US3614528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Random flashing circuit including a voltage step-up converter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-06-22
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Granted: 1971-10-19
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Expires: 1990-06-22
Abstract
Abstract An electrical circuit for periodically and essentially randomly flashing a plurality of gas discharge tubes, particularly for decorative effect. A plurality of gas discharge tubes are connected with associated resistor and capacitor combinations in a relaxation oscillator configuration. A sufficiently high voltage to operate the parallel relaxation oscillators is derived from a low-voltage source and a DC to DC voltage step-up converter. The converter comprises a transistor oscillator of the Hartly type with the main frequency determining coil and the feedback coil being the primary winding of a step-up transformer. The oscillator is powered by the low-voltage DC source and the stepped-up AC voltage appearing at the secondary of the transformer is rectified and filtered to supply the sufficiently high voltage to operate the plurality of flashing circuits.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles L Craddock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:32
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B47/00; H05B47/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A random flashing circuit, comprising: a plurality of flashing assemblies connected in parallel, having a plurality of flashing rates, each of said assemblies having a gas discharge tube connected in series with a resistor and a capacitor connected in parallel said assemblies being operative when a direct current voltage applied across them is at least 70 volts; A direct current voltage source having a voltage equal to or less than 3 volts; a voltage step-up converter, the step-up ratio of said converter being sufficient to raise the voltage of said source to at least 70 volts to operate said flashing assemblies, said converter including a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a tap, an oscillator including a transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said collector being connected to one end of said primary winding, said base being connected through an adjusting resistor to the other end of said primary winding and said emitter being connected through said voltage source to said tap; and a rectifier and filter Connected to said secondary winding of said transformer to develop the direct current voltage of at least 70 volts applied across said flashing assemblies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A random flashing circuit, comprising: a plurality of flashing assemblies connected in parallel, having a plurality of flashing rates, each of said assemblies having a gas discharge tube connected in series with a resistor and a capacitor connected in parallel said assemblies being operative when a direct current voltage applied across them is at least 70 volts; A direct current voltage source having a voltage equal to or less than 3 volts; a voltage step-up converter, the step-up ratio of said converter being sufficient to raise the voltage of said source to at least 70 volts to operate said flashing assemblies, said converter including a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a tap, an oscillator including a transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said collector being connected to one end of said primary winding, said base being connected through an adjusting resistor to the other end of said primary winding and said emitter being connected through said voltage source to said tap; and a rectifier and filter Connected to said secondary winding of said transformer to develop the direct current voltage of at least 70 volts applied across said flashing assemblies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
189 words
A random flashing circuit comprising: a plurality of relaxation oscillator assemblies connected in parallel, each of said assemblies having a neon glow tube connected in series with a resistor and a capacitor connected in parallel, a plurality of periods of oscillations for said relaxation oscillators being provided by a plurality of values for said capacitor, said relaxation oscillators being operative when a direct current voltage applied across them is at least 70 volts; a battery having a voltage of approximately 1 1/2 volts; a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a tap; a transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said collector being connected to one end of said primary winding, said base being connected through an adjusting resistor to the other end of said primary winding, and said emitter being connected through said battery to said tap, the relationship between said tap and adjusting resistor being such as to sustain oscillation in said primary winding; and a rectifier and a filter connected between said secondary winding of said transformer and said plurality of relaxation oscillators connected in parallel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
189 words
A random flashing circuit comprising: a plurality of relaxation oscillator assemblies connected in parallel, each of said assemblies having a neon glow tube connected in series with a resistor and a capacitor connected in parallel, a plurality of periods of oscillations for said relaxation oscillators being provided by a plurality of values for said capacitor, said relaxation oscillators being operative when a direct current voltage applied across them is at least 70 volts; a battery having a voltage of approximately 1 1/2 volts; a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a tap; a transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said collector being connected to one end of said primary winding, said base being connected through an adjusting resistor to the other end of said primary winding, and said emitter being connected through said battery to said tap, the relationship between said tap and adjusting resistor being such as to sustain oscillation in said primary winding; and a rectifier and a filter connected between said secondary winding of said transformer and said plurality of relaxation oscillators connected in parallel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The random flashing circuit of claim 2, wherein: the primary to secondary turns ratio of said transformer is approximately 1 to 200.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The random flashing circuit of claim 2, wherein: said primary winding is tapped so as to produce a feedback turns ratio of approximately 50 to one with said collector of said transistor being connected to the end of said primary winding having the greater number of turns to said tap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The random flashing circuit of claim 2, wherein: the primary to secondary turns ratio of said transformer is approximately 1 to 200; and said primary winding is tapped so as to produce a feedback turns ratio of approximately 50 to 1 with said collector of said transistor being connected to the end of said primary winding having the greater number of turns to said tap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
200 words
A random flashing circuit comprising: a plurality of flashing assemblies connected in parallel, having a plurality of flashing rates, each of said assemblies having a gas discharge tube connected in series with a resistor and a capacitor connected in parallel, said assemblies being operative when a direct current voltage applied across them is at least 70 volts; a direct current voltage source having a voltage of approximately 1 1/2 volts; a voltage step-up converter, the step-up ratio of said converter being sufficient to raise the voltage of said source to at least 70 volts to operate said flashing assemblies, said converter including a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a tap, an oscillator including a transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said collector being connected to one end of said primary winding, said base being connected through an adjusting resistor to the other end of said primary winding and said emitter being connected through said voltage source to said tap; and a rectifier and filter connected to said secondary winding of said transformer to develop the direct current voltage of at least 70 volts applied across said flashing assemblies.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
200 words
A random flashing circuit comprising: a plurality of flashing assemblies connected in parallel, having a plurality of flashing rates, each of said assemblies having a gas discharge tube connected in series with a resistor and a capacitor connected in parallel, said assemblies being operative when a direct current voltage applied across them is at least 70 volts; a direct current voltage source having a voltage of approximately 1 1/2 volts; a voltage step-up converter, the step-up ratio of said converter being sufficient to raise the voltage of said source to at least 70 volts to operate said flashing assemblies, said converter including a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a tap, an oscillator including a transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said collector being connected to one end of said primary winding, said base being connected through an adjusting resistor to the other end of said primary winding and said emitter being connected through said voltage source to said tap; and a rectifier and filter connected to said secondary winding of said transformer to develop the direct current voltage of at least 70 volts applied across said flashing assemblies.
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) | 1974-10-18 | 1975-04-19 | 1975-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-18 | 1979-04-19 | 1979-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-18 | 1983-04-19 | 1983-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |