US3593112A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid-state ac power control apparatus
Assignee: Varo Inc
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Filing: 1969-12-22
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1989-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A solid-state AC power control circuit intended for use with digital computers and which can increase or decrease, and turn on or turn off the AC power supplied to a work load in response to the application of computer generated electrical signals to the proper input terminal. The amount of power change is determined by certain characteristics of the signals and the RC time constant of a memory circuit in the device. In addition to input terminals for receiving power increase and decrease input signals, two other input terminals are provided for allowing the controlled power to be turned full off or back on to a preset level by the computer without disturbing the memory circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 John C Coats
- 👤 George W Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:08
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/12; G05F1/40; G05F1/44; G05F1/445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
Circuit means for supplying energizing pulses to a bidirectional semiconductor device used to regulate AC power supplied by an AC power supply to a load, comprising: a plurality of input terminals; an output terminal to which a control electrode of the semiconductor device is coupled; potential storage means providing a variable power and operator to provide rectifier means responsive to the AC power and operative to provide a pair of DC potentials; switching means responsive to input signals applied to said input terminals and operative to selectively couple one of said DC potentials to said potential storage means to change said reference potential; and phase firing circuit means including a capacitor and a pair of electrical circuits for individually coupling said DC potentials to said capacitor, one of said electrical circuits including a variable impedance device responsive to said reference potential and operative to control the time required to charge saId capacitor to the firing potential of said phase firing circuit means, said phase firing circuit means providing energizing pulses to said output terminal each time said firing potential is reached.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
Circuit means for supplying energizing pulses to a bidirectional semiconductor device used to regulate AC power supplied by an AC power supply to a load, comprising: a plurality of input terminals; an output terminal to which a control electrode of the semiconductor device is coupled; potential storage means providing a variable power and operator to provide rectifier means responsive to the AC power and operative to provide a pair of DC potentials; switching means responsive to input signals applied to said input terminals and operative to selectively couple one of said DC potentials to said potential storage means to change said reference potential; and phase firing circuit means including a capacitor and a pair of electrical circuits for individually coupling said DC potentials to said capacitor, one of said electrical circuits including a variable impedance device responsive to said reference potential and operative to control the time required to charge saId capacitor to the firing potential of said phase firing circuit means, said phase firing circuit means providing energizing pulses to said output terminal each time said firing potential is reached.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
A load energizing circuit, comprising: an AC power supply for providing an alternating current; a bidirectional semiconductor device responsive to a firing signal and operative to couple said alternating current to the load; control circuit means responsive to a first input signal and a second input signal and operative to develop a control potential having a magnitude determined by said first and second input signals, said control circuit means including a memory device for maintaining said control potential substantially constant until it is changed by one of said first and second input signals; and a phase firing circuit means responsive to said control potential and operative to develop said firing signal at a time following the beginning of each half cycle of said alternating current, said time being determined by the magnitude of said control potential.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
A load energizing circuit, comprising: an AC power supply for providing an alternating current; a bidirectional semiconductor device responsive to a firing signal and operative to couple said alternating current to the load; control circuit means responsive to a first input signal and a second input signal and operative to develop a control potential having a magnitude determined by said first and second input signals, said control circuit means including a memory device for maintaining said control potential substantially constant until it is changed by one of said first and second input signals; and a phase firing circuit means responsive to said control potential and operative to develop said firing signal at a time following the beginning of each half cycle of said alternating current, said time being determined by the magnitude of said control potential.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A load energizing circuit as recited in claim 2 wherein said memory device includes a capacitor, and said control circuit means further includes a capacitor charging means responsive to said first input signal and operative to charge said capacitor, and a capacitor discharging means responsive to said second input signal and operative to discharge said capacitor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A load energizing circuit as recited in claim 3 and further comprising an enabling means responsive to a third input signal and operative to enable said phase firing circuit means, and a disabling means responsive to a fourth input signal and operative to disable said phase firing circuit means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A load energizing circuit as recited in claim 2 and further comprising an enabling means responsive to a third input signal and operative to enable said phase firing circuit means, and a disabling means responsive to a fourth input signal and operative to disable said phase firing circuit means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a load energizing circuit including means for generating an alternating current, a bidirectional semiconductor device for coupling the alternating current to the load, and a regulating network for controlling the actuation of the semiconductor device, an improved regulating network comprising: control circuit means responsive to a first input signal and a second input signal and operative to develop a control potential having a magnitude determined by said first and second input signals, said control circuit means including a potential storage device for maintaining said control potential substantially constant until changed by one of said first and second input signals; and a phase firing circuit means responsive to said control potential and operative to develop a firing signal for actuating the semiconductor device at times following the beginning of each half cycle of the alternating current, such times being determined by the magnitude of said control potential.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a load energizing circuit including means for generating an alternating current, a bidirectional semiconductor device for coupling the alternating current to the load, and a regulating network for controlling the actuation of the semiconductor device, an improved regulating network comprising: control circuit means responsive to a first input signal and a second input signal and operative to develop a control potential having a magnitude determined by said first and second input signals, said control circuit means including a potential storage device for maintaining said control potential substantially constant until changed by one of said first and second input signals; and a phase firing circuit means responsive to said control potential and operative to develop a firing signal for actuating the semiconductor device at times following the beginning of each half cycle of the alternating current, such times being determined by the magnitude of said control potential.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a load energizing circuit as recited in claim 6 wherein said potential storage device includes a capacitor, and said control circuit means further includes a capacitor charging means responsive to said first input signal and operative to charge said capacitor, and a capacitor discharging means responsive to said second input signal and operative to discharge said capacitor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a load energizing circuit as recited in claim 7 and further comprising a first switching means responsive to a third input signal and operative to enable said phase firing circuit means, and a second switching means responsive to a fourth input signal and operative to disable said phase firing circuit means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a load energizing circuit as recited in claim 6 and further including an enabling means responsive to a third input signal and operative to enable said phase firing circuit means, and a disabling means responsive to a fourth input signal and operative to Disable said phase firing circuit means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a load energizing circuit as recited in claim 6 and further comprising a full-wave rectifier means responsive to said alternating current and operative to develop a filtered DC current and an unfiltered DC current; said phase firing circuit means including a capacitor, a first electrical circuit responsive to said control potential and operative to couple said filtered DC current to said capacitor, and a second electrical circuit operative to couple said unfiltered DC current to said capacitor.
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) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |