Solenoid switching driver with fast current decay from initial peak current

摘要

A solenoid driver circuit has reduced power consumption by providing relatively fast current decay to a sustaining low current after an initial peak activation current. Subsequent sustaining current peak applications have a smaller magnitude than the initial peak current and are followed by slower decays for a predetermined length of time to a lower current level. Two transistors and a Zener diode are operatively connected to the solenoid and controlled by a logic circuit to apply the desired current to the solenoid. The two transistors are turned on and off using logic flip-flops to sense voltage comparisons with the initial peak current voltage, the sustaining peak current, and the sustaining low current. A logic signal is generated as a function of the predetermined length of time, and an output signal is coupled to the bases of the two transistors to control their on/off states.