The Boeing Company
High-performance current-limited pyrotechnic initiator drive circuits

Abstract:

Embodiments described herein provides a low-complexity solution and current protection for a current driver that provide current pulses to pyrotechnic initiators. The current drivers include current limiters that prevent high current transients during a current pulse. Further, a duration of the current pulse is controlled based on a thermal limit of the current driver to prevent thermal damage to the current driver. One embodiment comprises an apparatus that includes a control circuit and a current driver. The current driver is electrically couplable to a pyrotechnic initiator. The current driver includes a power switch circuit electrically coupled to a supply rail that supplies a current to a high side of the pyrotechnic initiator in response to receiving a drive signal from the control circuit.