A circuit arrangement comprises: an electronic switch; at least one relay including a relay coil; a shunt resistor; a voltage supply device to supply an operating voltage to the at least one relay, wherein the electronic switch, the relay coil of the at least one relay, and the shunt resistor are electrically connected in series to one another between the operating voltage and ground; a current regulator to drive the electronic switch with a pulse width modulation to adjust a control current that flows through the relay coil; at least one sensor to generate sensor data indicative of shocks, impacts or vibrations acting on the at least one relay; and an evaluating unit to evaluate the sensor data, wherein the current regulator is configured to adjust the control current based on the sensor data evaluated by the evaluating unit.

A circuit arrangement comprises: an electronic switch; at least one relay including a relay coil; a shunt resistor; a voltage supply device to supply an operating voltage to the at least one relay, wherein the electronic switch, the relay coil of the at least one relay, and the shunt resistor are electrically connected in series to one another between the operating voltage and ground; a current regulator to drive the electronic switch with a pulse width modulation to adjust a control current that flows through the relay coil; at least one sensor to generate sensor data indicative of shocks, impacts or vibrations acting on the at least one relay; and an evaluating unit to evaluate the sensor data, wherein the current regulator is configured to adjust the control current based on the sensor data evaluated by the evaluating unit.

A latching solenoid (100, 200, 300) includes a coil (114) and an armature (120). The armature (120) moves between latch position and a rest position in response to momentary energization of the coil (114) without moving in response to de-energization of the coil (114). A solenoid controller (140) is operable to receive messages from a vehicle bus (108, 410) and output control signals that cause energization of the coil (114).

A solenoid control circuit can make measurements during operation to determine the state of a solenoid and can provide for rapid re-energization of a solenoid upon detection of a dropout condition. A method of controlling a solenoid can include closing an input switch, cycling a low side switch based on voltage drop across a resistor, opening the input switch after a time interval, closing the low side switch and driving a discharge switch to control the discharge current rate from an energy storage device to an inductor. The method can include determining a condition of the inductor based on a time interval between actuation of comparators and maintaining a level of energy in the energy storage device sufficient to cause the inductor to produce a magnetic field for actuating a valve.

A relay control device includes a coil, a movable iron armature that is switched from an open state to a closed state when the coil is excited, a switching current output circuit that applies first current for switching the movable iron armature from the open state to the closed state to the coil, and a holding current output circuit that applies second current for holding the movable iron armature in the closed state to the coil. The switching current output circuit applies the first current to the coil when a first time has elapsed from when the second current is started to be applied to the coil, and the value of the second current is lower than the value of the first current.

A relay for a high voltage circuit comprises a main coil and a first armature, wherein the first armature is located in the high voltage circuit and is correspondingly in a position to open and close the high voltage circuit in response to power down and power up of the main coil; a secondary coil that cooperates with the first armature and a driving circuit that supplies power to the secondary coil, wherein the driving circuit is powered by a high voltage supply of the high voltage circuit, the secondary coil is powered up to generate additional electromagnetic force that places the first armature in the closed position when the driving circuit is closed; and a second armature located in the driving circuit, and is correspondingly in a position to open or close the driving circuit in response to power down and power up of the main coil.

A relay for a high voltage circuit comprises a main coil and a first armature, wherein the first armature is located in the high voltage circuit and is correspondingly in a position to open and close the high voltage circuit in response to power down and power up of the main coil; a secondary coil that cooperates with the first armature and a driving circuit that supplies power to the secondary coil, wherein the driving circuit is powered by a high voltage supply of the high voltage circuit, the secondary coil is powered up to generate additional electromagnetic force that places the first armature in the closed position when the driving circuit is closed; and a second armature located in the driving circuit, and is correspondingly in a position to open or close the driving circuit in response to power down and power up of the main coil.

An example circuit arrangement and method for actuating an electromagnetic drive system for electromechanical devices is disclosed, the example circuit arrangement including a mechanically locked end position, a control voltage source, a regulating and control circuit, a drive system, a transformer, a rectifier bridge a smoothing capacitor, and a main switching transistor, by means of which the drive system can be controlled in a characteristic pulse tracking system. In the example, the main switching transistor is connected in series to a primary branch of the transformer, the transformer is connected to the supply voltage, and the secondary winding of the transformer supplies the rectifier bridge, the output DC voltage of which is smoothed by the smoothing capacitor and added to the voltage of the control voltage source so as to result in a DC voltage feed having a chronological supply progression.

An example circuit arrangement and method for actuating an electromagnetic drive system for electromechanical devices is disclosed, the example circuit arrangement including a mechanically locked end position, a control voltage source, a regulating and control circuit, a drive system, a transformer, a rectifier bridge a smoothing capacitor, and a main switching transistor, by means of which the drive system can be controlled in a characteristic pulse tracking system. In the example, the main switching transistor is connected in series to a primary branch of the transformer, the transformer is connected to the supply voltage, and the secondary winding of the transformer supplies the rectifier bridge, the output DC voltage of which is smoothed by the smoothing capacitor and added to the voltage of the control voltage source so as to result in a DC voltage feed having a chronological supply progression.

A safety circuit for fail-safe shutdown of a dangerous technical system with a plurality of disconnectable system component groups comprises a plurality of safety switching devices electrically connected to one another in series to form a closed-loop monitoring circuit in which electric monitoring current flows through the safety switching devices. Each of the safety switching devices includes: a fail-safe control unit that detects and evaluates information about a current operating state of any system component group assigned to it; and a current flow adjuster that changes the current flow within the monitoring circuit to interrupt the monitoring circuit in response to detection of a safety command by the safety switching device. The fail-safe control units generate a shutdown signal in response to an interruption of the current flow within the monitoring circuit, which causes the fail-safe shutdown of any of the system component group not already shut down.