A device includes an armature, a coil, and a circuit. The armature is configured to move between a close position that electrically couples the armature to a contact and an open position that is not electrically coupled to the contact. The coil is configured to release a voltage configured to de-magnetize the coil, thereby causing the armature to move from the close position to the open position. The circuit is configured to provide reverse driving current to the coil during a period of time when the armature moves from the close position to the open position.

A semi-wireless electric switch system controls power to electrical fixtures by multiplexing to remote solid state relays installed in the wiring junction of the fixtures. A mobile application is provided which may be downloaded and installed on the user's smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other electronic device. The application may be used to control the switch system. Wall switches are replaced by small flat-screen visual displays with touchscreen capability, which enable an installation technician to install additional lights, wall outlets, and other fixtures using existing wiring. Each relay has a preprogrammed three-digit code prefix, and receives and executes a simple digital command to turn on or turn off power to the fixture through the existing wiring.

A system includes a contactor operatively connected to a coil for actuating the contactor to open and close a circuit. A pass element includes a source, a drain, and a gate, wherein the drain is electrically connected to the coil, and wherein the coil is in series between the pass element and ground. A voltage source is connected to the source of the pass element to pass current into the coil when the pass element is in a pass state. A current source control circuit with economizer is operatively connected to the gate of the pass element. A delay circuit is operatively connected to the current source control circuit with economizer and to a command line to command a lower current for holding the contactor closed after a delay has expired for the contactor to transition.

The invention relates to a method for operating an electrical network, in particular an onboard network of a vehicle, in particular of a hybrid vehicle (HEV), of a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) or of an electric vehicle (EV). Said network comprises a battery system, which contains a battery separation unit (10), with which a high-voltage battery (12) can be separated from a battery positive pole (18) and/or a battery negative pole (32) or from both battery poles (18, 32) of the on-board network. A main contactor and/or precharging contactor coil (22, 28, 36) of at least one electromagnetic switch (20, 24) is pre-heated. In the case of a pulse-width modulation signal control, the actuation takes place with a fraction (54), preferably 10% to 30%, of an activation pulse width. In the case of actuation by direct current signals, the main contactor and/or precharging contactor coils (22, 28, 36) are preheated according to the temperature in the interior of the electrical energy accumulator with heating gradients (62, 64, 66) chosen according to the temperature.

A latching relay system includes a latching relay that comprises a permanent magnet and a control electric coil and has a function of self-maintaining a state of an electric contact, at least one inductance component that is disposed close to the latching relay and has a function of generating magnetism when energized, and an assisting energization control unit that energizes the inductance component temporarily when the state of the electric contact of the latching relay is switched, and assists an operation of the latching relay by the magnetism generated by the inductance component.

A switch system includes a system main relay, a temperature measuring unit, and a controller. The system main relay is configured to electrically connect a battery and an onboard device to each other by turning on a contact point, and to electrically disconnect the battery and the onboard device by turning off the contact point. The temperature measuring unit is configured to measure temperature of the contact point of the system main relay. The controller is configured to cause the system main relay to repeatedly turn on and off the contact point at a predetermined timing, (i) when the temperature of the contact point of the system main relay is a predetermined temperature or more or (ii) when an amount of rise in the temperature of the contact point is a predetermined amount or more.

Provided are embodiments for a circuit for a relay drive with a power supply economizer. The circuit includes a relay having a relay coil and a relay contact. The circuit also includes a power source to generate power for a coil drive voltage to operate the relay, and a controller configured to provide a command signal to operate the circuit in a plurality of modes. The circuit includes a first gate drive coupled to a first switch, wherein the first switch connects the relay coil to the circuit, and a second gate drive coupled to a second switch, wherein the second switch changes an effective resistance of a resistor network of the circuit to modify the coil drive voltage. Also provided are embodiments for a method for operating a circuit including relay drive with a power supply economizer.

The present subject matter relates to a battery module for use in a vehicle. The battery module may include a housing, a plurality of battery cells disposed within the housing, and solid state pre-charge control circuitry that pre-charges a direct current (DC) bus that may be coupled between the battery module and an electronic component of the vehicle. Furthermore, the solid state pre-charge control circuitry may include solid state electronic components as well as passive electronic components.

Circuitry for controlling relay activation timing is described. The circuitry includes voltage zero cross detection circuitry configured to produce a zero cross detection signal indicating a zero cross time of an alternating current (AC) signal. The circuitry also includes current measuring circuitry coupled to voltage zero cross detection circuitry. The current measuring circuitry is configured to produce a current flow detection signal indicating a current flow start time of the AC signal. The circuitry further includes relay circuitry coupled to the current measuring circuitry. The circuitry additionally includes a processor coupled to the voltage zero cross detection circuitry, to the current measuring circuitry, and to the relay circuitry. The processor is configured to determine a relay time error based on the zero cross time and the current flow start time. The processor is also configured to control relay activation signal timing to reduce the relay time error.

The magnetic coil driving circuit of the magnetic contactor according to the present invention comprises a semiconductor switch configured to open or close a circuit for magnetizing or demagnetizing a magnetic coil; a pulse width modulation unit configured to output a pulse signal as a control signal for turning on or off the semiconductor switch; a control unit configured to output a control signal for changing a pulse width of the pulse signal to the pulse width modulation unit; and a temperature detection and protection unit configured to detect a temperature inside the magnetic contactor, output an output signal for turning off the semiconductor switch when the temperature exceeds an allowable temperature, and control the semiconductor switch by the pulse signal from the pulse width modulation unit when the temperature is within the allowable temperature.