摘要 |
<p>In some circumstances it is important to maintain a d.c. potential within a specific range of a critical value. The circuit shown will provide a fail-safe signal if the potential deviates from the allowed range. Two zener diodes and two optically coupled isolators are used. If the d.c. potential remains within the critical range, an a.c. test signal back biases one optically coupled isolator and forward biases the other on the positive half cycle; and on the negative half cycle back biases the other and forward biases the one. Thus the two optically coupled isolators conduct on alternate half cycles of the a.c. test signal. If the d.c. potential strays from the required range, the optically coupled isolators stop alternate conduction and a fail signal is given. If either zener diode should fail in a mode which alters its characteristics so that the circuit would fail to detect a voltage excursion outside the allowed range, a fail signal is given.</p> |