Power supply with means to reduce on and off switching times of series regulated device

Claim 2

A power supply for providing a regulated voltage at a pair of output terminals, said power supply comprising: a pair of input terminals adapted for connection to a source of unregulated voltage; a plurality of series connected regulating devices connected in circuit with one of said input terminals, said regulating devices being simultaneously operated to switch between an on and an off state of current conduction; first means connected between said pair of output terminals and said plurality of regulating devices for simultaneously controlling the state of current conduction of said plurality of regulating devices for providing a predetermined voltage at said pair of output terminals; and second means connected between said plurality of regulating devices and one of said output terminals and further comprising means for providing individual voltage signals to each one of said devices for reducing the on and off switching times of said devices.

Claim 3

The power supply according to claim 1 wherein said second means comprises an energy storage device.

Claim 4

The power supply according to claim 2 wherein said energy storage device comprises a transformer having a primary winding, connected in series between said plurality of regulating devices and said one of said output terminals, and a plurality of feedback secondary windings, each one of said feedback windings being connected with a corresponding one of said plurality of regulating devices.

Claim 5

The power supply according to claim 3 further comprising switching means connected to said plurality of regulating devices for switching said devices from a series relationship to a parallel relationship with respect to each other.

Claim 6

A power supply for providing a regulated voltage at a pair of output terminals, said power supply comprising: a pair of input terminals adapted for connection to a source of unregulated voltage; a plurality of semiconductor regulating devices, each of said devices having a pair of main electrodes and a control electrode, said devices being switchable between an on and an off state of current conduction, the main electrodes of said devices being connected in a series path, one end of said series path being connected to one of said input terminals; driver means connected to the control electrodes of said plurality of regulating devices for simultaneously controlling the state of current conduction of said regulating devices; control means connected to said driver means and responsive to the voltage across said pair of output terminals for controlling the state of current conduction of said driver means for maintaining the voltage across said output terminals at a predetermined regulated value; and energy storage means connected between the other end of said series path and one of said output terminals and further comprising means for providing voltage signals to each of said semiconductor regulating devices for reducing the on and off switching times of said plurality of regulating devices.

Claim 7

A power supply for providing a regulated voltage at a pair of output terminals, said power supply comprising: a pair of input terminals adapted for connection to a source of unregulated voltage; a plurality of semiconductor regulating devices, each of said devices having a pair of main electrodes and a control electrode, said devices being switchable between an on and an off state of current conduction, the main electrodes of said devices being connected in a series path, one end of said series path being connected to one of said input terminals; driver means connected to the control electrodes of said plurality of regulating devices for simultaneously controlling the state of current conduction of said regulating devices; control means connected to said driver means and responsive to the voltage across said pair of output terminals for controlling the state of current conduction of said driver means for maintaining the voltage across said output terminals at a predetermined regulated value; and energy storage means connected between the other end of said series path and one of said output terminals and further comprising means for providing voltage signals to each of said semiconductor regulating devices for reducing the on and off switching times of said plurality of regulating devices.

Claim 8

The power supply according to claim 5 wherein said energy storage means comprises a transformer having a primary winding, connected between said other end of said series path and said one output terminal, and a plurality of feedback secondary windings, each one of said feedback windings being connected with a corresponding one of said plurality of regulating devices.

Claim 9

The power supply according to claim 6 further comprising switching means connected to said plurality of regulating devices for switching said devices from a series relationship to a parallel relationship with respect to each other.

Claim 10

A power supply for providing a regulated voltage at a pair of output terminals, said power supply comprising: a pair of input terminals adapted for connection to a source of AC signals; rectification means connected to said pair of input terminals for providing, at first and second terminals, an unregulated DC signal in response to said AC signals; a plurality of regulating transistors, each having two main electrodes and a base electrode, the main electrodes of said plurality of regulating transistors being connected to form a series path, one end of said path being connected to said first terminal, each of said plurality of regulating transistors being switchable between an on and an off state of current conduction; a plurality of driver transistors, each having two main electrodes and a base electrode, one main electrode of each of said driver transistors being connected in circuit with the base electrode of a corresponding one of said plurality of regulating transistors, the other main electrode of each of said driver transistors being connected to said second terminal, the base electrodes of each of said driver transistors being connected to a common point; means connected to said first terminal for providing a driving signal to said common point, said driving signal simultaneously causing said driver transistors to operate in a saturated state of current conduction; control means responsive to the voltage across said pair of output terminals and further comprising a control transistor having a first and second main electrode and a base electrode, the main electrodes of said control transistor being connected between said common point and said second terminal, said control transistor base electrode being responsive to one level of voltage across said output terminals for switching said control transistor on thereby removing said driving signal from said driver transistors and responsive to another level of voltage across said output terminals for switching said control transistor off; and inductive energy storage means connected between the other end of said path and one of said output terminals and further comprising means for providing signals to each of said plurality of regulating transistors for reducing the switching time of said plurality of regulating transistors.

Claim 11

A power supply for providing a regulated voltage at a pair of output terminals, said power supply comprising: a pair of input terminals adapted for connection to a source of AC signals; rectification means connected to said pair of input terminals for providing, at first and second terminals, an unregulated DC signal in response to said AC signals; a plurality of regulating transistors, each having two main electrodes and a base electrode, the main electrodes of said plurality of regulating transistors being connected to form a series path, one end of said path being connected to said first terminal, each of said plurality of regulating transistors being switchable between an on and an off state of current conduction; a plurality of driver transistors, each having two main electrodes and a base electrode, one main electrode of each of said driver transistors being connected in circuit with the base electrode of a corresponding one of said plurality of regulating transistors, the other main electrode of each of said driver transistors being connected to said second terminal, the base electrodes of each of said driver transistors being connected to a common point; means connected to said first terminal for providing a driving signal to said common point, said driving signal simultaneously causing said driver transistors to operate in a saturated state of current conduction; control means responsive to the voltage across said pair of output terminals and further comprising a control transistor having a first and second main electrode and a base electrode, the main electrodes of said control transistor being connected between said common point and said second terminal, said control transistor base electrode being responsive to one level of voltage across said output terminals for switching said control transistor on thereby removing said driving signal from said driver transistors and responsive to another level of voltage across said output terminals for switching said control transistor off; and inductive energy storage means connected between the other end of said path and one of said output terminals and further comprising means for providing signals to each of said plurality of regulating transistors for reducing the switching time of said plurality of regulating transistors.

Claim 12

The power supply according to claim 8 wherein said inductive energy storage means comprises a transformer having a primary winding connected between said other end of said series path and said one output terminal and a plurality of feedback secondary windings, each one of said feedback windings being connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of regulating transistors and poled in a direction to expedite the turning-on and turning-off of said regulating transistors.

Claim 13

The power supply according to claim 9 further comprising switching means connected to said plurality of regulating transistors for switching said regulating transistors from a series relationship to a parallel relationship with respect to each other.

Claim 14

A power supply for providing a regulated voltage at a pair of output terminals, said power supply comprising: a pair of input terminals adapted for connection to a source of AC signals; rectification means connected to said pair of input terminals for providing, at first and second terminals, an unregulated DC signal in response to said AC signals; at least one regulating transistor, said at least one regulating transistor having two main electrodes and a base electrode, the main electrodes of said at least one regulating transistor forming a main current conduction path, one end of said path being connected to said first terminal, said at least one regulating transistor being switchable between an on and an off state of current conduction; at least one driver transistor having two main electrodes and a base electrode, one main electrode of said at least one driver transistor being connected in circuit with the base electrode of said at least one regulating transistor, the other main electrode of said at least one driver transistor being connected to said second terminal, the base electrode of said at least one driver transistor being connected to a particular terminal; means connected to said first terminal for providing a driving signal to said particular terminal, said driving signal causing said at least one driver transistor to operate in a saturated state of current conduction; control means responsive to the voltage across said pair of output terminals and further comprising a control transistor having a first and second main electrode and a base electrode, the main electrodes of said control transistor being connected between said particular terminal and said second terminal, said control transistor base electrode being responsive to one level of voltage across said output terminals for switching said control transistor on thereby removing said driving signal from said at least one driver transistor and responsive to another level of voltage across said output terminals for switching said control transistor off; and inductive energy storage means connected between the other end of said path and one of said output terminals and further comprising means for providing voltage signals to said at least one regulating transistor for reducing the on and off switching times of said at least one regulating transistor.

Claim 15

A power supply for providing a regulated voltage at a pair of output terminals, said power supply comprising: a pair of input terminals adapted for connection to a source of AC signals; rectification means connected to said pair of input terminals for providing, at first and second terminals, an unregulated DC signal in response to said AC signals; at least one regulating transistor, said at least one regulating transistor having two main electrodes and a base electrode, the main electrodes of said at least one regulating transistor forming a main current conduction path, one end of said path being connected to said first terminal, said at least one regulating transistor being switchable between an on and an off state of current conduction; at least one driver transistor having two main electrodes and a base electrode, one main electrode of said at least one driver transistor being connected in circuit with the base electrode of said at least one regulating transistor, the other main electrode of said at least one driver transistor being connected to said second terminal, the base electrode of said at least one driver transistor being connected to a particular terminal; means connected to said first terminal for providing a driving signal to said particular terminal, said driving signal causing said at least one driver transistor to operate in a saturated state of current conduction; control means responsive to the voltage across said pair of output terminals and further comprising a control transistor having a first and second main electrode and a base electrode, the main electrodes of said control transistor being connected between said particular terminal and said second terminal, said control transistor base electrode being responsive to one level of voltage across said output terminals for switching said control transistor on thereby removing said driving signal from said at least one driver transistor and responsive to another level of voltage across said output terminals for switching said control transistor off; and inductive energy storage means connected between the other end of said path and one of said output terminals and further comprising means for providing voltage signals to said at least one regulating transistor for reducing the on and off switching times of said at least one regulating transistor.

Claim 16

The power supply according to claim 11 wherein said inductive energy storage means comprises a transformer having a primary winding connected between said other end of said main current conduction path and said one output terminal and at least one feedback secondary winding, said at least one feedback winding being connected to said at least one regulating transistor and poled in a direction to expedite the turning-on and turning-off of said at least one regulating transistor.