US3612988A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flux-gated voltage regulator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-15
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1989-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A voltage regulator in which an inductor having a saturable core is connected in series with a capacitor, the output being taken from across the inductor. After startup, the combined effect of the input voltage and the capacitor cause the core of the inductor to periodically switch from a nonsaturated to a saturated condition and vice versa so that the impedance of the inductance switches correspondingly from a high to a low value. The result is a square wave voltage developed across the inductor that has a constant amplitude regardless of input voltage variations if the input frequency remains constant.
Inventors
- 👤 Cravens L Wanlass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:52
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/12; G05F1/32; G05F1/34; G05F1/38; G05F3/00; G05F3/02; G05F3/04; G05F3/06; H; H01; H01F; H01F29/00; H01F29/14; H01F29/143; H01F29/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A voltage regulating circuit comprising an input adapted to be connected to a source of AC voltage; inductor means having saturable core means, capacitor means; means coupling said inductor and said capacitor means in series across said input; an output coupled across at least a portion of said inductor; and means external of said source operable to cause said core means to initially saturate, said inductor means having an inductance sufficiently large to prevent said source alone from initially saturating said core means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A voltage regulating circuit comprising an input adapted to be connected to a source of AC voltage; inductor means having saturable core means, capacitor means; means coupling said inductor and said capacitor means in series across said input; an output coupled across at least a portion of said inductor; and means external of said source operable to cause said core means to initially saturate, said inductor means having an inductance sufficiently large to prevent said source alone from initially saturating said core means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said operable means is operable to reduce the inductance of said inductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circuit of claim 2 wherein said operable means comprises switch means connected across a portion of said inductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said capacitor means has a capacitance large enough so that it can store sufficient energy to cause saturation of said core in conjunction with said input.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electrical circuit comprising an input adapted to be connected to a source of AC voltage; inductor means having saturable core means; capacitor means; means coupling said inductor means and said capacitor means in series across said input; an output coupled across at least a portion of said inductor means; said capacitor means being capable of being charged to a voltage sufficient, when added to said AC voltage, to develop a volt-second value across said inductor means greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor means so that said inductor means will be driven into saturation in opposite directions on each half cycle of said AC voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electrical circuit comprising an input adapted to be connected to a source of AC voltage; inductor means having saturable core means; capacitor means; means coupling said inductor means and said capacitor means in series across said input; an output coupled across at least a portion of said inductor means; said capacitor means being capable of being charged to a voltage sufficient, when added to said AC voltage, to develop a volt-second value across said inductor means greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor means so that said inductor means will be driven into saturation in opposite directions on each half cycle of said AC voltage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The circuit of claim 5 wherein said core means comprises a single core and wherein a multiturn winding is wound on said core to form said inductor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The circuit of claim 6 wherein said single core has an auxiliary core mounted thereon, said auxiliary core having a control winding wounD thereon, application of current to said control winding causing the inductance and volt-second capacity of said inductor means to vary.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The circuit of claim 7 wherein said auxiliary core is mounted such that flux generated by said control winding will pass through said single core in a direction transverse to the direction of flux generated therein by said multiturn winding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The circuit of claim 8 wherein means are provided for sensing the voltage across said output, said sensing means being coupled to said control winding to supply a control current thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The circuit of claim 5 wherein said core means comprises a plurality of cores and wherein a multiturn winding has a portion thereof wound on each of said cores to form said inductor means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit of claim 10 wherein control winding means are wound on said cores whereby the inductance and volt-second capacity of said inductor means may be varied.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The circuit of claim 11 wherein means are provided for sensing the voltage across said output, said sensing means being coupled to said control winding means to supply a control current thereto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit of claim 5 wherein said output is directly coupled to said inductor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The circuit of claim 5 wherein said output includes a second winding wound on said core.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The circuit of claim 5 wherein rectifying means are coupled to said output.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for producing an output voltage across a saturable core inductor connected in a series circuit with a capacitor, comprising: a. charging said capacitor to establish a first voltage across it; b. applying a voltage to said series circuit having a magnitude, duration and polarity sufficient, when added to said first voltage, to develop a volt-second value across said inductor greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor to cause said inductor to saturate; c. discharging said capacitor through said inductor; d. recharging said capacitor in the opposite polarity until said inductor comes out of saturation; e. reversing the polarity of said applied voltage to again cause saturation of said inductor; and f. periodically repeating steps (c) through (e).
Claim 19
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for producing an output voltage across a saturable core inductor connected in a series circuit with a capacitor, comprising: a. charging said capacitor to establish a first voltage across it; b. applying a voltage to said series circuit having a magnitude, duration and polarity sufficient, when added to said first voltage, to develop a volt-second value across said inductor greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor to cause said inductor to saturate; c. discharging said capacitor through said inductor; d. recharging said capacitor in the opposite polarity until said inductor comes out of saturation; e. reversing the polarity of said applied voltage to again cause saturation of said inductor; and f. periodically repeating steps (c) through (e).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising varying the volt-second capacity of said inductor means to vary said output voltage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising varying the volt-second capacity of said inductor means in response to said output voltage to maintain said output voltage at a constant value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step initially reducing the volt-second capacity of said inductor means to cause said applied voltage to saturate said inductor means and charge said capacitor.
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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) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |