US3600599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shunt regulation electric power system
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1968-10-03
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Granted: 1971-08-17
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Expires: 1988-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A regulated electric power system having load and return bus lines. A plurality of solar cells interconnected in power supplying relationship and having a power shunt tap point electrically spaced from the bus lines is provided. A power dissipator is connected to the shunt tap point and provides for a controllable dissipation of excess energy supplied by the solar cells. A dissipation driver is coupled to the power dissipator and controls its conductance and dissipation and is also connected to the solar cells in a power taping relationship to derive operating power therefrom. An error signal generator is coupled to the load bus and to a reference signal generator to provide an error output signal which is representative of the difference between the electric parameters existing at the load bus and the reference signal generator. An error amplifier is coupled to the error signal generator and the dissipation driver to provide the driver with controlling signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren H Wright
- 👤 John J Biess
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 08:08
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/66; G05F1/67; B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/42; B64G1/428; B64G1/44; B64G1/443; H; H02; H02J; H02J1/00; H02J1/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291; Y10S136/293; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
323 words
A regulated electric power system comprising: load and return bus means; a plurality of electric energy generator elements connected between said load and return bus means in a power supplying relation thereto and being interconnected in a manner providing at least one power shunt tap point electrically spaced from each of said bus means, said plurality of electric energy generator elements being a matrix array of photovoltaic cells and said shunt tap point is electrically disposed within said array; power dissipation means of the character to provide a controllable conductance and dissipation of excess energy supplied from said plurality of generator elements and being connected to said shunt tap points, said dissipation means being intercoupled between said shunt tap point and said return bus to shunt a portion of said generator elements which is significantly less than the whole, said power dissipation means including a quad failsafe network of power transistors; dissipation driver means coupled to said power dissipation means controlling its conductance and dissipation and being connected to said generator elements in a power tapping relation for providing operating power to said driver meAns, said driver means being interconnected, in its operating power drawing relation, between the base electrodes of said power transistors of said power dissipation means and a driver tap point of said array electrically disposed between said power shunt tap point and said load bus, said driver tap point being electrically spaced significantly from said load bus; electric parameter reference signal means; error signal generator means coupled to said load bus and to reference signal means and being of the character to provide an error output signal representative of the difference between the values of the electric parameters existent at said load bus and the output terminal of said reference means; and error signal means intercoupled between said error signal generator means and an input control terminal of said driver means for impressing controlling signals upon said driver means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
323 words
A regulated electric power system comprising: load and return bus means; a plurality of electric energy generator elements connected between said load and return bus means in a power supplying relation thereto and being interconnected in a manner providing at least one power shunt tap point electrically spaced from each of said bus means, said plurality of electric energy generator elements being a matrix array of photovoltaic cells and said shunt tap point is electrically disposed within said array; power dissipation means of the character to provide a controllable conductance and dissipation of excess energy supplied from said plurality of generator elements and being connected to said shunt tap points, said dissipation means being intercoupled between said shunt tap point and said return bus to shunt a portion of said generator elements which is significantly less than the whole, said power dissipation means including a quad failsafe network of power transistors; dissipation driver means coupled to said power dissipation means controlling its conductance and dissipation and being connected to said generator elements in a power tapping relation for providing operating power to said driver meAns, said driver means being interconnected, in its operating power drawing relation, between the base electrodes of said power transistors of said power dissipation means and a driver tap point of said array electrically disposed between said power shunt tap point and said load bus, said driver tap point being electrically spaced significantly from said load bus; electric parameter reference signal means; error signal generator means coupled to said load bus and to reference signal means and being of the character to provide an error output signal representative of the difference between the values of the electric parameters existent at said load bus and the output terminal of said reference means; and error signal means intercoupled between said error signal generator means and an input control terminal of said driver means for impressing controlling signals upon said driver means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
336 words
A regulated electric power system comprising: load and return bus means; a plurality of electric energy generator elements connected between said load and return bus means in a power supplying relation thereto and being interconnected in a manner providing at least one power shunt tap point electrically spaced from each of said bus means, said plurality of electric energy generator elements being a matrix array of photovoltaic cells and said shunt tap point is electrically disposed within said array; power dissipation means of the character to provide a controllable conductance and dissipation of excess energy supplied from said plurality of generator elements and being connected to said shunt tap point, said dissipation means being intercoupled between said shunt tap point and said return bus to shunt a portion of said generator elements which is significantly less than the whole; dissipation driver means coupled to said power dissipation means controlling its conductance and dissipation and being connected to said generator elements in a power tapping relation for providing operating power to said driver means, said driver means being interconnected, in its operating power drawing relation, between said power dissipation means and a driver tap point of said array electrically disposed between said power shunt tap point and said load bus, said driver tap point being electrically spaced significantly from said load bus; electric parameter reference signal means; error signal generator means coupled to said load bus and to reference signal means and being of the character to provide an error output signal representative of the difference between the values of the electric parameters existent at said load bus and the output terminal of said reference means; and error signal means intercoupled between said error signal generator means and an input controlled terminal of said driver means for impressing controlling signals upon said driver means, said error signal means including a plurality of error signal amplifier stages each including minor loop feedback means, and majority vote failsafe logic intercoupled between said amplifier stage and said dissipation driver means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
336 words
A regulated electric power system comprising: load and return bus means; a plurality of electric energy generator elements connected between said load and return bus means in a power supplying relation thereto and being interconnected in a manner providing at least one power shunt tap point electrically spaced from each of said bus means, said plurality of electric energy generator elements being a matrix array of photovoltaic cells and said shunt tap point is electrically disposed within said array; power dissipation means of the character to provide a controllable conductance and dissipation of excess energy supplied from said plurality of generator elements and being connected to said shunt tap point, said dissipation means being intercoupled between said shunt tap point and said return bus to shunt a portion of said generator elements which is significantly less than the whole; dissipation driver means coupled to said power dissipation means controlling its conductance and dissipation and being connected to said generator elements in a power tapping relation for providing operating power to said driver means, said driver means being interconnected, in its operating power drawing relation, between said power dissipation means and a driver tap point of said array electrically disposed between said power shunt tap point and said load bus, said driver tap point being electrically spaced significantly from said load bus; electric parameter reference signal means; error signal generator means coupled to said load bus and to reference signal means and being of the character to provide an error output signal representative of the difference between the values of the electric parameters existent at said load bus and the output terminal of said reference means; and error signal means intercoupled between said error signal generator means and an input controlled terminal of said driver means for impressing controlling signals upon said driver means, said error signal means including a plurality of error signal amplifier stages each including minor loop feedback means, and majority vote failsafe logic intercoupled between said amplifier stage and said dissipation driver means.
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) | 1974-08-16 | 1975-02-15 | 1975-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-16 | 1979-02-15 | 1979-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-16 | 1983-02-15 | 1983-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |