Astronics. has developed a circuit arrangement to reduce contact bouncing in contactors by detecting voltage fluctuations and selectively activating a higher magnetic field coil to stabilize power delivery contacts. This innovation aims to prevent thermal damage and ensure proper contact positioning. GlobalData’s report on Astronics gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Astronics, Smart glasses was a key innovation area identified from patents. Astronics's grant share as of January 2024 was 61%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Contactor circuit to reduce contact bounce

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Astronics Corp

A newly filed patent (Publication Number: US20240013994A1) describes a circuit arrangement designed to reduce contact bounce in a contactor resulting from transient conditions. The circuit includes a contactor with two magnetic coils, a switch to short one coil to allow the other to generate a higher magnetic field, and a voltage sensor to detect fluctuations caused by transient conditions. The sensor activates the switch to energize the coil generating the higher magnetic field, effectively reducing contact bounce. The circuit can be further enhanced with a timer or a pulse width modulator to control the activation of the switch for a selectable period or duty cycle, respectively.

The method outlined in the patent involves utilizing a contactor with two magnetic coils, selectively operating a switch to allow one coil to generate a higher magnetic field, and using a voltage sensor to detect fluctuations due to transient conditions. The sensor triggers the switch to energize the appropriate coil, reducing contact bounce. The method can be improved by incorporating a timer or a pulse width modulator to control the switch activation for a specific period or duty cycle, respectively. By implementing these techniques, the contact bounce in the contactor can be effectively minimized, ensuring smooth operation during transient conditions.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.