US3643153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature stabilization of transistor voltage regulators
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1968-09-24
•
Granted: 1972-02-15
•
Expires: 1988-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A transistor voltage regulator for regulating the output voltage of a generator. The generator is preferably a diode-rectified alternating current generator which is utilized to supply the electrical loads of a motor vehicle. The voltage regulator is of the switching-type and includes driver and output transistors connected such that when the driver transistor is nonconductive the output transistor is conductive and vice versa. The output transistor is connected with the field of the generator to control the output voltage of the diode-rectified alternating current generator. A thermistor, having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance is positioned to sense the temperature of the voltage regulator and is connected across the base and emitter electrodes of the output transistor. This thermistor provides stable operation of the voltage regulator at high temperatures by reducing the base drive to the base-emitter circuit of the output transistor when the driver transistor is biased fully conductive to ensure a nonconductive condition for the output transistor. In the preferred embodiment the driver transistor comprises two NPN-transistors connected in a Darlington configuration with the collectors of the transistors connected to the base of the output transistor through a forward biased PN-junction semiconductor diode.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles G Hanson
- 👤 Glen E Harland Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:23
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/90; H02J7/971; H02J7/975; H02J7/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
426 words
An electrical system comprising, a generator having an output winding and a field winding, a pair of direct current terminals for energizing the field of said generator, means connecting said direct current terminals with said generator whereby said generator applies a direct voltage to said terminals, a battery connected with said generator to be charged thereby, a switching type of transistor voltage regulator including a power output stage including at least one power output transistor having a base, collector and emitter, means connecting said field winding of said generator and the collector-emitter circuit of said power output transistor in series across said direct current terminals, a driver transistor switching stage including at least one driver transistor having a collector, emitter and base, a resistor, means connecting said resistor and the collector-emitter circuit of said driver transistor in series across said direct current terminals, a junction connected intermediate one end of said resistor and the collector of said driver transistor, said junction having a first potential corresponding substantially to the saturation potential of the collector-emitter circuit of said driver transistor when said driver transistor is biased conductive and having a second higher potential when said driver transistor is biased substantially nonconductive, a semiconductor device connecting said junction and the base of said power output transistor whereby the base of said power output transistor has a potential which varies in accordance with the switching of said driver stage and differs from the potential of said junction by the amount of voltage drop across said semiconductor device, voltage-sensing means coupled to said generator and to the base of said driver transistor for biasing said driver transistor conductive and nonconductive as a function of the output voltage of said generator, and a thermistor positioned to respond to the temperature of said voltage regulator having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance connected across the base and emitter of said power output transistor and in series with said semiconductor device and resistor, said thermistor having a resistance value which is low enough at high-temperature operation of said voltage regulator to maintain said output transistor biased substantially nonconductive when said driver stage is fully conductive, said thermistor increasing its resistance as the temperature of said voltage regulator decreases to increase the base drive current to said power output transistor when it is biased toward its conductive state, said voltage-sensing means located in a circuit separate from said thermistor whereby the output voltage Of said generator as determined by said voltage regulator is not substantially altered by a change in resistance of said thermistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
426 words
An electrical system comprising, a generator having an output winding and a field winding, a pair of direct current terminals for energizing the field of said generator, means connecting said direct current terminals with said generator whereby said generator applies a direct voltage to said terminals, a battery connected with said generator to be charged thereby, a switching type of transistor voltage regulator including a power output stage including at least one power output transistor having a base, collector and emitter, means connecting said field winding of said generator and the collector-emitter circuit of said power output transistor in series across said direct current terminals, a driver transistor switching stage including at least one driver transistor having a collector, emitter and base, a resistor, means connecting said resistor and the collector-emitter circuit of said driver transistor in series across said direct current terminals, a junction connected intermediate one end of said resistor and the collector of said driver transistor, said junction having a first potential corresponding substantially to the saturation potential of the collector-emitter circuit of said driver transistor when said driver transistor is biased conductive and having a second higher potential when said driver transistor is biased substantially nonconductive, a semiconductor device connecting said junction and the base of said power output transistor whereby the base of said power output transistor has a potential which varies in accordance with the switching of said driver stage and differs from the potential of said junction by the amount of voltage drop across said semiconductor device, voltage-sensing means coupled to said generator and to the base of said driver transistor for biasing said driver transistor conductive and nonconductive as a function of the output voltage of said generator, and a thermistor positioned to respond to the temperature of said voltage regulator having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance connected across the base and emitter of said power output transistor and in series with said semiconductor device and resistor, said thermistor having a resistance value which is low enough at high-temperature operation of said voltage regulator to maintain said output transistor biased substantially nonconductive when said driver stage is fully conductive, said thermistor increasing its resistance as the temperature of said voltage regulator decreases to increase the base drive current to said power output transistor when it is biased toward its conductive state, said voltage-sensing means located in a circuit separate from said thermistor whereby the output voltage Of said generator as determined by said voltage regulator is not substantially altered by a change in resistance of said thermistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
406 words
An electrical system comprising, a generator having an output winding and a field winding, a pair of direct current terminals for energizing the field of said generator, means connecting said terminals with said generator whereby said generator applies a direct voltage to said terminals, a voltage regulator including power output transistor means having a base, collector and emitter, means connecting said field winding of said generator and the collector-emitter circuit of said transistor means in series across said direct current terminals, a driver transistor switching stage comprising first and second NPN-transistors having a common collector connection and a circuit arrangement in which the emitter of one of said transistors is directly coupled to the base of the other transistor, a resistor, means connecting said resistor and the collector-emitter circuit of said second transistor in series across said direct current terminals, a junction connected intermediate one end of said resistor and the collector of said second transistor, said junction having a first potential which corresponds substantially to the saturation potential of the collector-emitter circuit of said second transistor when said first and second transistors are biased conductive and having a second higher potential when said first and second transistors are biased substantially nonconductive, a semiconductor device connecting said junction and the base of said output transistor means, the voltage applied to the base of said output transistor means being less than the voltage of said junction by the amount of voltage drop across said semiconductor device, means including voltage divider means coupled to said generator and to the base of said first transistor for biasing said first and second transistors on and off as a function of the output voltage of said generator, and a thermistor having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance positioned to respond to the temperature of said voltage regulator connected across the base and emitter of said output transistor means and in series with said semiconductor device, said thermistor and said semiconductor device ensuring a substantially nonconductive bias condition of said output transistor means when said first and second transistors are switched conductive and during high temperature conditions of operation, said thermistor having a resistance of less than 100 ohms at a temperature of 140* C., said voltage divider means located in a circuit separate from said thermistor whereby the output voltage of said generator as determined by said voltage regulator is not substantially altered by a change in resistance of said thermistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
406 words
An electrical system comprising, a generator having an output winding and a field winding, a pair of direct current terminals for energizing the field of said generator, means connecting said terminals with said generator whereby said generator applies a direct voltage to said terminals, a voltage regulator including power output transistor means having a base, collector and emitter, means connecting said field winding of said generator and the collector-emitter circuit of said transistor means in series across said direct current terminals, a driver transistor switching stage comprising first and second NPN-transistors having a common collector connection and a circuit arrangement in which the emitter of one of said transistors is directly coupled to the base of the other transistor, a resistor, means connecting said resistor and the collector-emitter circuit of said second transistor in series across said direct current terminals, a junction connected intermediate one end of said resistor and the collector of said second transistor, said junction having a first potential which corresponds substantially to the saturation potential of the collector-emitter circuit of said second transistor when said first and second transistors are biased conductive and having a second higher potential when said first and second transistors are biased substantially nonconductive, a semiconductor device connecting said junction and the base of said output transistor means, the voltage applied to the base of said output transistor means being less than the voltage of said junction by the amount of voltage drop across said semiconductor device, means including voltage divider means coupled to said generator and to the base of said first transistor for biasing said first and second transistors on and off as a function of the output voltage of said generator, and a thermistor having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance positioned to respond to the temperature of said voltage regulator connected across the base and emitter of said output transistor means and in series with said semiconductor device, said thermistor and said semiconductor device ensuring a substantially nonconductive bias condition of said output transistor means when said first and second transistors are switched conductive and during high temperature conditions of operation, said thermistor having a resistance of less than 100 ohms at a temperature of 140* C., said voltage divider means located in a circuit separate from said thermistor whereby the output voltage of said generator as determined by said voltage regulator is not substantially altered by a change in resistance of said thermistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
415 words
A voltage regulating system for a generator comprising, a generator having an output winding and a field winding, a pair of direct current terminals, means connecting said terminals with said generator whereby said generator applies a direct voltage to said terminals, a switching type of transistor voltage regulator for maintaining the output voltage of said generator substantially constant including an NPN power output transistor means having a base, collector and emitter, means connecting said field winding of said generator and the collector and emitter of said power output transistor means in series across said direct current terminals, a driver transistor switching stage comprised of first and second NPN-transistors, said first and second transistors having a common collector connection and said first transistor having its emitter connected directly to the base of said second transistor, a biasing circuit connected across said direct current terminals including in a series connection said resistor and the collector and emitter of said second transistor, said biasing circuit having a junction located between said resistor and said first and second transistors, the Potential of said junction varying between a first low value corresponding substantially to the saturation potential of the collector-emitter circuit of said second transistor and a second higher value when said second transistor is biased respectively conductive and nonconductive, a PN-junction semiconductor diode having its anode connected to said junction and its cathode connected directly to the base of said output transistor means, a voltage divider connected with said generator for developing a voltage which is a function of the output voltage of said generator, a Zener diode connected between said voltage divider and the base of said first transistor, said Zener diode controlling the switching of said first and second transistors as a function of the output voltage of said generator, and a thermistor having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance positioned to respond to the temperature of said voltage regulator connected across the base and emitter of said output transistor means and in series with said PN-junction semiconductor diode and resistor, the resistance of said thermistor being low enough during high-temperature operation so that the combined action of said thermistor and diode is to bias said output transistor means substantially to a cutoff condition when said second transistor is biased conductive, said voltage divider located in a circuit separate from said thermistor whereby the output voltage of said generator as determined by said voltage regulator is not substantially altered by a change in resistance of said thermistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
415 words
A voltage regulating system for a generator comprising, a generator having an output winding and a field winding, a pair of direct current terminals, means connecting said terminals with said generator whereby said generator applies a direct voltage to said terminals, a switching type of transistor voltage regulator for maintaining the output voltage of said generator substantially constant including an NPN power output transistor means having a base, collector and emitter, means connecting said field winding of said generator and the collector and emitter of said power output transistor means in series across said direct current terminals, a driver transistor switching stage comprised of first and second NPN-transistors, said first and second transistors having a common collector connection and said first transistor having its emitter connected directly to the base of said second transistor, a biasing circuit connected across said direct current terminals including in a series connection said resistor and the collector and emitter of said second transistor, said biasing circuit having a junction located between said resistor and said first and second transistors, the Potential of said junction varying between a first low value corresponding substantially to the saturation potential of the collector-emitter circuit of said second transistor and a second higher value when said second transistor is biased respectively conductive and nonconductive, a PN-junction semiconductor diode having its anode connected to said junction and its cathode connected directly to the base of said output transistor means, a voltage divider connected with said generator for developing a voltage which is a function of the output voltage of said generator, a Zener diode connected between said voltage divider and the base of said first transistor, said Zener diode controlling the switching of said first and second transistors as a function of the output voltage of said generator, and a thermistor having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance positioned to respond to the temperature of said voltage regulator connected across the base and emitter of said output transistor means and in series with said PN-junction semiconductor diode and resistor, the resistance of said thermistor being low enough during high-temperature operation so that the combined action of said thermistor and diode is to bias said output transistor means substantially to a cutoff condition when said second transistor is biased conductive, said voltage divider located in a circuit separate from said thermistor whereby the output voltage of said generator as determined by said voltage regulator is not substantially altered by a change in resistance of said thermistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
328 words
An electrical system comprising, an alternating current generator having a polyphase output winding and a field winding, a polyphase full-wave bridge rectifier having direct current power output terminals and AC input terminals connected with the phase windings of said generator, a battery connected directly across said output terminals, a plurality of auxiliary diodes connected respectively with said phase windings of said generator, said auxiliary diodes having a common junction forming a first direct current field-energizing terminal, a second direct current field-energizing terminal provided by one of the direct current output terminals of said power bridge rectifier, a transistor voltage regulator for maintaining the output voltage of said alternating current generator substantially constant, said voltage regulator including a power output transistor means having a collector, emitter and base, means connecting said field winding and the collector-emitter circuit of said output transistor means in series across said first and second field-energizing terminals, a driver transistor switching circuit including first and second transistors, means connecting the collectors of said first and second transistors together, means connecting the emitter of said first transistor directly to the base of said second transistor, a circuit connected across said first and second field-energizing terminals including in a series connection a resistor and the collector-emitter path of said second transistor, said circuit including a junction the voltage of which varies between a first low value and a second higher value when said second transistor is biased respectively either fully conductive or nonconductive, a PN junction semiconductor diode connected between said junction and the base of said output transistor, a thermistor having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance positioned to sense the temperature of said voltage regulator connected across the base and emitter of said output transistor means and in series with said PN-junction semiconductor diode, a voltage divider connected across the direct current output terminals of said power bridge rectifier and a Zener diode connected between said voltage divider and the base of said first transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
328 words
An electrical system comprising, an alternating current generator having a polyphase output winding and a field winding, a polyphase full-wave bridge rectifier having direct current power output terminals and AC input terminals connected with the phase windings of said generator, a battery connected directly across said output terminals, a plurality of auxiliary diodes connected respectively with said phase windings of said generator, said auxiliary diodes having a common junction forming a first direct current field-energizing terminal, a second direct current field-energizing terminal provided by one of the direct current output terminals of said power bridge rectifier, a transistor voltage regulator for maintaining the output voltage of said alternating current generator substantially constant, said voltage regulator including a power output transistor means having a collector, emitter and base, means connecting said field winding and the collector-emitter circuit of said output transistor means in series across said first and second field-energizing terminals, a driver transistor switching circuit including first and second transistors, means connecting the collectors of said first and second transistors together, means connecting the emitter of said first transistor directly to the base of said second transistor, a circuit connected across said first and second field-energizing terminals including in a series connection a resistor and the collector-emitter path of said second transistor, said circuit including a junction the voltage of which varies between a first low value and a second higher value when said second transistor is biased respectively either fully conductive or nonconductive, a PN junction semiconductor diode connected between said junction and the base of said output transistor, a thermistor having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance positioned to sense the temperature of said voltage regulator connected across the base and emitter of said output transistor means and in series with said PN-junction semiconductor diode, a voltage divider connected across the direct current output terminals of said power bridge rectifier and a Zener diode connected between said voltage divider and the base of said first transistor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3026469A
Cited
US3249849A
Cited
US3152298A
Cited
US3241040A
Cited
US3273049A
Cited
US3365646A
Cited
US3467854A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-14 | 1975-08-16 | 1976-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-14 | 1979-08-16 | 1980-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-14 | 1983-08-16 | 1984-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |