Stored energy stabilization system

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating a recurrent pulse signal comprises the steps of: producing a voltage signal proportional to the charge stored on said capacitance means; applying said produced voltage signal to variable frequency pulse generating means; and modulating the frequency of the pulses generated by said variable frequency pulse generating means in accordance with said produced voltage.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said step of comparing said generated recurrent pulse signal with a reference pulse signal comprises the steps of: determining the coincidence of polarity of the pulses produced by said variable frequency pulse generating means and the reference pulses of said reference pulse signal; and determining the opposition of polarity of said pulses produced by said variable frequency pulse generating means and the reference pulses of said reference pulse signal.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein said step of selectively incrementing and decrementing the charge stored on said capacitance means comprises the steps of: applying a negative voltage to said capacitance means when at least a portion of a pulse produced by said variable frequency pulse generating means coincides with at least a portion of a reference pulse of like polarity; and applying a positive voltage to said capacitance means when at least a portion of a pulse produced by said variable frequency pulse generating means coincides with at least a portion of a reference pulse of opposite polarity.

Claim 6

Apparatus for maintaining a level of stored energy comprising: capacitance means including inherent leakage characteristics; said capacitance means being adapted to store energy supplied thereto; means coupled to said capacitance means for providing energy to be stored by said capacitance means; pulse generating means coupled to said capacitance means for producing recurrent pulses of constant pulse width, the period of said recurrent pulses being dependent upon the level of energy stored by said capacitance means; reference pulse means for providing periodic reference pulses of constant frequency; comparator means coupled to said pulse generating means and said reference pulse means for indicating the difference between the energy provided by said means for providing energy and the energy stored by said capacitance means; and switch means coupled to said comparator means for selectively applying energy to and removing energy from said capacitance means in accordance with said indications.

Claim 7

Apparatus for maintaining a level of stored energy comprising: capacitance means including inherent leakage characteristics; said capacitance means being adapted to store energy supplied thereto; means coupled to said capacitance means for providing energy to be stored by said capacitance means; pulse generating means coupled to said capacitance means for producing recurrent pulses of constant pulse width, the period of said recurrent pulses being dependent upon the level of energy stored by said capacitance means; reference pulse means for providing periodic reference pulses of constant frequency; comparator means coupled to said pulse generating means and said reference pulse means for indicating the difference between the energy provided by said means for providing energy and the energy stored by said capacitance means; and switch means coupled to said comparator means for selectively applying energy to and removing energy from said capacitance means in accordance with said indications.

Claim 8

Apparatus for maintaining a level of stored energy in accordance with claim 5 wherein said pulse generating means comprises voltage controlled oscillating means responsive to a voltage applied thereto, said voltage representing the level of energy stored by said capacitance means, whereby the frequency of the pulses produced by said voltage controlled oscillating means is adapted to vary directly with said voltage applied thereto, and the pulse width of said pulses produced by said voltage controlled oscillating means is less than the pulse width of said periodic reference pulses.

Claim 9

Apparatus for maintaining a level of stored energy in accordance with claim 6 wherein said reference pulse means comprises: relaxation oscillating means for producing sequential rectangular pulses having a constant frequency greater than the maximum frequency obtainable by the pulses produced by said voltage controlled oscillating means; said relaxation oscillating means including an output terminal; and phase inversion means coupled to said output terminal of said relaxation oscillating means for producing phase inverted sequential rectangular pulses in response to said sequential rectangular pulses supplied by said relaxation oscillating means, whereby said comparator means is supplied with at least one of said sequential rectangular pulses and said phase inverted sequential rectangular pulses.

Claim 10

Apparatus for maintaining a level of stored energy in accordance with claim 7 wherein said comparator means comprises: first coincidence means including a first input terminal coupled to said voltage controlled oscillating means, a second input terminal coupled to said output terminal of said relaxation oscillating means and an output terminal; whereby a pulse is produced by said first coincidence means when at least a portion of a pulse produced by said voltage controlled oscillating means coincides with at least a portion of a pulse produced by said relaxation oscillating means; and second coincidence means including a first input terminal coupled to said voltage controlled oscillating means, a second input terminal coupled to said phase inversion means and an output terminal; whereby a pulse is produced by said second coincidence means when at least a portion of a pulse produced by said voltage controlled oscillating means coincides with at least a portion of a pulse produced by said phase inversion means.

Claim 11

Apparatus for maintaining a level of stored energy in accordance with claim 8 wherein said switch means comprises: first two-state means admitting of a first state and a second state coupled to said output terminal of said first coincidence means, such that said first two-state means obtains its second state when a pulse is produced by said first coincidence means; whereby said capacitance means is coupled to a voltage of a first polarity when said first two-state means obtains said second state; and second two-state means admitting of a first state and a second state coupled to said output terminal of said second coincidence means such that said second two-state means obtains its second state when a pulse is produced by said second coincidence means; whereby said capacitance means is coupled to a voltage of a second polarity when said second two-state means obtains said second state.

Claim 12

Apparatus for maintaining a level of stored energy in accordance with claim 9 wherein said first and second coincidence means further include third input terminals, respectively, connected in common and adapted to be supplied with a control signal such that when said capacitance means is provided with energy to be stored thereby by said means coupled to said capacitance means, said control signal is supplied to said third input terminals whereby said first and second coincidence means are inhibited from producing pulses.

Claim 13

A circuit for stabilizing a voltage stored by a storage capacitor, the magnitude of said voltage being subject to a gradual reduction resulting from inherent leakage characteristics of said storage capacitor, comprising: variable frequency pulse generating means coupled to said storage capacitor and responsive to the voltage stored thereby for generating pulses having a frequency determined by said voltage; reference pulse generating means for generating pulses having a substantially constant frequency; phase inversion means coupled to said reference pulse generating means for inverting the phase of said pulses generated by said reference pulse generating means; first coincidence determining means couplEd to said variable frequency pulse generating means and said reference pulse generating means for determining the coincidence of said pulses generated by said variable frequency pulse generating means and said pulses generated by said reference pulse generating means; second coincidence determining means coupled to said variable frequency pulse generating means and said phase inversion means for determining the coincidence of said pulses generated by said variable frequency pulse generating means and said pulses inverted by said phase inversion means; first switch means coupled to said first coincidence determining means for selectively applying a first voltage to said storage capacitor when a pulse generated by said variable frequency pulse generating means coincides with a pulse generated by said reference pulse generating means; and second switch means coupled to said second coincidence determining means for selectively applying a second voltage to said storage capacitor when a pulse generated by said variable frequency pulse generating means coincides with a pulse inverted by said phase inversion means.

Claim 14

A circuit for stabilizing a voltage stored by a storage capacitor, the magnitude of said voltage being subject to a gradual reduction resulting from inherent leakage characteristics of said storage capacitor, comprising: variable frequency pulse generating means coupled to said storage capacitor and responsive to the voltage stored thereby for generating pulses having a frequency determined by said voltage; reference pulse generating means for generating pulses having a substantially constant frequency; phase inversion means coupled to said reference pulse generating means for inverting the phase of said pulses generated by said reference pulse generating means; first coincidence determining means couplEd to said variable frequency pulse generating means and said reference pulse generating means for determining the coincidence of said pulses generated by said variable frequency pulse generating means and said pulses generated by said reference pulse generating means; second coincidence determining means coupled to said variable frequency pulse generating means and said phase inversion means for determining the coincidence of said pulses generated by said variable frequency pulse generating means and said pulses inverted by said phase inversion means; first switch means coupled to said first coincidence determining means for selectively applying a first voltage to said storage capacitor when a pulse generated by said variable frequency pulse generating means coincides with a pulse generated by said reference pulse generating means; and second switch means coupled to said second coincidence determining means for selectively applying a second voltage to said storage capacitor when a pulse generated by said variable frequency pulse generating means coincides with a pulse inverted by said phase inversion means.

Claim 15

Apparatus for maintaining a level of stored energy, comprising: energy storage means exhibiting inherent leakage characteristics whereby the energy stored by said energy storage means is adapted to be gradually reduced; variable frequency pulse generating means coupled to said energy storage means for generating pulses admitting of a frequency dependent upon the level of energy stored by said energy storage means; reference interval generating means coupled to said variable frequency pulse generating means for defining a predetermined reference interval in response to a pulse applied thereto by said variable frequency pulse generating means, said predetermined reference interval extending over a plurality of pulse periods; reference pulse means coupled to said reference interval generating means for providing a reference pulse of predetermined duration at the conclusion of said predetermined reference interval; comparator means coupled to said variable frequency pulse generating means and said reference pulse means for determining a change in the period of said generated pulses during said predetermined reference interval, whereby said change in said period is a function of the gradual reduction of the energy stored by said energy storage means; and means coupled to said comparator means for selectively applying energy to and removing energy from said energy storage means in accordance with said determinations.

Claim 16

Apparatus for maintaining a level of stored energy, comprising: energy storage means exhibiting inherent leakage characteristics whereby the energy stored by said energy storage means is adapted to be gradually reduced; variable frequency pulse generating means coupled to said energy storage means for generating pulses admitting of a frequency dependent upon the level of energy stored by said energy storage means; reference interval generating means coupled to said variable frequency pulse generating means for defining a predetermined reference interval in response to a pulse applied thereto by said variable frequency pulse generating means, said predetermined reference interval extending over a plurality of pulse periods; reference pulse means coupled to said reference interval generating means for providing a reference pulse of predetermined duration at the conclusion of said predetermined reference interval; comparator means coupled to said variable frequency pulse generating means and said reference pulse means for determining a change in the period of said generated pulses during said predetermined reference interval, whereby said change in said period is a function of the gradual reduction of the energy stored by said energy storage means; and means coupled to said comparator means for selectively applying energy to and removing energy from said energy storage means in accordance with said determinations.