US4668906A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switched resistor regulator
Assignee: Newport Corp USA
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Filing: 1985-07-11
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Granted: 1987-05-26
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Expires: 2005-07-11
Abstract
Abstract A switched resistor regulator controls current flow through a resistor electrically connected to a load by varying the duty cycle of switching the resistor into electrical connection between of a power source and the load to regulate the power to the load. Both current and voltage regulation can be achieved. In a series switched configuration, current flow through a resistor in series with the load is controlled with current flow being maintained by a capacitor is parallel with the load when the resistor is switched off. In a shunt switched configuration current flow through a resistor in parallel with the load is controlled, with a capacitor parallel to the load also being used. In a hybrid configuration a shunt switched resistor is used while the current level to the load is changed by selecting one of several series resistors; a capacitor is also provided parallel to the load. In a switched resistor passbank configuration a series switched resistor is used with a capacitor connected in series with the load and parallel to the switched series resistor.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Ekstrand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:00
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/02; H02M7/04; H02M7/12; H02M7/21; H02M7/217; H02M7/219; G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/625; G05F1/63; G05F1/648; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for regulating power from a power supply means to a load comprising: resistive means and capacitive means electrically connected between the power supply means the load, the resistive means including at least a switching resistor; switching means connected in series with the switching resistor for opening and closing the electrical connection through the switching resistor in the resistive means from the supply means to the load, the resistive means having a resistor in series between the supply means and the load when the switching means is closed, the capacitive means having a capacitor electrically connected to the load when the switching means is open; control means connected to the switching means for opening and closing the switching means at a frequency and duty cycle to selectably vary average current flow through the switching resistor to regulate current flow to the load.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for regulating power from a power supply means to a load comprising: resistive means and capacitive means electrically connected between the power supply means the load, the resistive means including at least a switching resistor; switching means connected in series with the switching resistor for opening and closing the electrical connection through the switching resistor in the resistive means from the supply means to the load, the resistive means having a resistor in series between the supply means and the load when the switching means is closed, the capacitive means having a capacitor electrically connected to the load when the switching means is open; control means connected to the switching means for opening and closing the switching means at a frequency and duty cycle to selectably vary average current flow through the switching resistor to regulate current flow to the load.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the resistive means comprises a switching resistor connected in series between the power supply means and the load, and the capacitive means comprises a capaictor connected in parallel across the load.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the resistive means comprises a switching resistor connected in parallel to the load and a current limiting resistor connected in series between the supply means and the load, and the capacitive means comprises a capacitor connected in parallel across the load.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus of claim 3 further including at least one current level selection resistor connected in parallel with the current limiting resistor, and current level selection switch means connected in series with each current level selection resistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the resistive means comprises a switching resistor connected in series with the load, and the capacitive means comprises a capacitor connected in parallel across the switching resistor and switching means and in series between the supply means and the load.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switching means is a power transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control means comprises a pulse width modulator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the resistive means comprises a plurality of separate switching resistors connected in parallel and the switching means switches each separate switching resistor out of phase with the others.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus comprising: unregulated power supply means; a load electrically connected to the power supply means; resistive means and capacitive means electrically connected between the power supply means and the load, the resistive means, including at least a switching resistor; switching means connected in series with the switching resistor for opening and closing the electrical connection through the switching resistor in the resistive means from the supply means to the load, the resistive means having a resistor in series between the supply means and the load when the switching means is closed, the capacitive means having a capacitor electrically connected to the load when the switching means is open; control means connected to the switching means for opening and closing the switching means at a frequency and duty cycle to selectably vary average current flow through the switching resistor to regulate current flow to the load.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus comprising: unregulated power supply means; a load electrically connected to the power supply means; resistive means and capacitive means electrically connected between the power supply means and the load, the resistive means, including at least a switching resistor; switching means connected in series with the switching resistor for opening and closing the electrical connection through the switching resistor in the resistive means from the supply means to the load, the resistive means having a resistor in series between the supply means and the load when the switching means is closed, the capacitive means having a capacitor electrically connected to the load when the switching means is open; control means connected to the switching means for opening and closing the switching means at a frequency and duty cycle to selectably vary average current flow through the switching resistor to regulate current flow to the load.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus of claim 9 wherein the load is a laser tube, a discharge tube, or an arc lamp.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus of claim 9 wherein the resistive means comprises a switching resistor connected in series between the power supply means and the load, and the capacitive means comprises a capacitor connected in parallel across the load.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus of claim 9 wherein the resistive means comprises a switching resistor connected in parallel to the load and a current limiting resistor connected in series between the supply means and the load, and the capacitive means comprises a capacitor connected in parallel across the load.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus of claim 9 wherein the resistive means comprises a switching resistor connected in series with the load, and the capacitive means comprises a capacitor connected in parallel across the switching resistor and switching means between the supply means and the load.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus of claim 9 wherein the switching means is a power transistor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control means comprises a pulse width modulator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus of claim 9 wherein the resistive means comprises a plurality of separate switching resistors connected in parallel and the switching means switches each separate switching resistor out of phase with the others.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
99 words
Method for regulating power to a load, comprising: supplying an unregulated voltage; applying the unregulated voltage to a resistive means including a switching resistor connected to the load; switching the switching resistor in and out of electrical connection to the load at a frequency and duty cycle sufficient to maintain a substantially regulated current in the load; providing a capacitive means in electrical connection to the load when the switching resistor is switched out of electrical connection to the load; providing a resistor in series with the load when the switching resistor is in electrical connection to the load.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
99 words
Method for regulating power to a load, comprising: supplying an unregulated voltage; applying the unregulated voltage to a resistive means including a switching resistor connected to the load; switching the switching resistor in and out of electrical connection to the load at a frequency and duty cycle sufficient to maintain a substantially regulated current in the load; providing a capacitive means in electrical connection to the load when the switching resistor is switched out of electrical connection to the load; providing a resistor in series with the load when the switching resistor is in electrical connection to the load.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method of claim 17 further including connecting the switching resistor in series with the load, and further including connecting a capacitor in parallel across the load.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
Method of claim 17 further including connecting the switching resistor in parallel across the load, and further including connecting a capacitor in parallel across the load and connecting a current limiting resistive means in series with the load.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method of claim 19 further comprising selecting the current limiting resistive means to adjust the current level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
Method of claim 17 further including connecting the switching resistor in series with the load, and further including connecting a capacitor in parallel across the resistive means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
Method of claim 17 further comprising applying the unregulated voltage to a plurality of switching resistors connected in parallel with each other to the load and switching each of the plurality of switching resistors out of phase with the others.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method of claim 17 wherein the switching frequency is about 10 kHz and the duty cycle is controllably varied between 0-100%.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-25 | 1990-11-24 | 1991-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-25 | 1994-11-24 | 1995-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-25 | 1998-11-24 | 1999-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |