US 12,087,533 B2
Electromagnetic actuator and method for controlling an electromagnetic actuator
David Lanes, Saint Hilaire du Touvet (FR)
Assigned to Schneider Electric Industries SAS, Rueill Malmaison (FR)
Filed by Schneider Electric Industries SAS, Rueil Malmaison (FR)
Filed on Jan. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/583,267.
Claims priority of application No. 2100759 (FR), filed on Jan. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0238289 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. H01H 51/10 (2006.01); H01H 50/20 (2006.01); H01H 50/36 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 51/10 (2013.01) [H01H 50/20 (2013.01); H01H 50/36 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling an electromagnetic actuator, including a coil, an electrical power supply circuit for supplying power to the coil, and an electronic control circuit, the power supply circuit including a switching stage comprising an H-bridge comprising a plurality of switches connected to the coil, the first switch being connected in a first leg of the bridge between an electrical ground of the power supply circuit and the coil, the second switch being connected between the voltage bus and the coil in a second leg of the H-bridge, and the third switch being connected between the coil and the electrical ground in a third leg of the bridge, the control method comprising:
applying a first control strategy in which the first and third switches are kept in a closed state, whereas the second switch is switched between its open and closed states;
detecting an occurrence of overconsumption of current in the coil, by detecting that the voltage measured on the control bus has exceeded a predefined voltage limit or by detecting that a duty cycle of the second switch has dropped below a threshold value; and
in response, applying a second control strategy, instead of the first control strategy, in which the third switch is periodically opened in order to decrease the current supplied to the coil.