Abstract This invention relates to a speed regulating electronic circuit for a DC motor. A tachometer generator, driven by the armature shaft of the DC motor, provides a voltage signal which is a function of the instantaneous speed of the motor. The tachometer generator output voltage is combined with a reference voltage which is a function of the desired speed, and the difference is applied to a plurality of amplifiers in cascade to develop a DC potential level which is applied across n equal resistors connected in series to provide n voltage drops, where n is an integer selected from the series 2,3,4,........n. These n voltage drops are applied to a first set of n transistor amplifiers connected in cascode, and the n outputs which they provide are applied to a second set of n transistors connected in cascode and in series with the motor armature. This arrangement insures that each transistor of the second set of n transistors will dissipate equal power, regardless of armature load current demand, with concomitant advantages in increased efficiency and lower costs.
A circuit adapted to regulate the rotational velocity of an output shaft of a DC motor having an armature winding, said circuit comprising: a. a power supply for producing an AC output signal; b. a signal converter network connected to said power supply for converting the AC signal produced by said supply into a DC signal; c. variable circuit means for producing a reference signal having a predetermined value from said DC signal, said circuit means including means for regulating the magnitude of said reference signal to correspond to the desired rotational velocity of the output shaft; d. a transducer for generating a DC signal related to the rotational velocity of the shaft; e. means for comparing said reference signal generated by said variably circuit means to said DC signal generated by said transducer wherein a DC control signal having a magnitude equal to the difference between said reference signal and said DC signal is generated; f. a DC voltage-amplifying transistor network comprising an input transistor stage responsive to said DC control signal and an output transistor stage for producing a DC signal related to said DC control signal; g. n resistors of equal ohmic magnitude connected in series with said output transistor stage whereby n equal voltages are dropped across said n resistors whose magnitudes are related to said DC signal generated at the output of said transistor network, n being an integer selected from the series 2, 3, 4, ..., n; h. a first set of n transistor amplifiers connected in cascode and adapted to receive said n equal voltages as n inputs and to produce n voltage outputs respectively; and i. a second set of n transistor amplifiers connected in cascode and adapted to received as inputs said n voltage outputs from said first set of n transistor amplifiers and to produce n voltage outputs respectively, said second set of n transistors being connected in series with the armature winding so that each of said n transistor amplifiers in said second set can be utilized to its maximum power dissipation rating and whereby the power dissipated in each of said n transistors in said second set is substantially equal regardless of the load current through the armature winding.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
371 words
A circuit adapted to regulate the rotational velocity of an output shaft of a DC motor having an armature winding, said circuit comprising: a. a power supply for producing an AC output signal; b. a signal converter network connected to said power supply for converting the AC signal produced by said supply into a DC signal; c. variable circuit means for producing a reference signal having a predetermined value from said DC signal, said circuit means including means for regulating the magnitude of said reference signal to correspond to the desired rotational velocity of the output shaft; d. a transducer for generating a DC signal related to the rotational velocity of the shaft; e. means for comparing said reference signal generated by said variably circuit means to said DC signal generated by said transducer wherein a DC control signal having a magnitude equal to the difference between said reference signal and said DC signal is generated; f. a DC voltage-amplifying transistor network comprising an input transistor stage responsive to said DC control signal and an output transistor stage for producing a DC signal related to said DC control signal; g. n resistors of equal ohmic magnitude connected in series with said output transistor stage whereby n equal voltages are dropped across said n resistors whose magnitudes are related to said DC signal generated at the output of said transistor network, n being an integer selected from the series 2, 3, 4, ..., n; h. a first set of n transistor amplifiers connected in cascode and adapted to receive said n equal voltages as n inputs and to produce n voltage outputs respectively; and i. a second set of n transistor amplifiers connected in cascode and adapted to received as inputs said n voltage outputs from said first set of n transistor amplifiers and to produce n voltage outputs respectively, said second set of n transistors being connected in series with the armature winding so that each of said n transistor amplifiers in said second set can be utilized to its maximum power dissipation rating and whereby the power dissipated in each of said n transistors in said second set is substantially equal regardless of the load current through the armature winding.