US3729651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voltage regulator
Assignee: ECC CORP US
•
Filing: 1971-04-07
•
Granted: 1973-04-24
•
Expires: 1991-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A semiconductor switching device is connected in shunt with an alternating voltage source to be regulated. A root-mean-square voltage sensing mechanism is coupled in shunt with the voltage source. A semiconductor breakover device is coupled between the voltage sensing mechanism and the gate electrode of the switching device for controlling the triggering of the switching device and thereby regulating the root-mean-square value of the voltage supplied to a load connected in shunt with the voltage source.
Inventors
- 👤 D Fricker
- 👤 T Whittaker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:05
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/14; H02J7/1469; H02J7/1492; G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/12; G05F1/40; G05F1/44; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/80; Y02T10/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A voltage regulator for an alternating voltage source having a substantial source impedance under short circuit conditions comprising: a first semi-conductor switching device having a pair of power electrodes and a control electrode; means for connecting the switching device by its power electrodes in shunt with the voltage source; root-mean-square voltage sensing means coupled in shunt with the power electrodes of the switching device for producing a control effect which varies with the root-mean-square value of the voltage developed by the voltage source; and a semi-conductor break over device coupled between the rootmean-square voltage sensing means and the control electrode of the switching device and responsive to the control effect produced by an increase in the root-mean-square value of the voltage developed by the voltage source for causing the switching device to trigger and become conductive earlier in at least one half cycle of each cycle of the voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A voltage regulator for an alternating voltage source having a substantial source impedance under short circuit conditions comprising: a first semi-conductor switching device having a pair of power electrodes and a control electrode; means for connecting the switching device by its power electrodes in shunt with the voltage source; root-mean-square voltage sensing means coupled in shunt with the power electrodes of the switching device for producing a control effect which varies with the root-mean-square value of the voltage developed by the voltage source; and a semi-conductor break over device coupled between the rootmean-square voltage sensing means and the control electrode of the switching device and responsive to the control effect produced by an increase in the root-mean-square value of the voltage developed by the voltage source for causing the switching device to trigger and become conductive earlier in at least one half cycle of each cycle of the voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the root-mean-square voltage sensing means includes: electrically responsive radiant energy producing means coupled in shunt with the power electrodes of the switching device; and time constant circuit means coupled in shunt with the power electrodes of the switching device and including radiant energy responsive variable impedance means responsive to the radiant energy produced by the radiant energy producing means; and wherein the breakover device is coupled between the time constant circuit means and the control electrode of the switching device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 2 wherein the radiant energy producing means comprises incandescent lamp means, the radiant energy is light energy and the radiant energy responsive variable impedance means is formed of a photosensitive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 2 wherein the time constant circuit means includes a capacitor coupled in series with the radiant energy responsive variable impedance means and one side of the breakover device is coupled to the junction between the capacitor and the impedance means and the other side of the breakover device is coupled to the control electrode of the switching device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the breakover device is a semiconductor switching device having a negative resistance characteristic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the radiant energy producing means comprises incandescent lamp means; the radiant energy is light energy; the radiant energy responsive variable impedance means is formed of a photosensitive material; the time constant circuit means includes a capacitor coupled in series with the photosensitive variable impedance means; and the breakover device is a semiconductor switching device having a negative resistance characteristic and having one side thereof coupled to the junction between the photosensitive variable impedance means and the capacitor and having the other side thereof coupled to the control electrode of the first switching device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 2 wherein the breakover device is a semiconductor switching device having a pair of power electrodes and a control electrode, such breakover device having one power electrode thereof coupled to the time constant circuit means, the other power electrode thereof coupled to the control electrode of the first switching device and the control electrode thereof coupled to one of the power electrodes of the first switching device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 7 wherein the circuit connection between the control electrode of the breakover switching device and the power electrode of the first switching device includes resistor means for modifying the breakover level of the breakover switching device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 1 and including capacitor means coupled in shunt with the breakover device for minimizing spurious operation thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 2 and including adjustable resistor means coupled in series with the radiant energy producing means for enabling adjustment of the set point of the voltage regulator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the semiconductor switching device is a bilateral switching device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the semiconductor switching device is a silicon controlled rectifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A voltage regulator in accordance with claim 12 and including resistor means connected between the control electrode and one of the power electrodes of the silicon controlled rectifier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3310687A
Cited
US3483429A
Cited
US3478222A
Cited
US3548290A
Cited
US3551787A
Cited
US3440515A
Cited
US3500455A
Cited
US3551745A
Cited
US3539892A
Cited
US3539865A
Cited
US3573604A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |