US3575153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Regulated voltage converter
Assignee: Prestolite Electric Inc
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Filing: 1968-11-18
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Granted: 1971-04-20
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Expires: 1988-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A volt-second controlled DC to DC converter for use in capacitive discharge circuits such as flame heater exciters and ignition systems. A transistor switch in series with the primary of a transformer is turned on for a period of time inversely proportional to the supply voltage, thereby resulting in a constant peak primary current which is independent of the supply voltage. When the transistor switch is turned off, the secondary current produced by the collapsing magnetic field charges a capacitor which is connected in a capacitive discharge system.
Inventors
- 👤 James T Hardin
- 👤 William J Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:41
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/325; H02M3/335; H02M3/338; H02M3/3385; F; F02; F02P; F02P3/00; F02P3/06; F02P3/08; F02P3/0876; F02P3/0884
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
An improved converter for a capacitive discharge circuit comprising, in combination, a low voltage source of direct current, a transformer having primary and secondary windings, a switch, means connection said direct current source, said primary winding and said switch in a closed series circuit, a freerunning multivibrator, said multivibrator being in a first state for a period of time independent of the voltage of said direct current source and in a second state for a period of time inversely proportional to the voltage of said direct current source, means for turning said switch on while said multivibrator is in said second state and for turning said switch off while said multivibrator is in said first state a charging diode, a storage capacitor, and means connecting said secondary winding, said charging diode and said storage capacitor in a closed series circuit whereby, when said switch is turned on, current builds up in said primary winding to a predetermined peak value and, when said switch changes from an on state to an off state, said storage capacitor is charged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
An improved converter for a capacitive discharge circuit comprising, in combination, a low voltage source of direct current, a transformer having primary and secondary windings, a switch, means connection said direct current source, said primary winding and said switch in a closed series circuit, a freerunning multivibrator, said multivibrator being in a first state for a period of time independent of the voltage of said direct current source and in a second state for a period of time inversely proportional to the voltage of said direct current source, means for turning said switch on while said multivibrator is in said second state and for turning said switch off while said multivibrator is in said first state a charging diode, a storage capacitor, and means connecting said secondary winding, said charging diode and said storage capacitor in a closed series circuit whereby, when said switch is turned on, current builds up in said primary winding to a predetermined peak value and, when said switch changes from an on state to an off state, said storage capacitor is charged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An improved converter for a capacitive discharge circuit, as defined in claim 1, wherein said switch is a transistor switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
184 words
An improved converter for a capacitive discharge circuit comprising, in combination, a low voltage source of direct current, a transformer having primary and secondary windings, a switch, means connecting said direct current source, said primary winding and said switch in a closed series circuit, a monostable multivibrator, means for supplying a trigger pulse to said multivibrator, said multivibrator switching from a first state to a second state in response to such trigger pulse and switching back to said first state after a period of time inversely proportional to the voltage of said direct current source, means for turning said switch on while said multivibrator is in said second state and for turning said switch off while said multivibrator is in said first state, a charging diode, a storage capacitor, and means connecting said secondary winding, said charging diode and said storage capacitor in a closed series circuit whereby, when said switch is turned on, current builds up in said primary winding to a predetermined peak value and, when said switch changes from an on state to an off state, said storage capacitor is charged.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
184 words
An improved converter for a capacitive discharge circuit comprising, in combination, a low voltage source of direct current, a transformer having primary and secondary windings, a switch, means connecting said direct current source, said primary winding and said switch in a closed series circuit, a monostable multivibrator, means for supplying a trigger pulse to said multivibrator, said multivibrator switching from a first state to a second state in response to such trigger pulse and switching back to said first state after a period of time inversely proportional to the voltage of said direct current source, means for turning said switch on while said multivibrator is in said second state and for turning said switch off while said multivibrator is in said first state, a charging diode, a storage capacitor, and means connecting said secondary winding, said charging diode and said storage capacitor in a closed series circuit whereby, when said switch is turned on, current builds up in said primary winding to a predetermined peak value and, when said switch changes from an on state to an off state, said storage capacitor is charged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An improved converter for a capacitive discharge circuit, as defined in claim 1, and including means for preventing said switch from being turned on by fluctuations in the voltage of said direct current source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An improved converter for a capacitive discharge circuit, as defined in claim 1, wherein said switch is a transistor switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
For a capacitive discharge exciter for energizing a spark plug in a flame heater, an improved regulated converter for charging an energy storage capacitor from a low voltage source of direct current, said converter comprising, in combination, a fRee-running multivibrator said multivibrator being in a first state for a period of time independent of the voltage of said direct current source and in a second state for a period of time inversely proportional to the voltage of said direct current source, a transformer having primary and secondary windings, a transistor switch, means for turning said switch on while said multivibrator is in said second state and for turning said switch off while said multivibrator is in said first state, means connecting said direct current source, said transformer primary winding and said switch in a closed series circuit, a charging diode, and means connecting said transformer secondary winding, said diode and said capacitor in a closed series circuit whereby said capacitor is charged by a voltage produced by a collapsing magnetic field in said transformer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
For a capacitive discharge exciter for energizing a spark plug in a flame heater, an improved regulated converter for charging an energy storage capacitor from a low voltage source of direct current, said converter comprising, in combination, a fRee-running multivibrator said multivibrator being in a first state for a period of time independent of the voltage of said direct current source and in a second state for a period of time inversely proportional to the voltage of said direct current source, a transformer having primary and secondary windings, a transistor switch, means for turning said switch on while said multivibrator is in said second state and for turning said switch off while said multivibrator is in said first state, means connecting said direct current source, said transformer primary winding and said switch in a closed series circuit, a charging diode, and means connecting said transformer secondary winding, said diode and said capacitor in a closed series circuit whereby said capacitor is charged by a voltage produced by a collapsing magnetic field in said transformer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
201 words
For a capacitive discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine, an improved regulated converter responsive to synchronized trigger pulses from the engine for charging an energy storage capacitor from a low voltage source of direct current, said converter comprising, in combination, a monostable multivibrator, means for supplying the trigger pulses to said multivibrator, said multivibrator switching from a first state to a second state in response to a trigger pulse and switching back to said first state after a period of time inversely proportional to the voltage of the direct current power source, a transistor switch, means for turning said switch on when said multivibrator is in said second state and for turning said switch off when said multivibrator is in said first state, a power transformer having primary and secondary windings, means connecting said direct current power source, said transformer primary winding and said switch in a closed series circuit, a charging diode, and means connecting said transformer secondary winding, said diode and said capacitor in a closed series circuit, the polarity of said diode being such that the capacitor is charged by a voltage induced in said transformer secondary winding by a collapsing magnetic field in said transformer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
201 words
For a capacitive discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine, an improved regulated converter responsive to synchronized trigger pulses from the engine for charging an energy storage capacitor from a low voltage source of direct current, said converter comprising, in combination, a monostable multivibrator, means for supplying the trigger pulses to said multivibrator, said multivibrator switching from a first state to a second state in response to a trigger pulse and switching back to said first state after a period of time inversely proportional to the voltage of the direct current power source, a transistor switch, means for turning said switch on when said multivibrator is in said second state and for turning said switch off when said multivibrator is in said first state, a power transformer having primary and secondary windings, means connecting said direct current power source, said transformer primary winding and said switch in a closed series circuit, a charging diode, and means connecting said transformer secondary winding, said diode and said capacitor in a closed series circuit, the polarity of said diode being such that the capacitor is charged by a voltage induced in said transformer secondary winding by a collapsing magnetic field in said transformer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
For a capacitive discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine, an improved regulated converter responsive to synchronized trigger pulses from the engine for charging an energy storage capacitor from a low voltage source of direct current, as defined in claim 7, and including means for preventing said switch from being turned on by fluctuations in the voltage of said direct current source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |