Disclosed is a dual-input circuit, adopting a contactor as a switching device, and being more suitable for medium and high-power applications. In addition, the adopted contactor is a single double-pole double-throw contactor with an interlocking function. In this way, the circuit is safe, simple, and easily controllable, and space utilization can be further improved. In addition, the adopted contactor further is of a magnetic attraction type, with lower power consumption for long-term work. In the present invention, either one of two inputs is set as a main input and the other is set to a backup input by default, so that the present invention can be more flexibly applied and is more applicable. To enable switching when both or only either one of the two inputs has an input voltage, the present invention further adopts a single dual-input auxiliary power supply to reduce a required space and further reduce costs.

An embodiment circuit comprises high-side and low-side switches arranged between supply and reference nodes, and having an intermediate node. A switching control signal is applied with opposite polarities to the high-side and low-side switches. An inductive load is coupled between the intermediate node and one of the supply and reference nodes. Current sensing circuitry is configured to sample a first value of the load current flowing in one of the high-side and low-side switches before a commutation of the switching control signal, sample a second value of the load current flowing in the other of the high-side and low-side switches after the commutation of the switching control signal, sample a third value of the load current flowing in the other of the high-side and low-side switches after the second sampling, and generate a failure signal as a function of the first, second and third sampled values of the load current.

An electromagnet device moves two moving contacts from one of a closed position or an open position to the other position when an electric current flows through a coil. A regenerative current coming from the coil flows through a regeneration unit when the coil makes a transition from an energized state where the coil is supplied with an electric current from a power supply to a non-energized state where the coil is supplied with no electric current from the power supply. The control unit causes the regenerative current to flow through a load by controlling a switch when the coil makes the transition from the energized state to the non-energized state.

The disclosure relates to an electromagnetic relay that comprises a yoke and an armature. The armature may be swivellably arranged on the yoke, have an open position and a contact position in relation to the yoke, and configured to be attracted by a magnetic field out of the open position into the contact position. The armature may include a first branch circuit having a first capacitor and a first exciter coil connected in series with the first capacitor, a second branch circuit having a second capacitor and a second exciter coil connected in series with the second capacitor, and a switch element arranged between the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit and having a first switch state and a second switch state. The first exciter coil and the second exciter coil may provide the magnetic field for attracting and retaining the armature.

The disclosure relates to an electromagnetic relay that comprises a yoke and an armature. The armature may be swivellably arranged on the yoke, have an open position and a contact position in relation to the yoke, and configured to be attracted by a magnetic field out of the open position into the contact position. The armature may include a first branch circuit having a first capacitor and a first exciter coil connected in series with the first capacitor, a second branch circuit having a second capacitor and a second exciter coil connected in series with the second capacitor, and a switch element arranged between the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit and having a first switch state and a second switch state. The first exciter coil and the second exciter coil may provide the magnetic field for attracting and retaining the armature.

A relay device includes a coil portion, a fixed contact, a spring, a moving contact and a drive circuit. The drive circuit controls the electromagnetic force of the coil portion to be a first electromagnetic force when switching the fixed contact and the moving contact in a contact state to a non-contact state. The drive circuit controls the electromagnetic force of the coil portion to be a second electromagnetic force that is larger than the first electromagnetic force after a lapse of a first time from start of control of the electromagnetic force of the coil portion to be the first electromagnetic force. The drive circuit controls the electromagnetic force of the coil portion to be reduced with time after a lapse of a second time from start of control of the electromagnetic force of the coil portion to be the second electromagnetic force.

A method may include receiving, via a processor, a request to enable movement of a rotor. The method may involve sending a first signal to a mechanical relay system in response to receiving the request, such that the second signal may cause a mechanical relay to close. The mechanical relay system is configured to couple a first conductor to an EM brake. The method may also include sending a second signal to a solid-state relay system after sending the first signal to the mechanical relay system, such that the second signal may cause a solid-state relay to close. The solid-state relay system may couple a second conductor to the EM brake, such that the EM brake may open after receiving power via the first conductor and the second conductor.

A method may include receiving, via a processor, a request to enable movement of a rotor. The method may involve sending a first signal to a mechanical relay system in response to receiving the request, such that the second signal may cause a mechanical relay to close. The mechanical relay system is configured to couple a first conductor to an EM brake. The method may also include sending a second signal to a solid-state relay system after sending the first signal to the mechanical relay system, such that the second signal may cause a solid-state relay to close. The solid-state relay system may couple a second conductor to the EM brake, such that the EM brake may open after receiving power via the first conductor and the second conductor.

A power electronics assembly of a domestic appliance includes a first relay controlling an electrical contact between a first current-carrying conductor and an electric consumer. The assembly further includes a semiconductor switching element that switches the electrical contact between the first current-carrying conductor and the electric consumer and is arranged in parallel with the first relay. A controller is programmed to activate the semiconductor switching element to switch on the electrical consumer before the first relay is closed.

A method of detecting welded contacts in a relay. The method includes performing, at a first point in time, the applying of a drive to the activation coil to conduct a coil current through the activation coil, the coil current increasing to a first current level, the first current level being less than a pull-in current of the relay; responsive to the coil current reaching the first current level, turning off the drive to the activation coil to discharge the coil current at a first clamping voltage; and measuring a first discharge time corresponding to a first inductance from the turning off of the drive to the activation coil to the coil current reaching a second current level, the second current level being less than the first current level. These operations are repeated at a second point in time to obtain a second inductance. Comparison of the first inductance and second inductance determines whether a difference between the first and second inductances exceeds a comparison criterion.