US4079445A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for voltage regulation of a solar generator
Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
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Filing: 1976-09-15
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Granted: 1978-03-14
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Expires: 1996-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A device for the voltage regulation of a solar-type generator by the additive or subtractive connection of generator units to a common bus bar. A logic circuit controls the number of unregulated generator units being connected to the bus bar at any one time depending on the load. A single generator is permanently coupled to the bus bar which generator is regulated to provide improved overall regulation. This single, permanently connected generator is regulated by a series regulator having high feedback loop gain for substantially reducing the output impedance of the single regulated generator in comparison to the unregulated generators. An embodiment incorporating d.c.-a.c. choppers for supplying an a.c. load is also disclosed. In this embodiment, the choppers are directly controlled to effect coupling between a generator and the common bus bar.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinrich Hufnagel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:16
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/46; G05F1/56; G05F1/62; H; H02; H02J; H02J1/00; H02J1/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A device for the voltage regulation of a solar-type generator comprising: a common bus bar for connection to a load; a plurality of unregulated generator units having an output adapted to being connected and disconnected from said bus bar; logic circuit means for controlling the number of generator units coupled to said common bus bar, said number of units depending upon the load; a single generator permanently coupled to said bus bar; and a series regulator for regulating the voltage from said single generator, said regulator having such a high feedback loop gain for making the effective source impedance of said single generator substantially smaller than that of said unregulated generator units.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A device for the voltage regulation of a solar-type generator comprising: a common bus bar for connection to a load; a plurality of unregulated generator units having an output adapted to being connected and disconnected from said bus bar; logic circuit means for controlling the number of generator units coupled to said common bus bar, said number of units depending upon the load; a single generator permanently coupled to said bus bar; and a series regulator for regulating the voltage from said single generator, said regulator having such a high feedback loop gain for making the effective source impedance of said single generator substantially smaller than that of said unregulated generator units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the effective source impedance of the regulated generator is about one one-thousandth of the source impedance of the unregulated generator units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the regulator element in the series regulator is provided as a complementary Darlington stage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device in accordance with claim 3 including a voltage divider for being disposed across the load, a reference diode, a comparator responsive to the voltage divider output and the voltage across the reference diode, and an amplifier responsive to the comparator output for driving said complementary Darlington stage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said comparator and amplifier comprise a single transistor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
152 words
A device for the voltage regulation of a solar-type generator comprising: a common bus bar for connection to a load; a plurality of unregulated generator units having an output adapted to being connected and disconnected from said bus bar; logic circuit means for controlling the number of generator units coupled to said common bus bar, said number of units depending upon the load; a single generator permanently coupled to said bus bar; and a series regulator for regulating the voltage from said single generator, said regulator having such a high feedback loop gain for making the effective source impedance of said single generator substantially smaller than that of said unregulated generator units, and wherein a signal is supplied from the series regulator to the logic circuit means indicating when the voltage drop across the regulator goes below zero, said logic means responding by connecting an additional unregulated generator to the bus bar.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
152 words
A device for the voltage regulation of a solar-type generator comprising: a common bus bar for connection to a load; a plurality of unregulated generator units having an output adapted to being connected and disconnected from said bus bar; logic circuit means for controlling the number of generator units coupled to said common bus bar, said number of units depending upon the load; a single generator permanently coupled to said bus bar; and a series regulator for regulating the voltage from said single generator, said regulator having such a high feedback loop gain for making the effective source impedance of said single generator substantially smaller than that of said unregulated generator units, and wherein a signal is supplied from the series regulator to the logic circuit means indicating when the voltage drop across the regulator goes below zero, said logic means responding by connecting an additional unregulated generator to the bus bar.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
148 words
A device for the voltage regulation of a solar-type generator comprising: a common bus bar for connection to a load; a plurality of unregulated generator units having an output adapted to being connected and disconnected from said bus bar; logic circuit means for controlling the number of generator units coupled to said common bus bar, said number of units depending upon the load; a single generator permanently coupled to said bus bar; and a series regulator for regulating the voltage from said single generator, said regulator having such a high feedback loop gain for making the effective source impedance of said single generator substantially smaller than that of said unregulated generator units, and wherein a signal is supplied from the series regulator to the logic circuit means indicating when the series regular current approaches zero, said logic means responding by disconnecting an unregulated generator from the bus bar.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
148 words
A device for the voltage regulation of a solar-type generator comprising: a common bus bar for connection to a load; a plurality of unregulated generator units having an output adapted to being connected and disconnected from said bus bar; logic circuit means for controlling the number of generator units coupled to said common bus bar, said number of units depending upon the load; a single generator permanently coupled to said bus bar; and a series regulator for regulating the voltage from said single generator, said regulator having such a high feedback loop gain for making the effective source impedance of said single generator substantially smaller than that of said unregulated generator units, and wherein a signal is supplied from the series regulator to the logic circuit means indicating when the series regular current approaches zero, said logic means responding by disconnecting an unregulated generator from the bus bar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 6 including a plurality of series switches, each switch being disposed between a corresponding unregulated generator unit and said bus bar, said switches being controlled by said logic circuit means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The device of claim 6 including a plurality of d.c. to a.c. inverters, each being disposed in a respective path between a corresponding generator and said bus bar, a control oscillator supplying an a.c. driving voltage to said inverters, said inverters having means to control the on-off condition of said inverters wherein the condition is controlled by a signal from said logic circuit means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said control oscillator provides a square wave signal for effecting chopping action of said inverter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3047724A
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US3549983A
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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) | 1981-03-13 | 1981-09-12 | 1982-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-13 | 1985-09-12 | 1986-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-13 | 1989-09-12 | 1990-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |