US4066916A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transistor drive circuits
Assignee: Siemens Mobility Ltd
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Filing: 1976-03-02
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Granted: 1978-01-03
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Expires: 1996-03-02
Abstract
Abstract A transistor drive circuit arrangement in which the collector current of a transistor is passed through the primary or control windings of a direct current current-transformer or transductor and the secondary or output windings of the current-transformer or transductor control the passage of alternating current via rectifying means which provides base current drive for the transistor. Thereby the base current is directly related to instantaneous collector current which results in significant power economies relative to prior art arrangements in which the base is continuously over-driven to ensure permanent base-emitter saturation.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Gordon King
- 👤 Derek Ernest Burch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:17
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A transistor drive circuit for driving a transistor having base, emitter, and collector electrodes, comprising a direct current current-transformer having primary windings and secondary windings, a source of alternating current, rectifying means, means for connecting the primary windings in series with the collector-emitter path of the transistor to carry the collector current flowing therein, and means for connecting the source of alternating current in a series circuit with the secondary windings and through the rectifying means to the base-emitter path of the transistor to supply the base current flowing therein, the secondary windings being connected in a polarity sense such that increasing collector current and hence increasing current in the primary windings causes a decreasing of the impedance presented by the secndary windings and thus increasing current in the secondary windings and increasing base current.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A transistor drive circuit for driving a transistor having base, emitter, and collector electrodes, comprising a direct current current-transformer having primary windings and secondary windings, a source of alternating current, rectifying means, means for connecting the primary windings in series with the collector-emitter path of the transistor to carry the collector current flowing therein, and means for connecting the source of alternating current in a series circuit with the secondary windings and through the rectifying means to the base-emitter path of the transistor to supply the base current flowing therein, the secondary windings being connected in a polarity sense such that increasing collector current and hence increasing current in the primary windings causes a decreasing of the impedance presented by the secndary windings and thus increasing current in the secondary windings and increasing base current.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The drive circuit of claim 1, further including means for selectively discontinuing base current.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The drive circuit of claim 2, wherein the means for selectively discontinuing base current comprise means for open-circuiting the secondary windings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The drive circuit of claim 2, wherein the means for selectively discontinuing base current comprise means for discontinuing the supply of alternating current from the source thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The drive circuit of claim 2, wherein the means for selectively discontinuing base current comprise means for at least unidirectionally short-circuiting the base-emitter path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The drive circuit of claim 1, wherein the secondary windings are coupled in single-phase configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The drive circuit of claim 1, wherein the secondary windings are coupled in plural-phase configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The drive circuit of claim 7, wherein the plural-phase configuration is a bi-phase configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The drive circuit of claim 1, wherein the rectifying means is a full-wave rectifier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The drive circuit of claim 1, wherein the source of alternating current is a high-frequency inverter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The drive circuit of claim 1, wherein the current-transformer includes further primary windings coupled for the application of control signals.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of driving a transistor including the steps of passing the collector current of the transistor through the primary windings of a direct current current-transformer and providing the base current of the transistor from a rectified alternating current passing through secondary windings of the current-transformer so that the base current drive provided by said rectified alternating current is increased due to the decreased impedance presented by the secondary windings as caused by the collector current flow through the primary windings of the current-transformer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of driving a transistor including the steps of passing the collector current of the transistor through the primary windings of a direct current current-transformer and providing the base current of the transistor from a rectified alternating current passing through secondary windings of the current-transformer so that the base current drive provided by said rectified alternating current is increased due to the decreased impedance presented by the secondary windings as caused by the collector current flow through the primary windings of the current-transformer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
A transistor drive circuit for driving a transistor having base, emitter, and collector electrodes, comprising a transductor having control windings and output windings, a source of alternating current, rectifying means, means for connecting the control windings in series with the collector-emitter path of the transistor to carry the collector current flowing therein, and means for connecting the source of alternating current in a series circuit with the output wondings and through the rectifying means to the base-emitter path of the transistor to supply the base current flowing therein, the output windings being connected in a polarity sense such that increasing collector current and hence increasing current in the control windings causes decreasing impedance presented by the output windings and hence increasing current in the output windings and increasing base current.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
130 words
A transistor drive circuit for driving a transistor having base, emitter, and collector electrodes, comprising a transductor having control windings and output windings, a source of alternating current, rectifying means, means for connecting the control windings in series with the collector-emitter path of the transistor to carry the collector current flowing therein, and means for connecting the source of alternating current in a series circuit with the output wondings and through the rectifying means to the base-emitter path of the transistor to supply the base current flowing therein, the output windings being connected in a polarity sense such that increasing collector current and hence increasing current in the control windings causes decreasing impedance presented by the output windings and hence increasing current in the output windings and increasing base current.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The drive circuit of claim 13, further including means for selectively discontinuing base current.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The drive circuit of claim 14, wherein the means for selectively discontinuing base current comprise means for open-circuiting the output windings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The drive circuit of claim 14, wherein the means for selectively discontinuing base current comprise means for discontinuing the supply of alternating current from the source thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The drive circuit of claim 14, wherein the means for selectively discontinuing base current comprise means for at least unidirectionally short-circuiting the base-emitter path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The drive circuit of claim 13, wherein the output windings are coupled in single-phase configuration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The drive circuit of claim 13, wherein the output windings are coupled in plural-phase configuration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The drive circuit of claim 19, wherein the plural-phase configuration is a bi-phase configuration.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The drive circuit of claim 13, wherein the rectifying means is a full-wave rectifier.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The drive circuit of claim 13, wherein the source of alternating current is a high-frequency inverter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The drive circuit of claim 13, wherein the transductor includes further control windings coupled for the application of control signals.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of driving a transistor including the steps of passing the collector current of the transistor through the control windings of a transductor and providing the base current of the transistor from a rectified alternating current passing through output windings of the transductor so that the base current drive provided by said rectified alternating current is increased due to the decreased impedance presented by the output windings as caused by the collector current flow through the control windings of the transductor.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of driving a transistor including the steps of passing the collector current of the transistor through the control windings of a transductor and providing the base current of the transistor from a rectified alternating current passing through output windings of the transductor so that the base current drive provided by said rectified alternating current is increased due to the decreased impedance presented by the output windings as caused by the collector current flow through the control windings of the transductor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-02 | 1981-07-04 | 1982-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-02 | 1985-07-04 | 1986-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-02 | 1989-07-04 | 1990-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |