Patents by Inventor Malcolm J. Critchley

Malcolm J. Critchley has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8164865
    Abstract: A system and method for quickly discharging a DC relay is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to circuit for discharging a relay coil, the circuit including a first suppression circuit coupled across a control power source, a switch, a relay coil in series with the switch, wherein the relay coil and the switch are coupled across the control power source, and a second suppression circuit coupled across the relay coil, wherein the relay coil is configured to actuate at least one load switch when sufficiently energized by the control power source, wherein the first suppression circuit is configured to discharge energy stored in the relay coil, and wherein the second suppression circuit is configured to discharge energy stored in the relay coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Leach International Corporation
    Inventor: Malcolm J. Critchley
  • Patent number: 8116059
    Abstract: A system and method for quickly discharging an AC relay is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a circuit for discharging a relay coil a relay, the circuit including relay circuitry having a relay coil disposed across a rectifier circuit, wherein the relay coil is configured to actuate at least one load switch when sufficiently energized, relay release circuitry including suppression circuitry coupled across the relay coil, and isolation circuitry in series between the relay coil and the rectifier circuit, and control circuitry configured to provide a voltage to the rectifier circuit to energize the relay coil, wherein the isolation circuitry is configured to isolate the relay coil and suppression circuitry based on a signal from the control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Leach International Corporation
    Inventor: Malcolm J. Critchley
  • Patent number: 8094427
    Abstract: A system for precisely controlling the operational characteristics of a relay is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a relay having performance characteristics that vary with a temperature of the relay, where the relay comprises a plurality of operational phases including a switching phase and a holding phase, and a relay control circuit configured to provide a preselected current to the relay at least during the switching phase and the holding phase, where the preselected current remains substantially constant despite a change in the temperature of the relay, where the relay is configured to transition from a non-energized position to an energized position during the switching phase, and where the relay is configured to maintain the energized position during the holding phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Leach International Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm J. Critchley, Yen-Kuei Tsao
  • Publication number: 20100177453
    Abstract: A system for precisely controlling the operational characteristics of a relay is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a relay having performance characteristics that vary with a temperature of the relay, where the relay comprises a plurality of operational phases including a switching phase, and a relay control circuit configured to provide a preselected current to the relay at least during the switching phase, where the preselected current remains substantially constant despite a change in the temperature of the relay, and where the relay is configured to transition from a non-energized position to an energized position during the switching phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Malcolm J. Critchley, Yen-Kuei Tsao
  • Publication number: 20090284879
    Abstract: A system and method for quickly discharging a DC relay is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to circuit for discharging a relay coil, the circuit including a first suppression circuit coupled across a power source, a switch, a relay coil in series with the switch, wherein the relay coil and the switch are coupled across the power source, and a second suppression circuit coupled across the relay coil, wherein the relay coil is configured to actuate at least one load switch when sufficiently energized by the power source, wherein the first suppression circuit is configured to discharge energy stored in the relay coil, and wherein the second suppression circuit is configured to discharge energy stored in the relay coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: Malcolm J. Critchley
  • Publication number: 20090284878
    Abstract: A system and method for quickly discharging an AC relay is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a circuit for discharging a relay coil a relay, the circuit including relay circuitry having a relay coil disposed across a rectifier circuit, wherein the relay coil is configured to actuate at least one load switch when sufficiently energized, relay release circuitry including suppression circuitry coupled across the relay coil, and isolation circuitry in series between the relay coil and the rectifier circuit, and control circuitry configured to provide a voltage to the rectifier circuit to energize the relay coil, wherein the isolation circuitry is configured to isolate the relay coil and suppression circuitry based on a signal from the control circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: Malcolm J. Critchley