Current stabilizing circuit having minimal leakage current effects

Claim 2

Apparatus for stabilizing the current flowing through a current utilization device, comprising: a voltage divider network connected to said current utilization device, said voltage divider network including a plurality of transistor means wherein a first electrode of each of said transistor means is coupled to a second electrode of an immediately preceding transistor means; current regulating transistor means having a first electrode coupled to the second electrode of the last transistor means included in said voltage divider network for regulating the current flowing through said voltage divider network in response to a control voltage applied to said current regulating transistor means; and voltage limiting means having a first terminal connected to the control electrode of said last transistor means included in said voltage divider network and a second terminal connected to a second electrode of said current regulating transistor means for limiting the voltage applied to said control electrode and for supplying a summation of the leakage currents inherent in each of said transistor means included in said voltage divider network to said second electrode of said current regulating transistor means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said voltage divider network further includes a plurality of voltage limiting means coupled to the control electrodes of said transistor means included in said voltage divider network for limiting the maximum voltage applied to said control electrodes.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said voltage limiting means connected to said current regulating transistor means and each of said plurality of voltage limiting means are zener diodes.

Claim 5

In combination with a current utilization device having relatively high voltage and low current requirements and a voltage divider network connected to said current utilization device, said voltage divider network including a plurality of transistor means, each capable of withstanding relatively high voltages applied thereto and having respective collector and emitter electrodes connected in series relationship, the improvement for Stabilizing the current flowing through said current utilization device, comprising: current regulating transistor means having collector and emitter electrodes connected in series with said series connected collector and emitter electrodes of said transistor means included in said voltage divider network, said current regulating transis-tor means being responsive to a control voltage applied to the base electrode thereof for regulating the current flowing through the collector and emitter electrodes thereof; and voltage limiting means interposed in series relationship between the base electrode of the last transistor means included in said voltage divider network and an output electrode of said current regulating transistor means for limiting the voltage applied to said voltage divider network and for supplying said output electrode with a summation of the leakage currents induced in each of said transistor means included in said voltage divider network in response to said relatively high voltages applied thereto.

Claim 6

In combination with a current utilization device having relatively high voltage and low current requirements and a voltage divider network connected to said current utilization device, said voltage divider network including a plurality of transistor means, each capable of withstanding relatively high voltages applied thereto and having respective collector and emitter electrodes connected in series relationship, the improvement for Stabilizing the current flowing through said current utilization device, comprising: current regulating transistor means having collector and emitter electrodes connected in series with said series connected collector and emitter electrodes of said transistor means included in said voltage divider network, said current regulating transis-tor means being responsive to a control voltage applied to the base electrode thereof for regulating the current flowing through the collector and emitter electrodes thereof; and voltage limiting means interposed in series relationship between the base electrode of the last transistor means included in said voltage divider network and an output electrode of said current regulating transistor means for limiting the voltage applied to said voltage divider network and for supplying said output electrode with a summation of the leakage currents induced in each of said transistor means included in said voltage divider network in response to said relatively high voltages applied thereto.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 4 wherein said voltage limiting means is a zener diode.

Claim 8

Apparatus for modulating the current passing through a laser tube, comprising: a voltage divider network connected to said laser tube, said voltage divider network comprised of a plurality of active elements, each capable of withstanding relatively high voltages applied thereto; current regulating transistor means having input and output electrodes connected in series relationship with said voltage divider network and responsive to a control voltage applied to the control electrode thereof for regulating the current flowing through said input and output electrodes; voltage limiting means having a first terminal connected to said voltage divider network and a second terminal connected to said output electrode for limiting the voltage applied to said voltage divider network and for supplying said output electrode of said current regulating transistor means with a summation of the leakage currents induced in each of said active elements included in said voltage divider network in response to said relatively high voltages applied thereto; and variable impedance means connected in series relationship with said current regulating transistor means and responsive to a modulating signal applied thereto for varying the impedance thereof, whereby the current passing through said laser tube is varied in a corresponding manner.

Claim 9

Apparatus for modulating the current passing through a laser tube, comprising: a voltage divider network connected to said laser tube, said voltage divider network comprised of a plurality of active elements, each capable of withstanding relatively high voltages applied thereto; current regulating transistor means having input and output electrodes connected in series relationship with said voltage divider network and responsive to a control voltage applied to the control electrode thereof for regulating the current flowing through said input and output electrodes; voltage limiting means having a first terminal connected to said voltage divider network and a second terminal connected to said output electrode for limiting the voltage applied to said voltage divider network and for supplying said output electrode of said current regulating transistor means with a summation of the leakage currents induced in each of said active elements included in said voltage divider network in response to said relatively high voltages applied thereto; and variable impedance means connected in series relationship with said current regulating transistor means and responsive to a modulating signal applied thereto for varying the impedance thereof, whereby the current passing through said laser tube is varied in a corresponding manner.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said active elements comprising said voltage divider network comprise a plurality of transistor means.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said voltage limiting means comprises a zener diode.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said variable impedance means comprises resistance means and switch means coupled to said resistance means for varying the value of said resistance means when said switch means is activated by said modulating signal applied thereto.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said switch means comprises switching transistor means connected in shunt relationship with said resistance means for short circuiting said resistance means in response to the application of said modulating signal to the control electrode of said switching transistor means.

Claim 14

Apparatus for modulating the current passing through a laser tube, comprising: a voltage divider network connected to said laser tube said voltage divider network including a plurality of said transistor means, each capable of withstanding relatively high voltages applied thereto and having respective input and output electrodes connected in series relationship; current regulating transistor means having input and output electrodes connected in series relationship with said voltage divider network and responsive to a control voltage applied to the control electrode thereof for regulating the current flowing through said input and output electrodes; voltage limiting means having a first terminal connected to said Voltage divider network and a second terminal connected to said output electrode of said current regulating transistor means for limiting the voltage applied to said voltage divider network and for supplying said output electrode of said current regulating transistor means with a summation of the leakage currents induced in said voltage divider network in response to high voltages applied thereto; impedance means connected in series relationship with said current regulating transistor means and having a constant current flowing therein; and variable conducting means connected in shunt relationship with said impedance means and responsive to a modulating signal applied thereto for varying the current conducting characteristics thereof, whereby the current passing through said laser tube is varied in a corresponding manner.

Claim 15

Apparatus for modulating the current passing through a laser tube, comprising: a voltage divider network connected to said laser tube said voltage divider network including a plurality of said transistor means, each capable of withstanding relatively high voltages applied thereto and having respective input and output electrodes connected in series relationship; current regulating transistor means having input and output electrodes connected in series relationship with said voltage divider network and responsive to a control voltage applied to the control electrode thereof for regulating the current flowing through said input and output electrodes; voltage limiting means having a first terminal connected to said Voltage divider network and a second terminal connected to said output electrode of said current regulating transistor means for limiting the voltage applied to said voltage divider network and for supplying said output electrode of said current regulating transistor means with a summation of the leakage currents induced in said voltage divider network in response to high voltages applied thereto; impedance means connected in series relationship with said current regulating transistor means and having a constant current flowing therein; and variable conducting means connected in shunt relationship with said impedance means and responsive to a modulating signal applied thereto for varying the current conducting characteristics thereof, whereby the current passing through said laser tube is varied in a corresponding manner.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said voltage limiting means comprises a zener diode.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said variable conducting means comprises complementary transistor means including first transistor means characterized by a conduction characteristic that varies in inverse relationship with said modulating signal and second transistor means coupled to said first transistor means and characterized by a conduction characteristic that varies in direct relationship with said modulating signal.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first transistor means receives said modulating signal and said second transistor means is connected in parallel relationship with said impedance means and is controlled by said first transistor means.