Patent ID: 6903554

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring an operating parameter of a relay operating a pair of relay contacts, comprising: a relay comprising at least two contacts, an armature controlling at least one of said contacts, and a solenoid coil having first and second terminals, said solenoid coil configured to move said armature in response to a control signal to cause said contacts to assume a condition selected from an open condition and a closed condition; a voltage source connected to said first terminal of said solenoid coil, said voltage source further configured to provide a first reference voltage signal; a voltage sensor having a first terminal connected to said second terminal of said solenoid coil, a second terminal configured to receive a second reference voltage signal, and a third terminal configured to provide a sensed voltage signal; and a microprocessor-based programmable controller module comprising at least one analog-to-digital converter, said controller module configured to actuate said relay by providing said control signal to said relay, said controller module configured to receive a reference voltage signal based on at least one of said first and second reference voltage signals and said sensed voltage signal, said controller module configured to use said at least one analog-to-digital converter to convert said reference voltage signal based on at least one of said first and second reference voltage signals and said sensed voltage signal into respective discrete time sampled digital signals, said controller module configured to analyze said respective discrete time sampled digital signals; whereby said apparatus measures an operating parameter of said relay when said relay changes said condition of said relay contacts.