System for precisely controlling the operational characteristics of a relay

1. A precisely controlled relay circuit comprising:

a relay having performance characteristics that vary with a temperature of the relay, wherein the relay comprises a plurality of operational phases including a switching phase and a holding phase; and

a relay control circuit configured to provide a preselected current to the relay at least during the switching phase and the holding phase,

wherein the preselected current remains substantially constant despite a change in the temperature of the relay,

wherein the relay is configured to transition from a non-energized position to an energized position during the switching phase, and

wherein the relay is configured to maintain the energized position during the holding phase.

2. The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a voltage source configured to provide a voltage to the relay control circuit, the voltage ranging from a minimum voltage to a maximum voltage;

wherein the preselected current remains substantially constant despite a change in the voltage provided to the relay control circuit.

3. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the relay control circuit comprises a linear voltage regulator.

4. The circuit of claim 3 , further comprising a resistor coupled to an output of the linear voltage regulator and to the relay.

5. The circuit of claim 4 , wherein the linear voltage regulator comprises:

an input coupled to a voltage source; and

an adjustment input coupled to the relay.

6. The circuit of claim 5 , wherein the adjustment input is coupled to the relay using a diode, wherein the cathode of the diode is coupled to the relay.

7. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the relay control circuit comprises an override circuit configured to control a flow of current to the relay.

8. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein the override circuit is controlled by external circuitry.

9. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the relay control circuit comprises:

a linear voltage regulator;

a resistor coupled to the linear voltage regulator; and

a MOSFET switch coupled to the resistor and the relay;

wherein the MOSFET switch is controlled by external circuitry.

10. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the linear voltage regulator comprises:

an input coupled to a voltage source;

an output coupled to the resistor; and

an adjustment input coupled to the MOSFET switch.

11. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein operational characteristics of the precisely controlled relay circuit remain substantially unchanged despite the change in the temperature of the relay.

12. The circuit of claim 11 , wherein the operational characteristics include an operate voltage, a release voltage, an operate time, and a release time.

13. The circuit of claim 11 , wherein the temperature varies within a range of 25 degrees Celcius to 85 degrees Celcius.

14. The circuit of claim 13 , wherein the constant current varies by less than 2 percent despite the change in the temperature of the relay.

15. The circuit of claim 13 , wherein the operational characteristics of the precisely controlled relay circuit vary by less than 2 percent despite the change in the temperature of the relay.

16. The circuit of claim 11 , wherein the temperature varies within a range of 25 degrees Celcius to −55 degrees Celcius.

17. The circuit of claim 16 , wherein the constant current varies by less than 2 percent despite the change in the temperature of the relay.

18. The circuit of claim 16 , wherein the operational characteristics of the precisely controlled relay circuit vary by less than 2 percent despite the change in the temperature of the relay.

19. A precisely controlled relay circuit comprising:

a relay having performance characteristics that vary with a temperature of the relay, wherein the relay comprises a plurality of operational phases including a switching phase and a holding phase;

a relay control circuit configured to provide a preselected current to the relay at least during the switching phase and the holding phase; and

a voltage source configured to provide a voltage to the relay control circuit, the voltage ranging from a minimum voltage to a maximum voltage,

wherein the preselected current remains substantially constant despite a change in the voltage provided to the relay control circuit,

wherein the relay is configured to transition from a non-energized position to an energized position during the switching phase, and

wherein the relay is configured to maintain the energized position during the holding phase.