Voltage power supply

Claim 2

A voltage power supply especially suitable for providing a relatively high DC voltage output of rapidly changing amplitude, said power supply comprising: (a) inverter means adapted for connection to a fixed relatively low amplitude DC voltage input for producing an AC voltage output in response thereto; (b) converter means connected with said inverter means and responsive to said AC voltage output for producing at its output a DC drive voltage having a fixed amplitude substantially higher than said DC voltage input; (c) voltage varying means including a pull-up and pull-down circuit arrangement connected to the output of said converter means for producing at its output an adjustable DC output voltage having an amplitude not exceeding the amplitude of said drive voltage; and (d) voltage adjusting means connected to said voltage varying means and adapted for connection to means for producing a coded signal for rapidly changing the amplitude of said adjustable output voltage in response to said coded signal.

Claim 3

A voltage power supply according to claim 1 including voltage adding means for producing an auxilliary DC voltage of substantially fixed amplitude, said voltage adding means being connected with said voltage varying means for adding said auxiliary voltage to said adjustable output voltage, whereby to provide an adjustable output voltage of greater amplitude.

Claim 4

A voltage power supply according to claim 2 including means connected with said voltage varying means and said voltage adding means for regulating said greater adjustable output voltage, said regulating means including: (a) means for producing a DC voltage signal having an amplitude proportionate to said greater adjustable output voltage; (b) means for producing a DC reference voltage signal having an amplitude equally proportionate to said auxiliary voltage; (c) means for producing a DC voltage signal having an amplitude proportionate to said adjustable output voltage; and (d) means responsive to the difference between said first-mentioned proportionate signal and the sum of said last-mentioned proportionate signals, if any, adjusting said greater adjustable output voltage until said difference is zero whereby to regulate said last-mentioned voltage.

Claim 5

A voltage power supply according to claim 3 wherein said reference voltage producing means includes a constant current generating source and a resistor at its output for producing said reference voltage.

Claim 6

A voltage supply according to claim 2 wherein said voltage adding means includes inverting and connecting means adapted for connection to said low amplitude DC voltage input for inverting said input to an AC voltage and for converting said AC voltage to said auxiliary voltage, said inverting means including: (a) a transformer having its primary side including one tap-in terminal adapted for connection to said low amplitude DC voltage input and a second tap-in terminal adapted for connection to ground and its secondary side connected to said last-mentioned connecting means, said transformer operating at a predetermined resonant frequency; and (b) means for alternately connecting said second tap-in terminal to and disconnecting it from ground at a rate equal to said last-mentioned AC voltage output across said transformer secondary side.

Claim 7

A voltage power supply according to claim 1 including feedback means connected to said voltage varying means and said voltage adjusting means and responsive to said adjustable output voltage at any given time during operation of said power supply for maintaining said adjustable output voltage at its adjusted value.

Claim 8

A voltage power supply according to claim 1 wherein said voltage adjusting means includes means for producing a busy signal in response to and substantially only throughout the period during which the amplitude of said adjustable voltage changes from one level to another in response to said coded signal.

Claim 9

A voltage power supply according to claim 7 wherein said busy signal producing means includes means for terminating said busy signal a predetermined period of time after its initiation in the event said busy signal does not terminate at the end of said period.

Claim 10

A voltage power supply according to claim 7 wherein said busy signal producing means includes means for terminating said busy signal a predetermined period of time after its initiation in the event said busy signal does not terminate at the end of said period.

Claim 11

A voltage power supply according to claim 1 wherein said circuit arrangement draws a quiescent current during the period when the amplitude of said adjustable output voltage remains at a constant level, said arrangement including means for maintaining said quiescent current substantially constant regardless of the adjusted amplitude of said adjustable output voltage.

Claim 12

A voltage power supply according to claim 10 wherein said circuit arrangement draws a larger current during the period when the amplitude of said adjustable output voltage changes, said arrangement including means for limiting said current to a maximum level.

Claim 13

A voltage supply according to claim 10 including means for limiting the DC voltage across said circuit arrangement to a maximum predetermined amplitude.

Claim 14

A voltage power supply according to claim 1 including feedback means connected to said converter means and said inverter means and responsive to said DC drive voltage at any given time during operation of said power supply for maintaining said DC drive voltage at its fixed amplitude.

Claim 15

A voltage power supply according to claim 13 wherein said feed back means includes a comparator having two inputs, one of which is connected with said converter means and responsive to current from said drive voltage and the other of which is connected to means for producing a reference voltage comprising part of said feedback means, said feedback means including means for preventing the voltage at said first input from going negative even in response to a short at the output of said converting means.

Claim 16

A voltage power supply according to claim 14 wherein said inverting means includes means connected with said amplifier for disabling said inverting means and preventing it from producing a signal at its output if the input to the comparator decreases below a predetermined level.

Claim 17

A voltage power supply according to claim 1 wherein said inverter means includes (a) a transformer having its primary side including one tap-in terminal adapted for connection to said low amplitude DC voltage input and a second tap-in terminal adapted for connection to ground and its secondary side connected to said converter means, said transformer operating at a predetermined resonant frequency; and (b) means for alternately connecting said second tap-in terminal to and disconnecting it from ground at a rate equal to said resonant frequency whereby to produce said AC voltage output across said transformer secondary side.

Claim 18

A voltage power supply according to claim 16 wherein said transformer is a center tap transformer and wherein said primary side includes a third tap-in terminal positioned such that said one tap-in terminal is located between said second and third terminals so as to define a center tap, said third terminal being adapted for connection to ground, said connecting means connecting said third terminal to and disconnecting it from ground as it respectively disconnects and connects said second terminal to and from said ground whereby to produce said AC voltage output.

Claim 19

A voltage power supply according to claim 16 wherein said tap-in connecting and disconnecting means includes means response to said DC drive voltage for determining the time during which said second tap-in terminal is connected to ground between disconnections therewith, whereby to maintain said drive voltage at said fixed amplitude.

Claim 20

A voltage power supply according to claim 1 wherein said adjusting means includes means for maintaining said adjusted output voltage at its adjusted level at any given time during operation of said supply if at said given time the current at the output of said voltage varying means is above a predetermined level.

Claim 21

A voltage power supply especially suitable for providing a relatively high DC voltage output of rapidly changing amplitude, said power supply comprising: (a) an inverter circuit adapted for connection to a fixed, relatively low amplitude DC voltage input for producing an AC voltage output in response thereto; (b) a converter circuit connected with said inverter circuit and responsive to said AC voltage output for producing at its output a DC drive voltage having a fixed amplitude substantially higher than said DC voltage input; (c) a feedback circuit connected to the output of said converter circuit and to an input in said inverter circuit and responsive to said DC drive voltage at any given time during operation of said power supply for maintaining said DC output voltage at said fixed amplitude; (d) a pull-up and pull-down circuit arrangement connected to the output of said converter circuit for producing at its output an adjustable DC output voltage having an amplitude not exceeding the amplitude of said drive voltage; (e) a voltage adding circuit for producing an auxiliary DC voltage of substantially fixed amplitude, said voltage adding circuit being connected with said pull-up and pull-down circuit arrangement for adding said auxiliary voltage to said adjustable output voltage, whereby to provide an adjustable output voltage of greater amplitude; (f) a voltage adjusting circuit connected to said pull-up and pull-down circuit arrangement and adapted for connection to means for producing a coded signal for rapidly changing the amplitude of said greater adjustable output voltage, in response to said coded signal; and (g) circuit means connected with said pull-up and pull-down circuit arrangement and said voltage adding circuit for regulating said greater adjustable output voltage.

Claim 22

A voltage power supply especially suitable for providing a relatively high DC voltage output of rapidly changing amplitude, said power supply comprising: (a) an inverter circuit adapted for connection to a fixed, relatively low amplitude DC voltage input for producing an AC voltage output in response thereto; (b) a converter circuit connected with said inverter circuit and responsive to said AC voltage output for producing at its output a DC drive voltage having a fixed amplitude substantially higher than said DC voltage input; (c) a feedback circuit connected to the output of said converter circuit and to an input in said inverter circuit and responsive to said DC drive voltage at any given time during operation of said power supply for maintaining said DC output voltage at said fixed amplitude; (d) a pull-up and pull-down circuit arrangement connected to the output of said converter circuit for producing at its output an adjustable DC output voltage having an amplitude not exceeding the amplitude of said drive voltage; (e) a voltage adding circuit for producing an auxiliary DC voltage of substantially fixed amplitude, said voltage adding circuit being connected with said pull-up and pull-down circuit arrangement for adding said auxiliary voltage to said adjustable output voltage, whereby to provide an adjustable output voltage of greater amplitude; (f) a voltage adjusting circuit connected to said pull-up and pull-down circuit arrangement and adapted for connection to means for producing a coded signal for rapidly changing the amplitude of said greater adjustable output voltage, in response to said coded signal; and (g) circuit means connected with said pull-up and pull-down circuit arrangement and said voltage adding circuit for regulating said greater adjustable output voltage.

Claim 23

A voltage power supply according to claim 20 wherein said regulating circuit means include: (a) means for producing a DC voltage signal having an amplitude proportionate to said greater adjustable output voltage; (b) means for producing a DC reference voltage signal having an amplitude equally proportionate to said auxiliary voltage; (c) means for producing a DC voltage signal having an amplitude proportionate to said adjustable output voltage; and (d) means responsive to the difference between said first-mentioned proportionate signal and the sum of said last-mentioned proportionate signals, if any, for adjusting said greater adjustable output voltage until said difference is zero, whereby to regulate said last-mentioned voltage.

Claim 24

A voltage power supply especially suitable for providing a relatively high DC voltage output of rapidly changing amplitude, said power supply comprising: (a) inverter means adapted for connection to a fixed relatively low amplitude DC voltage input for producing an AC voltage output in response thereto; (b) converter means connected with said inverter means and responsive to said AC voltage output for producing at its output a DC drive voltage having a fixed amplitude substantially higher than said DC voltage input; (c) voltage varying means connected to the output of said converter means for producing at its output an adjustable DC output voltage having an amplitude not exceeding the amplitude of said drive voltage; and (d) voltage adjusting means connected to said voltage varying means and adapted for connection to means for producing a coded signal for rapidly changing the amplitude of said adjustable output voltage in response to said coded signal., said adjusting means including means for producing a busy signal in response to and substantially only throughout the period during which the amplitude of said adjustable voltage changes from one level to another in response to said coded signal.

Claim 25

A voltage power supply especially suitable for providing a relatively high DC voltage output of rapidly changing amplitude, said power supply comprising: (a) inverter means adapted for connection to a fixed relatively low amplitude DC voltage input for producing an AC voltage output in response thereto; (b) converter means connected with said inverter means and responsive to said AC voltage output for producing at its output a DC drive voltage having a fixed amplitude substantially higher than said DC voltage input; (c) voltage varying means connected to the output of said converter means for producing at its output an adjustable DC output voltage having an amplitude not exceeding the amplitude of said drive voltage; and (d) voltage adjusting means connected to said voltage varying means and adapted for connection to means for producing a coded signal for rapidly changing the amplitude of said adjustable output voltage in response to said coded signal., said adjusting means including means for producing a busy signal in response to and substantially only throughout the period during which the amplitude of said adjustable voltage changes from one level to another in response to said coded signal.

Claim 26

A voltage power supply especially suitable for providing a relatively high DC voltage output of rapidly changing amplitude, said power supply comprising: (a) inverter means adapted for connection to a fixed relatively low amplitude DC voltage input for producing an AC voltage output in response thereto, said inverted means including, (i) a transformer having its primary side including one tap-in terminal adapted for connection to said low amplitude DC voltage input and a second tap-in terminal adapted for connection to ground and its secondary side connected to said converter means, said transformer operating at a predetermined resonant frequency, and (ii) pulse width modulating means for alternately connecting said second tap-in terminal to and disconnecting it from ground at a rate equal to said resonant frequency whereby to produce said AC voltage output across said transformer secondary side; (b) converter means connected with said inverter means and responsive to said AC voltage output for producing at its output a DC drive voltage having a fixed amplitude substantially higher than said DC voltage input; (c) feedback means connected to said converter means and said inverter means and responsive to said DC drive voltage at any given time during operation of said power supply for maintaining said DC drive voltage at its fixed amplitude; (d) voltage varying means connected to the output of said converter means for producing at its output an adjustable DC output voltage having an amplitude not exceeding the amplitude of said drive voltage; and (e) voltage adjusting means connected to said voltage varying means and adapted for connection to means for producing a coded signal for rapidly changing the amplitude of said adjustable output voltage in response to said coded signal.

Claim 27

A voltage power supply especially suitable for providing a relatively high DC voltage output of rapidly changing amplitude, said power supply comprising: (a) inverter means adapted for connection to a fixed relatively low amplitude DC voltage input for producing an AC voltage output in response thereto, said inverted means including, (i) a transformer having its primary side including one tap-in terminal adapted for connection to said low amplitude DC voltage input and a second tap-in terminal adapted for connection to ground and its secondary side connected to said converter means, said transformer operating at a predetermined resonant frequency, and (ii) pulse width modulating means for alternately connecting said second tap-in terminal to and disconnecting it from ground at a rate equal to said resonant frequency whereby to produce said AC voltage output across said transformer secondary side; (b) converter means connected with said inverter means and responsive to said AC voltage output for producing at its output a DC drive voltage having a fixed amplitude substantially higher than said DC voltage input; (c) feedback means connected to said converter means and said inverter means and responsive to said DC drive voltage at any given time during operation of said power supply for maintaining said DC drive voltage at its fixed amplitude; (d) voltage varying means connected to the output of said converter means for producing at its output an adjustable DC output voltage having an amplitude not exceeding the amplitude of said drive voltage; and (e) voltage adjusting means connected to said voltage varying means and adapted for connection to means for producing a coded signal for rapidly changing the amplitude of said adjustable output voltage in response to said coded signal.

Claim 28

A voltage power supply according to claim 23 wherein said transformer is a center tap transformer and wherein said primary side includes a third tap-in terminal positioned such that said one tap-in terminal is located between said second and third terminals so as to define a center tap, said third terminal being adapted for connection to ground, said connecting means connecting said third terminal to and disconnecting it from ground as it respectively disconnects and connects said second terminal to and from said ground whereby to produce said AC voltage output.

Claim 29

A voltage power supply according to claim 23 wherein said tap-in connecting and disconnecting means includes means response to said DC drive voltage for determining the time during which said second tap-in terminal is connected to ground between disconnections therewith, whereby to maintain said drive voltage at said fixed amplitude.

Claim 30

A voltage power supply according to claim 25 wherein said feedback means includes a comparator having two inputs, one of which is connected with said converter means and responsive to current from said drive voltage and the other of which is connected to means for producing a reference voltage comprising part of said feedback means, said feedback means including means for preventing the voltage at said first input from going negative even in response to a short at the output of said converting means.

Claim 31

A voltage power supply according to claim 26 wherein said inverting means includes means connected with said amplifier for disabling said inverting means and preventing it from producing a signal at its output if the input to the comparator decreases below a predetermined level.

Claim 32

A voltage power supply according to claim 23 wherein said voltage varying means includes a pull-up and pull-down circuit arrangement for producing said adjustable output voltage at its output.

Claim 33

A voltage power supply according to claim 23 wherein said voltage adjusting means includes means for producing a busy signal in response to and substantially only throughout the period during which the amplitude of said adjustable voltage changes from one level to another in response to said coded signal.