US3879652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
AC solid state power controller with minimized internal power supply requirements
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-13
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1993-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A power controller having a switch whose drive circuit is supplied by a power supply producing DC power and whose control and protection circuits, such as an overcurrent protection circuit, a zero crossover detection circuit, and a control logic circuit, are operative without energization from a separate DC supply. Rather these circuits are powered merely from the AC line and the same DC supply as for the drive circuit. This minimizes requirements of the controller''s internal power supply which may be met by a single transformer secondary winding or, preferably, a transformerless configuration such as a capacitor voltage divider power supply.
Inventors
- 👤 William W Billings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:34
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/12; G05F1/40; G05F1/44; G05F1/45; G05F1/455; G05F1/445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A power controller for controlling the supply of power from an AC supply to a load and comprising: a switch having supply and load terminals and also having at least one drive terminal at which the selective application of predetermined drive signal alters the conductivity of said switch; a drive circuit for applying drive signals to said switch and having at least one output terminal electrically coupled, respectively, to said at least one drive terminal of said switch, said drive circuit having a control input terminal and a power input terminal; a power supply circuit having input terminals for connection to the AC supply and an output terminal connected to said powEr input terminal of said drive circuit, said power supply circuit comprising elements for the conversion of AC power to DC power on a single power bus; a control logic circuit having an output terminal connected to said control input terminal of said drive circuit and a power input terminal connected to said output terminal of said power supply circuit; at least one control and protection circuit having at least one output signal terminal connected to said control logic circuit and having at least one input signal terminal connected to the AC supply, said at least one control and protection circuit being operative without energization from any DC power supply separate from that of said power supply circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A power controller for controlling the supply of power from an AC supply to a load and comprising: a switch having supply and load terminals and also having at least one drive terminal at which the selective application of predetermined drive signal alters the conductivity of said switch; a drive circuit for applying drive signals to said switch and having at least one output terminal electrically coupled, respectively, to said at least one drive terminal of said switch, said drive circuit having a control input terminal and a power input terminal; a power supply circuit having input terminals for connection to the AC supply and an output terminal connected to said powEr input terminal of said drive circuit, said power supply circuit comprising elements for the conversion of AC power to DC power on a single power bus; a control logic circuit having an output terminal connected to said control input terminal of said drive circuit and a power input terminal connected to said output terminal of said power supply circuit; at least one control and protection circuit having at least one output signal terminal connected to said control logic circuit and having at least one input signal terminal connected to the AC supply, said at least one control and protection circuit being operative without energization from any DC power supply separate from that of said power supply circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
229 words
A power controller for controlling the supply of power from an AC supply to a load and comprising: a switch having supply and load terminals and also having at least one drive terminal at which the selective application of predetermined drive signal alters the conductivity of said switch; a drive circuit for applying drive signals to said switch and having at least one output terminal electrically coupled, respectively, to said at least one drive terminal of said switch, said drive circuit having a control input terminal and a power input terminal; a power supply circuit having input terminals for connection to the AC supply and an output terminal connected to said powEr input terminal of said drive circuit, said power supply circuit comprising elements for the conversion of AC power to DC power on a single power bus; a control logic circuit having an output terminal connected to said control input terminal of said drive circuit and a power input terminal connected to said output terminal of said power supply circuit; at least one control and protection circuit having at least one output signal terminal connected to said control logic circuit and having at least one input signal terminal connected to the AC supply, said at least one control and protection circuit being operative without energization from any DC power supply separate from that of said power supply circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
229 words
A power controller for controlling the supply of power from an AC supply to a load and comprising: a switch having supply and load terminals and also having at least one drive terminal at which the selective application of predetermined drive signal alters the conductivity of said switch; a drive circuit for applying drive signals to said switch and having at least one output terminal electrically coupled, respectively, to said at least one drive terminal of said switch, said drive circuit having a control input terminal and a power input terminal; a power supply circuit having input terminals for connection to the AC supply and an output terminal connected to said powEr input terminal of said drive circuit, said power supply circuit comprising elements for the conversion of AC power to DC power on a single power bus; a control logic circuit having an output terminal connected to said control input terminal of said drive circuit and a power input terminal connected to said output terminal of said power supply circuit; at least one control and protection circuit having at least one output signal terminal connected to said control logic circuit and having at least one input signal terminal connected to the AC supply, said at least one control and protection circuit being operative without energization from any DC power supply separate from that of said power supply circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said at least one control and protection circuit includes an overcurrent protection circuit for providing signals ultimately to control the conduction of said switch so the load is not subjected to damaging overcurrent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said at least one control and protection circuit includes a zero crossover circuit for providing signals ultimately to control the conduction of said switch in desired relation to zero crossovers of the waveform of the AC supply.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said power supply circuit comprises a capacitor voltage divider power supply.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said power supply circuit is a transformerless power supply.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |