Centralized PWM Driver Circuit for Inductive Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control circuits for inductive loads require a large number of electronic components, leading to high costs and significant installation space, especially when multiple loads need to be controlled using pulse width modulation.
Innovation Solution
A control circuit design that centralizes a pulse-width-modulated switching unit and a freewheeling unit, connected in series, with individual output stages connected in parallel to the freewheeling unit, allowing for centralized control and reduced component count, using semiconductor switches or field effect transistors to minimize losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional control circuit with individual switching units and freewheeling units is used for each inductive load, then each load can be controlled independently with pulse width modulation, but the number of electronic components increases significantly, leading to high costs and large installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the switching units into a single common switching unit that can be controlled independently for each inductive load through individual control signals. The freewheeling units are also merged into a common unit shared by all loads. This combining approach reduces the total number of components while maintaining independent control capability through selective activation of specific loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The common switching unit and common freewheeling unit serve multiple functions simultaneously - they can handle multiple inductive loads through individual control signals, providing universal control capability. The system achieves multi-functionality where a single switching unit can selectively switch different loads on and off based on control signals, eliminating the need for dedicated switching units for each load.
2Ease of operation
If more switching units and freewheeling units are used to control multiple inductive loads, then independent pulse width modulation control is achieved, but installation space and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple switching units into one common switching unit and multiple freewheeling units into one common freewheeling unit, the physical space required is dramatically reduced. The common switching unit can be positioned centrally and serve all inductive loads through individual control signals, eliminating the need for separate switching units dispersed throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a distributed architecture (separate switching units for each load) to a centralized architecture (single common switching unit serving all loads). This dimensional change in system organization allows independent control of multiple loads through a single control point, reducing spatial requirements while maintaining operational independence.
3Reliability
If a large number of electronic assemblies are used to control multiple inductive loads, then comprehensive control is achieved, but costs and installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple switching units into one common switching unit and multiple freewheeling units into one common freewheeling unit, reducing the total number of assemblies from N pairs (for N loads) to just 2 shared units plus individual control circuitry. This merging maintains reliable control functionality through selective activation while dramatically reducing component count.
Solution Approach 2:
The common switching unit and common freewheeling unit are designed to serve multiple inductive loads universally. Through individual control signals, each load can be independently switched and controlled, achieving comprehensive control functionality with a universal set of components rather than dedicated components for each load.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces the number of components and space required, lowers costs, and minimizes power losses, making it suitable for compact applications like vehicle transmissions where space is limited.
Implementation Method 1
The common pulse width modulated switching unit and the common freewheeling unit are connected in series... the common pulse width modulated switching unit controlled by the common control unit... in such a way that the common pulse width modulated switching unit and the common freewheeling unit are connected in series
Implementation Method 2
the freewheeling unit 5 deletes the inductive energy from the load 2 when the switching unit 3 switches off, as a result of which the freewheeling unit 5 has a power loss that is proportional to the freewheeling current
Implementation Method 3
using semiconductor switches or field effect transistors to minimize losses
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4e
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuating circuit for several inductive loads, comprising a control unit (13) common to all inductive loads (11, 12), a pulse-width modulated switch unit (14) common to all inductive loads (11, 12), a freewheel unit (15) common to all inductive loads (11, 12), which is designed as a pulse-width modulated second switch unit, a power supply (16) common to all inductive loads (11, 12), and an output stage (17, 18) individual for each inductive load, wherein the common pulse-width modulated switch unit (14) and the individual output stages (17, 18) are connected to the common control unit (13), the common freewheel unit (15) and the common power supply (16) such that, on the one hand, the common pulse-width modulated switch unit (14) and the common freewheel unit (15) are connected in series and, on the other hand, the output stages (17, 18), together with the inductive loads (11, 12) connected in series with the output end stages (17, 18), are connected in parallel to the common freewheel unit (15), wherein the common pulse-width modulated switch unit (14), controlled by the common control unit (13), supplies power to the inductive loads (11, 12) by way of the common power supply in a central and pulse-width modulated manner, and the common freewheel unit (15) is controlled by means of the common control unit (13) in antiphase to the common pulse-width modulated control unit (14), and wherein the output stages (17, 18) controlled by the common control unit (13) either connect or disconnect each of the inductive loads (11, 12) individually.