Patent US3446991A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3446991A
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Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1966-03-23
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Granted: 1969-05-27
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Expires: 1986-03-23
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward K Howell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:19
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/72; H03K17/722; H03K17/723; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/54; H01H9/547
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
324 words
A CONTROL MEAND FOR ENERGIZING A LOAD FROM AN A.C. SUPPLY COMPRISING: (A) A SEMICONDUCTIVE BIDIRECTIONAL DEVICE HAVING TWO MAIN CURRENT CARRYING TERMINALS AND AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL GATE TERMINAL, SAID DEVICE NORMALLY EXHIBITING A HIGH IMPEDANCE CHARACTERISTIC BETWEEN SAID TWO MAIN TERMINALS AND EXHIBITING A LOW IMPEDANCE CHARACTERISTIC BETWEEN SAID TWO MAIN TERMINALS IN RESPONSE TO APPLICATION OF A CONTROL SIGNAL HAVING AT LEAST A PREDETERMINED AMPLITUDE TO SAID GATE TERMINAL, A FIRST OF SAID MAIN TERMINALS AND A FIRST TERMINAL OF THE LOAD CONNECTED TO A FIRST JUNCTION POINT, A SECOND OF SAID MAIN TERMINALS AND A SECOND TERMINAL OF THE LOAD CONNECTED TO THE A.C. SUPPLY, (B) A CONTROL CIRCUIT COMPRISING AN ENERGY STORAGE MEANS HAVING AT LEAST TWO TERMINALS AND A VARIABLE IMPEDANCE MEANS HAVING AT LEAST TWO TERMINALS, A FIRST TERMINAL OF SAID ENERGY STORAGE MEANS AND A FIRST TERMINAL OF SAID VARIABLE IMPEDANCE MEANS CONNECTED TO A SECOND JUNCTION POINT, A SECOND TERMINAL OF SAID ENERGY STORAGE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND TERMINAL OF SAID LOAD, AND A SECOND TERMINAL OF SAID VARIABLE IMPEDANCE MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND MAIN TERMINAL, AND (C) A GATE CIRCUIT CONNECTING SAID SECOND JUNCTION POINT TO SAID GATE TERMINAL, WHEREBY WHEN THE IMPEDANCE OF SAID VARIABLE IMPEDANCE MEANS IS REDUCED BELOW A PREDETERMINED LEVEL, THE VOLTAGE APPEARING ACROSS SAID ENERGY STORAGE MEANS, WHICH IS APPLIED TO SAID GATE THROUGH SAID GATE CIRCUIT EXCEEDS THE PREDETERMINED AMPLITUDE SO AS TO CAUSE SAID DEVICE TO EXHIBIT A LOW IMPEDANCE CHARACTERISTIC, SAID ENERGY STORAGE MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE IN RESPONSE TO A SUBSEQUENT INCREASE OF THE IMPEDANCE OF SAID VARIABLE IMPEDANCE MEANS ABOVE SAID PREDETERMINED LEVEL TO THEREAFTER SUPPLY GATE SIGNALS IN EXCESS OF SAID PREDETERMINED AMPLITUDE DERIVED FROM THE VOLTAGE DEVELOPED ACROSS THE LOAD TO SAID GATE TERMINAL THROUGH SAID GATE CIRCUIT, WHEREBY SAID DEVICE THEREAFTER EXHIBITS A LOW IMPEDANCE CHARACTERISTIC SO THAT THE LOAD IS ENERGIZED BY THE A.C. SUPPLY THROUGH SAID DEVICE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
324 words
A CONTROL MEAND FOR ENERGIZING A LOAD FROM AN A.C. SUPPLY COMPRISING: (A) A SEMICONDUCTIVE BIDIRECTIONAL DEVICE HAVING TWO MAIN CURRENT CARRYING TERMINALS AND AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL GATE TERMINAL, SAID DEVICE NORMALLY EXHIBITING A HIGH IMPEDANCE CHARACTERISTIC BETWEEN SAID TWO MAIN TERMINALS AND EXHIBITING A LOW IMPEDANCE CHARACTERISTIC BETWEEN SAID TWO MAIN TERMINALS IN RESPONSE TO APPLICATION OF A CONTROL SIGNAL HAVING AT LEAST A PREDETERMINED AMPLITUDE TO SAID GATE TERMINAL, A FIRST OF SAID MAIN TERMINALS AND A FIRST TERMINAL OF THE LOAD CONNECTED TO A FIRST JUNCTION POINT, A SECOND OF SAID MAIN TERMINALS AND A SECOND TERMINAL OF THE LOAD CONNECTED TO THE A.C. SUPPLY, (B) A CONTROL CIRCUIT COMPRISING AN ENERGY STORAGE MEANS HAVING AT LEAST TWO TERMINALS AND A VARIABLE IMPEDANCE MEANS HAVING AT LEAST TWO TERMINALS, A FIRST TERMINAL OF SAID ENERGY STORAGE MEANS AND A FIRST TERMINAL OF SAID VARIABLE IMPEDANCE MEANS CONNECTED TO A SECOND JUNCTION POINT, A SECOND TERMINAL OF SAID ENERGY STORAGE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND TERMINAL OF SAID LOAD, AND A SECOND TERMINAL OF SAID VARIABLE IMPEDANCE MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND MAIN TERMINAL, AND (C) A GATE CIRCUIT CONNECTING SAID SECOND JUNCTION POINT TO SAID GATE TERMINAL, WHEREBY WHEN THE IMPEDANCE OF SAID VARIABLE IMPEDANCE MEANS IS REDUCED BELOW A PREDETERMINED LEVEL, THE VOLTAGE APPEARING ACROSS SAID ENERGY STORAGE MEANS, WHICH IS APPLIED TO SAID GATE THROUGH SAID GATE CIRCUIT EXCEEDS THE PREDETERMINED AMPLITUDE SO AS TO CAUSE SAID DEVICE TO EXHIBIT A LOW IMPEDANCE CHARACTERISTIC, SAID ENERGY STORAGE MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE IN RESPONSE TO A SUBSEQUENT INCREASE OF THE IMPEDANCE OF SAID VARIABLE IMPEDANCE MEANS ABOVE SAID PREDETERMINED LEVEL TO THEREAFTER SUPPLY GATE SIGNALS IN EXCESS OF SAID PREDETERMINED AMPLITUDE DERIVED FROM THE VOLTAGE DEVELOPED ACROSS THE LOAD TO SAID GATE TERMINAL THROUGH SAID GATE CIRCUIT, WHEREBY SAID DEVICE THEREAFTER EXHIBITS A LOW IMPEDANCE CHARACTERISTIC SO THAT THE LOAD IS ENERGIZED BY THE A.C. SUPPLY THROUGH SAID DEVICE.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1972-05-26 | 1972-11-25 | 1973-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1976-05-26 | 1976-11-25 | 1977-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1980-05-26 | 1980-11-25 | 1981-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |