Relay Switching Circuit With Terminal Potential Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing relay switching-on circuits fail to detect faulty conditions, such as short circuits, in a switched-off state, leading to potential premature activation of the relay, and existing solutions that use two relays to address this issue increase costs and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A relay switching-on circuit with a comparator unit monitoring the potential at the terminals and issuing fault disclosure signals when differences exceed a predetermined threshold, utilizing resistors to ensure secure switching-off and detect faulty conditions in a single-relay setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dual channel switching-on circuit with two switching elements is used, then relay switching control is achieved, but faulty conditions of the switching elements cannot be detected in a switched-off state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing fault detection through resistors connected to the terminals before actual relay operation. The resistors create a monitoring circuit that continuously checks for faulty conditions (such as short circuits) in the switching elements during the switched-off state, enabling early detection before faults can cause premature relay activation.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If two relays are used instead of one to detect faulty conditions, then fault detection capability is improved, but costs and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the resistors serve multiple functions: they are part of the normal relay switching circuit while simultaneously acting as monitoring elements for fault detection. This multi-functionality allows fault detection capability to be improved without adding extra relays, thereby avoiding increased costs and space requirements while maintaining the ability to detect faulty conditions in the switched-off state.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a relay switching-on circuit, comprising: a relay (K1) having a first terminal (K11) and a second terminal (K12); a first switching element (T1) connected between the first terminal and a first operating voltage (+VCC); a second switching element (T2) connected between the second terminal and a second operating voltage (-VCC), wherein said first and second switching elements are operatively connected with a respective control channel (CH1, CH2) for controlling a respective switching action of said switching elements. The proposed circuit further comprises: a first resistor (R1) connected between said first operating voltage and one of said first and second terminals; a second resistor (R2) connected between said second operating voltage and the other one of said first and second terminals; and a comparator unit (CU) connected with said first and second terminals for comparing a potential at said first and second terminals with a respective reference potential (UREF1, UREF2) in a switched-off state of the relay, wherein said comparator unit is configured to issue at least one fault disclosure signal (FDS1, FDS2) in response to a relation between the potential at said first and/or second terminal and the corresponding reference potential.