Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Kenneth Finley · Michael J. Zolock · Brian Lee ·
Assignee(s)	Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. ·  View assignee updates
Primary Examiner	Michael J Sherry ·
Assistant Examiner	Scott Bauer ·
Application Number	US11177814
Filing date	07/08/2005
Issue date	07/01/2008
Prior Publication Data	US20070008673 - 01/11/2007
Predicted expiration date	07/07/2026
Patent term adjustment	364
U.S. Classifications	361/207  · 310/316.03  ·
International Classifications	H01H5700  · H02N200  ·
Kind Code	B2

Patent Family

Abstract

A process control apparatus including an actuator configured to effect changes in an industrial process, a power supply, a plurality of current switches coupled between the actuator and the power supply and a controller coupled to the plurality of current switches. The controller is configured to selectively close one or more of the plurality of current switches so as to provide a selectable level of current from the power supply to the actuator. In variations, a plurality of discharge switches are coupled to the actuator and the controller is configured to selectively close the discharge switches so as to provide a selectable level of charge to discharge from the actuator.

Independent Claims | See all claims (11)

1. 1. A process control apparatus comprising: an actuator configured to effect changes in an industrial process; a power supply; a plurality of current switches coupled between the actuator and the power supply; and a controller coupled to the plurality of current switches, wherein the controller is configured to: selectively close one or more of the plurality of current switches so as to provide a selectable level of current from the power supply to the actuator; initially close a first of the at least two of the plurality of current switches and open a second of the at least two of the plurality of current switches so as to initially provide current to the actuator via the first of the at least two of the plurality of current switches; and close the second of the at least two of the plurality of current switches in response to a rate of increase of charge in the actuator being less than a desired amount so as to simultaneously provide current to the actuator via the at least two of the plurality of current switches.
2. 6. A method for driving an actuator to a desired position comprising: receiving a control signal, wherein the control signal is indicative of the desired position; closing, a first of at least two current switches so as to initially provide current to the actuator via the first of the at least two of the plurality of current switches, ;and closing a second of the at least two current switches in response to a rate of increase of charge in the actuator being less than a desired amount so as to simultaneously provide current to the actuator via the at least two current switches.
3. 9. A process control apparatus comprising: an actuator configured so as to be capable of altering an industrial process; means for receiving a control signal, wherein the control signal is indicative of a desired position of the actuator; means for closing, a first of at least two current switches so as to initially provide current to the actuator via the first of the at least two of the plurality of current switches; and means for closing a second of the at least two current switches in response to a rate of increase of charge in the actuator being less than a desired amount so as to simultaneously provide current to the actuator via the at least two current switches.