US4128801A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voltage regulator structure for automotive-type generators
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1977-03-07
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Granted: 1978-12-05
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Expires: 1997-03-07
Abstract
Abstract A free-wheeling diode, a control circuit portion and a power circuit portion which selectively include active semiconductor elements and passive electrical circuit elements, such as diodes and resistors, are all included in a housing having a metallic base, the housing having two lead-through pins sealed therethrough in insulated relation, so that the housing can be readily attached to the generator housing structure, particularly to the brush assembly thereof, and the lead-through pins selectively directly connected to a brush connected to the exciter field of the generator and another connected to the positive output terminal of the generator, thus facilitating overall construction and assembly of the voltage regulator as well as assembly of the voltage regulator with and to the generator.
Inventors
- 👤 Willi Gansert
- 👤 Norbert Rittmannsberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:17
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/14; H02J7/16; H02J7/24; H02J7/70; H02J2105/00; H02J2105/30; H02J2105/33; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/50; H10W72/531; H10W72/5363; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/751; H10W90/753
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
Voltage regulator for combination with an automotive-type generator, said generating having two line output terminals and an exciter field terminal, the voltage regulator comprising a free-wheeling diode (19); a control circuit stage (13); a power circuit stage (14); said circuit stages including active semiconductor elements (15, 31) and passive electrical circuit elements (16, 32, 33, 34); a housing (42, 48) having a metallic base (42) and a housing cap (48) secured to and sealed to the metallic base, covering and sealing said free-wheeling diode, and said circuit stages in one covered, sealed, composite element; an insulating plate (43) secured within the housing; two connecting lugs or pins (45, 46) passing through the housing and being sealed therethrough in insulated relation with respect thereto, and forming the positive and negative line terminals of the voltage regulator, connectable to the line terminals of the generator, the housing forming the field terminal of the voltage regulator and being connectable to the exciter field terminal of the generator, said housing, base and cover forming a standard power transistor housing package assembly; wherein the power circuit stage (12) comprises a first chip (14) forming an integrated circuit directly electrically and mechanically secured to the metallic base (42) of the housing of the regulator; the control circuit portion (13) comprises a second semiconductor chip (22) forming an integrated circuit supported on the insulating plate (43); and wherein the free-wheeling diode comprises a third semiconductor chip (29) on which the diode structure is grown, the third chip (29) being secured to the metallic base (42) of the housing of the regulator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
Voltage regulator for combination with an automotive-type generator, said generating having two line output terminals and an exciter field terminal, the voltage regulator comprising a free-wheeling diode (19); a control circuit stage (13); a power circuit stage (14); said circuit stages including active semiconductor elements (15, 31) and passive electrical circuit elements (16, 32, 33, 34); a housing (42, 48) having a metallic base (42) and a housing cap (48) secured to and sealed to the metallic base, covering and sealing said free-wheeling diode, and said circuit stages in one covered, sealed, composite element; an insulating plate (43) secured within the housing; two connecting lugs or pins (45, 46) passing through the housing and being sealed therethrough in insulated relation with respect thereto, and forming the positive and negative line terminals of the voltage regulator, connectable to the line terminals of the generator, the housing forming the field terminal of the voltage regulator and being connectable to the exciter field terminal of the generator, said housing, base and cover forming a standard power transistor housing package assembly; wherein the power circuit stage (12) comprises a first chip (14) forming an integrated circuit directly electrically and mechanically secured to the metallic base (42) of the housing of the regulator; the control circuit portion (13) comprises a second semiconductor chip (22) forming an integrated circuit supported on the insulating plate (43); and wherein the free-wheeling diode comprises a third semiconductor chip (29) on which the diode structure is grown, the third chip (29) being secured to the metallic base (42) of the housing of the regulator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
Regulator according to claim 1, wherein the generator includes a slip ring brush holder (53), said slip ring brush holder being formed with a seating surface engageable with the base (42) of the housing, and connection means electrically connected to the chassis or housing structure of the generator and connectable with one of the line terminal lugs or pins of the voltage regulator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Regulator according to claim 2, wherein the connection of said slip ring brush holder and said voltage regulator housing is a pin-and-plug connection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Regulator according to claim 1, wherein the metallic base (42) and the housing cap (48) of the housing are welded together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Regulator according to claim 1, wherein the metallic base (42) of the housing of the regulator is formed with flat, mutually parallel, lateral surfaces (49) to facilitate holding and orienting the housing in a holding fixture or jig.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Regulator according to claim 1, wherein the free-wheeling diode (19) is directly electrically and mechanically secured to the metallic base (42) of the housing of the regulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
Regulator according to claim 1, wherein the power stage comprises a Darlington transistor combination having an output transistor component (25), a driver transistor component (26) and a resistor component (27), all said components being integrated on a single chip (LT) forming said power stage and located in said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Regulator according to claim 1, wherein the insulating plate (43) comprises a ceramic plate secured to the base (42) of the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Regulator according to claim 7, wherein the collector of the power transistor component is electrically and thermally connected to the metallic base plate (42) of the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Regulator according to claim 1, further comprising at least one input resistor (37, 38) within the housing of the regulator and connected between a terminal thereof and the control circuit stage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
Regulator according to claim 10, wherein two input resistors (37, 38) are provided, both input resistors being located within the housing (42, 48) of the regulator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
Regulator according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the input resistors (37, 38) is secured to the insulated plate (43).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
Regulator according to claim 12, wherein the insulated plate (43) comprises a ceramic plate carrying contact terminals (43) and means (44) connecting the contact terminals to the connection pins or lugs (45, 46); and wherein two input resistors (37, 38) are provided, connected as a voltage divider and to the control circuit stage (13), the tap point of the voltage divider being connected to the terminal (236) on the ceramic plate (543) which is connected to the lug or pin (45) forming the positive terminal (28) of the regulator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
Regulator according to claim 12, wherein (FIGS. 3, 6) the insulated plate (643) comprises a ceramic plate secured to the base (642) of the housing; a sensing input pin or lug (51) being secured to the housing and extending therefrom, and sealed therethrough in insulated relation; and wherein one of said input resistors (338) is connected between the semiconductor chip (322) and the connecting terminal (339) formed on the ceramic plate (643), the connecting terminal on the ceramic plate being connected to the further, or additional connecting lug or pin (51).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
Regulator according to claim 14, further including engine operating sensing means (T) providing a further or additional sensing output signal, said sensing means being connected to said further or additional lug or pin (51).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
Regulator according to claim 12, wherein one of said input resistors has effective resistance of zero and forms a connecting bridge, said connecting bridge being connected between one input (327) of the control circuit stage and a terminal (341) formed on the insulating plate, said terminal being connected to the positive line terminal of the regulator (311); and wherein an input resistor (38) of finite resistance is connected between a further terminal (335) of the semiconductor chip forming the control circuit stage and an additional terminal (339) formed on the insulating plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
Regulator according to claim 1, wherein the power stage comprises a power transistor, the collector (17) of the power transistor of the power stage being electrically and thermally connected to the metallic base (42) of the housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
Regulator according to claim 1, wherein the free-wheeling diode (19) is secured to said insulating plate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
Regulator according to claim 1, further comprising an additional or further connecting pin or lug (51), said additional or further connecting pin or lug connectable to receive a sensing signal representative of the voltage value, said further or additional connecting pin or lug being connected to the control stage (13) of the regulator.
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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) | 1981-12-04 | 1982-06-05 | 1982-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-04 | 1986-06-05 | 1986-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-04 | 1990-06-05 | 1990-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |