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US4649468A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Voltage divider circuit

Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1985-11-06
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Granted: 1987-03-10
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Expires: 2005-11-06
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Abstract

Abstract This circuit uses a simple structure of series-parallel connected capacitors and diodes to implement an n/m voltage divider circuit. There are n columns of series connected capacitors, which columns are all connected in parallel. The capacitor valves are selected so that in each column the ratio of charging capacitance to discharging capacitance is n:m. The diodes automatically switch the capacitor charging and discharging currents to the series-parallel connected capacitors.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard J. Cubbison, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 17:31
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/06; H02M3/07; H02M7/00; H02M7/02; H02M7/04; H02M7/06; H02M7/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 78 words
A method transforming an input voltage of V to an output voltage of (n/m)*V, where n>1, wherein said output voltage is applied to output terminals, comprising the steps of: charging n sets of capacitors, each set containing m series connected capacitors of equal value, to said input voltage V; discharging said n sets of capacitors via n`discharge paths, each of said discharge paths containing n series connected capacitors; and connecting said n+1 discharge paths to said output terminals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 78 words
A method transforming an input voltage of V to an output voltage of (n/m)*V, where n>1, wherein said output voltage is applied to output terminals, comprising the steps of: charging n sets of capacitors, each set containing m series connected capacitors of equal value, to said input voltage V; discharging said n sets of capacitors via n`discharge paths, each of said discharge paths containing n series connected capacitors; and connecting said n+1 discharge paths to said output terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 99 words
A dc-to-dc converter circuit for transforming an input voltage of V to an ouput voltage of (n/m)*V, which output voltage is applied to output terminals, comprising: n*m equal value capacitors connected in n sets, each set containing m series connected capacitors; means for connecting said n sets in parallel to said input voltage; means connected to selected ones of said n*m capacitors for providing n+1 discharge paths for said n*m capacitors, wherein each of said discharge paths comprise n series connected capacitors; and means connected to said providing means for connecting said n+1 discharge paths to said output terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 99 words
A dc-to-dc converter circuit for transforming an input voltage of V to an ouput voltage of (n/m)*V, which output voltage is applied to output terminals, comprising: n*m equal value capacitors connected in n sets, each set containing m series connected capacitors; means for connecting said n sets in parallel to said input voltage; means connected to selected ones of said n*m capacitors for providing n+1 discharge paths for said n*m capacitors, wherein each of said discharge paths comprise n series connected capacitors; and means connected to said providing means for connecting said n+1 discharge paths to said output terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 156 words
A dc-to-dc converter circuit for transforming an input voltage of V to an output voltage of (n/m)*V, where n>1, which output voltage is applied to output terminals, comprising: first and second capacitors, each having first and second terminals, wherein said first terminal of said first capacitor is connected to a first of said output terminals and said second terminal of said second capacitor is connected to a second of said output terminals; first diode means connected in a forward direction from said first terminal of said second capacitor to said first terminal of said first capacitor; second diode means connected in a forward direction from said second terminal of said second capacitor to said second terminal; of said first capacitor; and ratio setting means connected to said first and said second terminals of both said first and said second capacitors for presenting a discharge capacitance across said converter terminals equal to n/m of the charging capacitance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 156 words
A dc-to-dc converter circuit for transforming an input voltage of V to an output voltage of (n/m)*V, where n>1, which output voltage is applied to output terminals, comprising: first and second capacitors, each having first and second terminals, wherein said first terminal of said first capacitor is connected to a first of said output terminals and said second terminal of said second capacitor is connected to a second of said output terminals; first diode means connected in a forward direction from said first terminal of said second capacitor to said first terminal of said first capacitor; second diode means connected in a forward direction from said second terminal of said second capacitor to said second terminal; of said first capacitor; and ratio setting means connected to said first and said second terminals of both said first and said second capacitors for presenting a discharge capacitance across said converter terminals equal to n/m of the charging capacitance.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 86 words
A method of transforming an input voltage of V to an output voltage of (n/m)*V, where n>1, which output voltage is applied to output terminals comprising the steps of: charging n sets of series connected capacitors in parallel to said input voltage, wherein each of said n sets contain a capacitance of C; discharging said n sets of charged series connected capacitors in n+1 parallel paths, wherein each of said n+1 paths contain a capacitance of (n/m)*C; and connecting said n+1 paths to said output terminals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 86 words
A method of transforming an input voltage of V to an output voltage of (n/m)*V, where n>1, which output voltage is applied to output terminals comprising the steps of: charging n sets of series connected capacitors in parallel to said input voltage, wherein each of said n sets contain a capacitance of C; discharging said n sets of charged series connected capacitors in n+1 parallel paths, wherein each of said n+1 paths contain a capacitance of (n/m)*C; and connecting said n+1 paths to said output terminals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 119 words
A dc-to-dc converter circuit for transforming an input voltage of V to an output voltage of (n/m)*V, wherein n>1 which output voltage is applied to output terminals, comprising: n sets of series connected capacitors, each of said sets having a capacitance C; charging means for charging said n sets of series connected capacitors to said input voltage V; discharging means for providing n+1 sets of series connected capacitors from said n sets of series connected capacitors wherein each of said n+1 sets of series connected capacitors is of capacitance (n/m)*C; and means connected to said discharging means to connect said n+1 sets of series connected capacitors to said output terminals in parallel to produce said output voltage of (n/m)*V.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 119 words
A dc-to-dc converter circuit for transforming an input voltage of V to an output voltage of (n/m)*V, wherein n>1 which output voltage is applied to output terminals, comprising: n sets of series connected capacitors, each of said sets having a capacitance C; charging means for charging said n sets of series connected capacitors to said input voltage V; discharging means for providing n+1 sets of series connected capacitors from said n sets of series connected capacitors wherein each of said n+1 sets of series connected capacitors is of capacitance (n/m)*C; and means connected to said discharging means to connect said n+1 sets of series connected capacitors to said output terminals in parallel to produce said output voltage of (n/m)*V.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 57 words
The circuit of claim 5 wherein said discharging means includes: means in each of said n sets of series connected capacitors for bypassing in the discharge path, a capacitance of (1m)*C in each of said n sets; and means connected to said bypassing means for serially connecting all of said bypassed capacitors into a capacitance of (n/m)*C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The circuit of claim 6 wherein said discharging means further includes: means connected to said serially connecting means for connecting said capacitance of (n/m)*C across said output terminals.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3470446A Cited
US3708742A Cited
US3863135A Cited
JPS5227516A Cited
US4451743A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-03-09 1990-09-08 1991-03-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-03-09 1994-09-08 1995-03-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-03-09 1998-09-08 1999-03-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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