuited to ground. This can lead to a loss of control over the actuator, in turn creating a potentially dangerous condition. In order to overcome this problem, an actuator driver circuit according to the present invention includes a first current source for generating a first current at an output terminal thereof, a second current source for generating a second current at an output terminal thereof and first and second actuator coils connected in parallel between the output terminals of the first and second current sources. The current sources are controlled so that at least one of the current sources is capable of generating current for the coils even in the event of an open or short circuit fault condition.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
SAUER INCA CORP OF DE

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Heiser, Richard K Wayzata, MN 5 81

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