Series type solid state voltage regulator which provides constant voltage to a storage device

Claim 1

In combination a source of unregulated, pulsating electrical energy including generator means of the type adapted to be driven by an engine or the like so that said source provides an electrical output signal whose frequency and amplitude are a function of the speed of said generator means, energy storage means having a voltage characteristic which varies as a function of the energy stored therein, and voltage regulator means electrically connected between said source and said storage means for maintaining the voltage of said storage means within controlled limits, said voltage regulator means comprising controlled rectifier means having first and second main electrodes and a control electrode for controlling conduction through said main electrodes in response to a control signal, said first main electrode being electrically connected to a first output terminal of said source and said second main electrode being electrically connected to a first input terminal of said storage means, a second input terminal of said storage means being electrically connected to a second output terminal of said source so that said controlled rectifier means is electrically connected in series with said storage means across said output terminals to control the flow of electrical energy from said source to said storage means, and control signal circuit means for providing said control signal to said control electrode in accordance with the voltage level of said energy storage means comprising electrical breakdown means of the Zener diode type for supplying a predetermined reference voltage, one terminal of said breakdown means being electrically connected to said control electrode and the other terminal of said breakdown means being electrically connected to said second input terminal of said storage means such that said reference voltage can be cOmpared against said voltage of said energy storage means through said control electrode and the other of said main electrodes, said control signal circuit means further comprising capacitance means operative at low generator speeds to delay voltage at said breakdown means and thereby insure that said reference voltage is present at said control electrode when the voltage at said source exceeds said storage means voltage near the beginning of each input pulsation, said capacitance means being electrically connected between said one terminal of said breakdown means and one of said main electrodes, and resistance means connected in parallel with said capacitance means to limit current through said breakdown means at high generator speeds when said controlled rectifier means is not conducting.