US3590360A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High efficiency ac voltage regulator
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1968-11-18
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1988-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A voltage regulator serving a DC power supply controls the peak voltage of an input AC waveform by momentarily opening a switch connected in series with the AC source during periods when the input voltage exceeds a desired reference voltage related to the output voltage of the supply. The action of the switch creates notches centered in each half cycle of the AC waveform whose width is inversely related to the magnitude of the peak voltage applied to the DC supply and to the output voltage applied to the load. Control of the average or RMS voltage, as well as random peak voltages, may also be accomplished using a similar technique.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles M Puckette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:54
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/08; H02M1/081; G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/12; G05F1/40; G05F1/44; G05F1/445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
A regulated DC power supply comprising A. a DC power supply adapted to accomplish peak rectification, B. means for connecting said supply to an AC source, C. means for connecting said supply to a load, D. a switch connected to interrupt the AC signal applied to said supply, and E. a control circuit controlling said switch so as to interrupt the AC signal to said supply during each half cycle of the AC signal creating notches substantially centered in each half cycle of the AC waveform whose width is inversely related to the peak voltage of the AC signal applied to said supply and inversely related to the DC voltage at said load, said control network including 1. clipping circuit for clipping the AC signal from said source so as to produce a clipped signal, 2. an integrator for integrating said clipped signal so as to develop a timing signal having positive and negative going voltage ramps, 3. a rectifier for rectifying the output of said integrator to develop a signal having a triangular waveform having twice the frequency of the AC signal, every other peak of the triangular waveform occurring at the same times as the axis crossings of the AC signal; 4. a DC reference voltage source, 5. means for providing a DC return signal indicative of the voltage in said load connecting means, 6. means for comparing the output of said reference voltage source and said DC return signal to develop a control voltage, and 7. means for comparing said control voltage and the triangular waveform output of said rectifier so as to develop a difference signal for turning the switch on and off to produce said notches.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
A regulated DC power supply comprising A. a DC power supply adapted to accomplish peak rectification, B. means for connecting said supply to an AC source, C. means for connecting said supply to a load, D. a switch connected to interrupt the AC signal applied to said supply, and E. a control circuit controlling said switch so as to interrupt the AC signal to said supply during each half cycle of the AC signal creating notches substantially centered in each half cycle of the AC waveform whose width is inversely related to the peak voltage of the AC signal applied to said supply and inversely related to the DC voltage at said load, said control network including 1. clipping circuit for clipping the AC signal from said source so as to produce a clipped signal, 2. an integrator for integrating said clipped signal so as to develop a timing signal having positive and negative going voltage ramps, 3. a rectifier for rectifying the output of said integrator to develop a signal having a triangular waveform having twice the frequency of the AC signal, every other peak of the triangular waveform occurring at the same times as the axis crossings of the AC signal; 4. a DC reference voltage source, 5. means for providing a DC return signal indicative of the voltage in said load connecting means, 6. means for comparing the output of said reference voltage source and said DC return signal to develop a control voltage, and 7. means for comparing said control voltage and the triangular waveform output of said rectifier so as to develop a difference signal for turning the switch on and off to produce said notches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
an integrator for integrating said clipped signal so as to develop a timing signal having positive and negative going voltage ramps,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
an integrator for integrating said clipped signal so as to develop a timing signal having positive and negative going voltage ramps,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A regulated DC power supply as defined in claim 1 and further including delay means connected between said comparing means and said switch for delaying the difference signal for said switch to insure that said notches are substantially centered in half cycle of the AC waveform so that said regulated power supply draws current essentially symmetrically about the peak of the AC waveform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
a rectifier for rectifying the output of said integrator to develop a signal having a triangular waveform having twice the frequency of the AC signal, every other peak of the triangular waveform occurring at the same times as the axis crossings of the AC signal;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
a rectifier for rectifying the output of said integrator to develop a signal having a triangular waveform having twice the frequency of the AC signal, every other peak of the triangular waveform occurring at the same times as the axis crossings of the AC signal;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A voltage regulator, comprising A. a source of alternating voltage, B. a load, C. a switch interconnecting said source and said load, D. means for generating a control voltage, E. a clipping circuit for clipping the peaks of said alternating voltage to provide a clipped waveform; F. means for deriving from said clipped waveform a triangular waveform signal, every other peak of which occurs at the same times as the axis crossings of said alternating voltage; G. a comparator for comparing the amplitude of said triangular signal with that of said control voltage so as to generate a series of output pulses at twice the frequency of said alternating voltage, and H. means for applying the output pulse series to said switch so as to open said switch during the occurrence of each of said pulses to thereby create notches in each half cycle of said alternating voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
A voltage regulator, comprising A. a source of alternating voltage, B. a load, C. a switch interconnecting said source and said load, D. means for generating a control voltage, E. a clipping circuit for clipping the peaks of said alternating voltage to provide a clipped waveform; F. means for deriving from said clipped waveform a triangular waveform signal, every other peak of which occurs at the same times as the axis crossings of said alternating voltage; G. a comparator for comparing the amplitude of said triangular signal with that of said control voltage so as to generate a series of output pulses at twice the frequency of said alternating voltage, and H. means for applying the output pulse series to said switch so as to open said switch during the occurrence of each of said pulses to thereby create notches in each half cycle of said alternating voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The voltage regulator defined in c claim 3 wherein said applying means includes fOr delaying said output pulse series to said switch to insure that said notches are located as desired in each half cycle of said alternating voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
5 words
a DC reference voltage source,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
5 words
a DC reference voltage source,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
means for providing a DC return signal indicative of the voltage in said load connecting means,
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
means for providing a DC return signal indicative of the voltage in said load connecting means,
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The voltage regulator defined in claim 3 wherein said load includes a DC power supply connected to the output of said switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
121 words
The voltage regulator defined in claim 5 wherein A. said control voltage is proportional to the voltage at the output of said power supply, B. said comparing means includes a reference, related to the peak magnitude of said alternating voltage, such that said comparing means generates said series of output pulses when the instantaneous peak amplitude of a preselected one of said voltages exceeds the peak related amplitude of the other, and C. said applying means creates said notches substantially centered on the peak amplitude of said alternating voltage and the width of said pulses controls the width of said notches whereby said width of said notches is inversely related to the peak voltage of the output signal from said regulator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
means for comparing the output of said reference voltage source and said DC return signal to develop a control voltage, and
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
means for comparing the output of said reference voltage source and said DC return signal to develop a control voltage, and
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
means for comparing said control voltage and the triangular waveform output of said rectifier so as to develop a difference signal for turning the switch on and off to produce said notches.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
means for comparing said control voltage and the triangular waveform output of said rectifier so as to develop a difference signal for turning the switch on and off to produce said notches.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
90 words
The voltage regulator defined in claim 5 wherein said deriving means further includes A. an integrator for integrating the signal from said clipping circuit so as to develop a train of positive and negative going voltage ramps, and in which a full wave rectifier is connected to rectify the alternating voltage as shaped by said clipping circuit and said integrator so as to generate said signal having a triangular waveform, and in which said comparator emits said output whenever the triangular signal from said rectifier falls below said control voltage.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
91 words
The voltage regulator defined in claim 7 wherein A. said control voltage varies in response to changes in the voltage at the output of said power supply so as to vary the width of said notches to compensate for said changes, and B. said applying means creates said notches substantially centered on the peak amplitude of said alternating voltage and the width of said pulses controls the width of said notches whereby said width of said notches is inversely related to the peak voltage of the output signal of said regulator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said control voltage generating means responds to changes in the voltage at the output of said DC supply so as to alter the signal applied to said switch varying the width of said notches as needed to compensate for said voltage changes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A regulated DC power supply as defined in claim 5 and further including means for damping transients developed in said power supply.
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) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |