Solid state voltage regulated automotive-type electrical power supply system

Claim 1

Solid state regulated power supply system having a shunt excited ac generator (10) subject to widely varying drive speeds, including a shunt field (14); comprising a free-wheeling bypass diode (19) connected in parallel with the field (14); a voltage regulator (R) connected to the output of the generator and further connected to intermittently control energization of the field (14) including a power semi-conductor (LT) in series with the field (14), a comparator and control stage (ST) connected to and comparing the output voltage of the alternator with a reference (35) and controlling conduction of the power semi-conductor (LT), a first integrated circuit (IC) monolithic chip (28) on which the power semi-conductor (LT) is formed and a second IC monolithic chip (36) on which the comparator and control stage (ST) is formed, a single, hermetically sealed housing (G, 51, 52) including a metal base plate (51) and a housing cover, or cap (52) sealed thereto; a third IC monolithic chip (50) on which the freewheeling diode (19) is formed; the first, second and third monolithic chips (28, 36, 50) being all located within the sealed housing (G; 51, 52) whereby the entire voltage regulator and the free-wheeling diode is included as a single electrically complete unit in a single sealed housing; externally projecting terminal posts (K 1 , K 2 ) sealed to the housing (G; 51, 52) and insulated therefrom; first connecting means connecting the collector (29) of the power semi-conductor (LT) internally within the housing to the metal base plate (51); second connecting means connecting one of the terminals of the free-wheeling diode (29) internally within the housing to the metal base plate (51); third connecting means connecting one of the terminals of the shunt field (14) to the metal base plate (51), whereby the metal base plate (51) of the housing (G; 51, 52) will form a common terminal (53) for the collector (29) of the power semi-conductor (LT), one terminal of the free-wheeling diode (19) and one terminal of the shunt field (14); fourth connecting means (W 1 ) connecting the emitter of the power semi-conductor (LT) to one of the terminal posts (K 1 ); fifth connecting means (W 2 ) connecting the other terminal of the free-wheeling diode to the other terminal post (K 2 ) for connection to the other terminal field (14); internal connecting means (W 3 -W 7 ) interconnecting the first and second monolithic chips and additionally interconnecting said second chip and said terminal posts; the first and third IC monolithic chips (28, 50) being secured with one side thereof to the metal base plate (51) of the housing (G) in good electrical and heat conductive contact; and an insulating plate (40) secured to the metal base plate (51), the second IC monolithic chip (36) being secured to the insulating plate to position the second IC monolithic chip within the housing in insulated relation with respect thereto.