BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to switching devices, and more particularly to sensing properties associated with the switching devices. Switching devices are generally used throughout industrial, commercial, material handling, process and manufacturing settings, to mention only a few. As used herein, “switching device” is generally intended to describe any electromechanical switching device, such as mechanical switching devices (e.g., a contactor, a relay, latching relay, air break devices, and controlled atmosphere devices) or solid-state devices (e.g., a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR)). More specifically, switching devices generally open to disconnect electric power from a load and close to connect electric power to the load. For example, switching devices may connect and disconnect three-phase electric power to an electric motor.

A latching switch may maintain a particular state (e.g., open or closed) independent of power supplied to the latching switch. However, the armature position of the latching switch can change based on a user's interaction (e.g., manual reset) with the latching switch. Regardless of the position (e.g., open or closed) of the armature of the latching switch, it may be desired to detect the position of the armature without physically examining the latching switch.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

In one embodiment, a system may include an armature configured to move between a first position that electrically couples the armature to a first contact and a second position that electrically couples the armature to a second contact. The system may also include a coil configured receive a current, such that the current conducting in the coil is configured to magnetize a core. The magnetized core may cause the armature to move from the first position to the second position. The system may also include a control system configured to detect a position of the armature based on an inductance of the coil.

In another embodiment, a method may include sending, via circuitry, a plurality of gate signals to a plurality of switches that may cause the plurality of switches to open. The plurality of switches may be part of an H-bridge circuit. The method also includes sending, via the circuitry, a first signal to a first switch, such that the first signal is configured to cause the first switch to close. The method may then involve sending, via the circuitry, a pulse-width modulated signal to a second switch that is part of the H-bridge circuit and measuring, via the circuitry, a current conducting via the first switch while the pulse-width modulated signal is provided to the second switch. The current corresponds to a state of an actuator coil.

In yet another embodiment, a circuit may include a plurality of switches that may be part of an H-bridge circuit and a coil that may magnetize a core of an actuator based on a current conducting in the coil. The circuit may also include a diode configured to couple to the coil, a resistor configured to couple to the diode, and a switch that may couple to the resistor. The switch may close and conduct the current received from the coil.

