초록 ▼

The present invention comprises a relay control circuit that provides highly efficient and reliable control for devices that perform in demanding applications such as space. Multiple levels of redundant function control are provided by redundant actuators that perform mechanical operations. Each act

The present invention comprises a relay control circuit that provides highly efficient and reliable control for devices that perform in demanding applications such as space. Multiple levels of redundant function control are provided by redundant actuators that perform mechanical operations. Each actuator is driven by redundant motors for increased reliability. Motor current sensing is provided to determine arrival of the actuator at mechanical stops, which are located at the full deploy position. Limit switches also sense when the actuators are in the full deploy position. In addition, multiple control signal so are required to initiate certain critical operations. Critical operations also are performed redundantly for increased reliability.

대표청구항 ▼

A relay control apparatus for providing redundant control of a plurality of pairs of mechanical actuators, one actuator in each pair being a primary actuator and the other actuator in each pair being a secondary actuator, both the primary and secondary actuator in each pair being adapted to perform

A relay control apparatus for providing redundant control of a plurality of pairs of mechanical actuators, one actuator in each pair being a primary actuator and the other actuator in each pair being a secondary actuator, both the primary and secondary actuator in each pair being adapted to perform the same operation, each actuator being driven in a deploy mode from a stow position to a deploy position and in a stow mode from the deploy position back to the stow position by a first motor, comprising: a plurality of actuator switch means for selecting the operation of each of said actuators, each said actuator switch means corresponding to a pair of said actuators, each said actuator switch means generating an actuator select signal that is in a first state when said switch means is actuated and in a second state otherwise; deploy/stow switch means for selecting between the deploy and stow operating modes of said actuators, said deploy/stow switch means generating a deploy signal that is in a first state and a stow signal that is in a second state when the deploy operating mode is selected and a deploy signal that is in the second state and a stow signal that is in the first state when the stow operating mode is selected; actuator select means responsive to the actuator select signals and the deploy and stow signals for producing a plurality of actuator select output signals, there being an actuator select output signal corresponding to the deploy operating mode for each actuator and to the stow operating mode for each actuator, each actuator select output signal being in a first state when the corresponding actuator and operating mode are selected and in a second state when the corresponding actuator and operating mode are not selected; primary/secondary switch means for selecting between the primary and secondary actuator of each pair of said actuators, said primary/secondary switch means generating a primary signal and a secondary signal, the primary signal being in a first state and the secondary signal being in a second state when the primary actuator of each pair is selected, and the primary signal being in the second state and the secondary signal being in the first state when the secondary actuator of each pair is selected; primary/secondary select means responsive to the primary and secondary signals and to the actuator select output signals for producing a plurality of motor relay signals, there being a motor relay signal for the deploy mode and the stow mode for each of the primary and secondary actuators, each motor relay signal being in a first state when the actuator and mode to which it corresponds are selected as indicated by the state of the corresponding primary or secondary signal and the state of the actuator select output signal, each motor relay signal being in a second state otherwise; and motor power relay means responsive to the motor relay signals for providing operating power to the first motor that drives the actuator for which the corresponding actuator select output signal and primary signal or secondary signal are in the first state, such operating power driving such motor in the operating mode corresponding to the actuator select output signal that is in the first state.