Capacitive voltage reducer

Claim 2

In a voltage reducer for supplying power at a relatively low and constant voltage V to a load which power is derived from a high voltage source, the combination comprising: a series of capacitors including a first capacitor charged under equilibrium operating conditions to a nominal voltage V and a second capacitor charged under equilibrium operating conditions to a nominal voltage 2V; periodically operated first circuit means connecting said second capacitor in series with said first capacitor and said load to thereby discharge said second capacitor during periods of operation of said first circuit means and thereby supply energy to said load for use thereby and to said first capacitor to make-up energy transferred therefrom in periods other than during operation of said first circuit means; and periodically operated second circuit means connecting said first capacitor in series with said load to discharge said first capacitor, during periods of operation of said circuit means, through said load; and periodically operated third circuit means connecting said second capacitor to receive power, during periods other than during the periods of operation of said first circuit means to make up for power transferred therefrom during operation of said first circuit means.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 including: a further capacitor connected to said third circuit means, to supply said power to said second capacitor.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 comprising: periodically operated fourth circuit means for charging said third capacitor and supplying power to said load; all of said circuits means being operated in different periods repetitively and in the same order.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 wherein said first and second circuit means operate during alternate successive periods and said third circuit means operates concurrently during the periods of operation of saId second circuit means.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 wherein: each of said circuit means comprises a selectively actuated switch for controlling the operation thereof.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 wherein: at least one switch comprises a selectively controllable transistor, and said combination further comprises regulating feedback means responsive to the voltage drop across said load to control the operation of said transistor so as to vary its conductance to offset changes in the voltage drop across said load, whereby to provide voltage regulation.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 comprising: an output capacitor connected in parallel with said load for supplying current thereto between periods of operation of said circuit means.

Claim 9

In a power supply for supplying a low DC voltage to a load which power is derived from a power source providing a high DC voltage, comprising: a plurality of stages connected to said source and load including at least one preceding stage and one succeeding stage; said preceding stage comprising: First capacitor means; and first circuit means including selectively actuated first switch means for connecting said first capacitor means in series with said load, said first circuit means being operative when said first switch means is actuated to supply current to said load at said low DC voltage and to charge said first capacitor means from a state of lesser charge to a state of greater charge; said succeeding stage comprising: second capacitor means, second circuit means including selectively actuated second switch means for connecting said second capacitor means in series with said first capacitor means and said load, said second circuit means being operative, when said second switch means is actuated and said first switch means is deactuated, to supply current to said load at said low DC voltage and to charge said second capacitor means with power derived from said first capacitor means, and third circuit means including selectively actuated third switch means for connecting said second capacitor means in series with said load to supply power thereto when said third switch means is actuated.

Claim 10

In a power supply for supplying a low DC voltage to a load which power is derived from a power source providing a high DC voltage, comprising: a plurality of stages connected to said source and load including at least one preceding stage and one succeeding stage; said preceding stage comprising: First capacitor means; and first circuit means including selectively actuated first switch means for connecting said first capacitor means in series with said load, said first circuit means being operative when said first switch means is actuated to supply current to said load at said low DC voltage and to charge said first capacitor means from a state of lesser charge to a state of greater charge; said succeeding stage comprising: second capacitor means, second circuit means including selectively actuated second switch means for connecting said second capacitor means in series with said first capacitor means and said load, said second circuit means being operative, when said second switch means is actuated and said first switch means is deactuated, to supply current to said load at said low DC voltage and to charge said second capacitor means with power derived from said first capacitor means, and third circuit means including selectively actuated third switch means for connecting said second capacitor means in series with said load to supply power thereto when said third switch means is actuated.

Claim 11

In a voltage reducer for supplying low voltage DC to a load which is derived from a high voltage source, the combination of: first and second capacitor means; first circuit means including selectively operated first switch means for concurrently charging said first capacitor means and discharging said second capacitor means to thereby supply power to said load; second circuit means including selectively operated second switch means for concurrently charging said second capacitor means and discharging said first capacitor means to thereby supply power to said load; and switch operating means for alternately operating said first and second switch means to thereby cyclically charge and discharge each capacitor means while continuously supplying power to said load.

Claim 12

In a voltage reducer for supplying low voltage DC to a load which is derived from a high voltage source, the combination of: first and second capacitor means; first circuit means including selectively operated first switch means for concurrently charging said first capacitor means and discharging said second capacitor means to thereby supply power to said load; second circuit means including selectively operated second switch means for concurrently charging said second capacitor means and discharging said first capacitor means to thereby supply power to said load; and switch operating means for alternately operating said first and second switch means to thereby cyclically charge and discharge each capacitor means while continuously supplying power to said load.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 9 wherein: each of said capacitor means comprises a plurality of capacitors.

Claim 14

A voltage reducer for receiving power from a power source providing a relatively high and constant DC voltage and supplying power continuously to a load at a relatively low voltage, comprising: first and second capacitor means; first circuit means including selectively actuated first switch means for connecting said first capacitor means in series with said source and load and operative, when said first switch means is actuated, to deliver power to said load for use thereby and to said first capacitor means for charging thereof from a state of lower charge to a state of higher charge; second circuit means including selectively actuated second switch means for connecting said second capacitor in series with said first capacitor and load and operative, when said second switch means is actuated, to discharge said first capacitor means from said higher to said lower charge stateS and deliver power to said load for use thereby and to said second capacitor means for charging thereof from a lower state to a higher state; third circuit means including selectively actuated third switch means for connecting said second capacitor means in series with said load and operative, when said third switch means is actuated, to discharge said second capacitor means from said higher state to said lower state and deliver power to said load; and switch actuating means for repetitively and selectively actuating said first, second and third switch means.

Claim 15

A voltage reducer for receiving power from a power source providing a relatively high and constant DC voltage and supplying power continuously to a load at a relatively low voltage, comprising: first and second capacitor means; first circuit means including selectively actuated first switch means for connecting said first capacitor means in series with said source and load and operative, when said first switch means is actuated, to deliver power to said load for use thereby and to said first capacitor means for charging thereof from a state of lower charge to a state of higher charge; second circuit means including selectively actuated second switch means for connecting said second capacitor in series with said first capacitor and load and operative, when said second switch means is actuated, to discharge said first capacitor means from said higher to said lower charge stateS and deliver power to said load for use thereby and to said second capacitor means for charging thereof from a lower state to a higher state; third circuit means including selectively actuated third switch means for connecting said second capacitor means in series with said load and operative, when said third switch means is actuated, to discharge said second capacitor means from said higher state to said lower state and deliver power to said load; and switch actuating means for repetitively and selectively actuating said first, second and third switch means.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 11 wherein: each of said switch means is actuatable by means of a timing signal, and said switch actuating means is operative to supply timing signals for actuating said switches.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 12 wherein: said switch actuating means is operative to supply a timing signal to only one of said switch means at a time.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 11 comprising: output capacitor means connected in parallel with said load and operative to supply power to said load between periods when said switch means are actuated.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 12 wherein: said first and second switch means being connected in series with said load; said first and second diode means comprise a pair of diodes connected in series across said load; said first capacitor being connected between the common points between said switch means and said pair of diodes.

Claim 20

In a voltage reducer for receiving power from a power source supplying a relatively high DC voltage and supplying power to a load at a relatively low and constant voltage, the combination comprising: first and second capacitors; first circuit means including selectively actuated first switch means and first diode means connected in series with said first capacitor and said load and operative, when said first switch means is actuated, to supply power to said load and to charge said first capacitor; second circuit means including selectively actuated second switch means and second diode means connecting said first capacitor with said load and operative, when said second switch means is actuated, to discharge said first capacitor and thereby supply power to said load; said second circuit means being operative to further connect said second capacitor with said load whereby said second capacitor is charged when said second switch means is actuated; means for repetitively actuating said first and second switch means whereby when one is actuated the other is deactuated and third circuit means including selectively actuated third switch means operative, when actuated, to connect said second capacitor with said load to thereby discharge said second capacitor and supply power to said load.

Claim 21

In a voltage reducer for receiving power from a power source supplying a relatively high DC voltage and supplying power to a load at a relatively low and constant voltage, the combination comprising: first and second capacitors; first circuit means including selectively actuated first switch means and first diode means connected in series with said first capacitor and said load and operative, when said first switch means is actuated, to supply power to said load and to charge said first capacitor; second circuit means including selectively actuated second switch means and second diode means connecting said first capacitor with said load and operative, when said second switch means is actuated, to discharge said first capacitor and thereby supply power to said load; said second circuit means being operative to further connect said second capacitor with said load whereby said second capacitor is charged when said second switch means is actuated; means for repetitively actuating said first and second switch means whereby when one is actuated the other is deactuated and third circuit means including selectively actuated third switch means operative, when actuated, to connect said second capacitor with said load to thereby discharge said second capacitor and supply power to said load.