Power-supply arrangement

Claim 2

A power-supply arrangement comprising: a series arrangement of at least a primary winding of a transformer, a transistor switch and a first resistor connected between a first and a second input terminal for receiving an input voltage, a series arrangement of at least a secondary winding of the transformer and a diode, coupled between a first and a second output terminal for connection to a load, a pulse-width modulator for supplying control pulses to the transistor switch, an oscillator for supplying a sawtooth signal to a first input of the pulse-width modulator, and a control amplifier for supplying to a second input of the pulse-width modulator a first feedback signal which is a measure of the difference between a reference signal and a signal which is proportional to an output signal of the power-supply arrangement, and means for applying to the second input of the pulse-width modulator a second feedback signal which is a measure of the voltage across the first resistor.

Claim 3

A power supply-arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said applying means comprise a capacitor having a first output terminal coupled to the second input of the pulse-width modulator and a second terminal coupled to one end of the first resistor.

Claim 4

A power supply arrangement as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the oscillator is adapted to supply a negative-ramp sawtooth signal, an end of the first resistor which is connected to the second input terminal is connected to a point at ground potential, and the second terminal of the capacitor is coupled to that end of the first resistor which is not connected to the second input terminal.

Claim 5

A power-supply arrangement as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the oscillator is adapted to supply a positive-ramp sawtooth signal, an end of the first resistor which is not connected to the second input terminal is connected to a point at ground potential, and the second terminal of the capacitor is coupled to that end of the first resistor which is connected to the second input terminal.

Claim 6

A power-supply arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the load comprises a motor and the output signal of the power-supply arrangement comprises a voltage for energizing the motor.

Claim 7

A power-supply arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the load comprises a rechargeable battery and the output signal of the power-supply arrangement comprises a current for charging the battery.

Claim 8

A power supply arrangement as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a switch for selectively coupling a motor in parallel with the battery, and wherein in the parallel-connected condition of the battery and motor the output signal of the power-supply arrangement comprises a voltage for energizing the motor.

Claim 9

A power-supply arrangement as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the load comprises a motor and the output signal of the power-supply arrangement comprises a voltage for energizing the motor.

Claim 10

A power-supply arrangement as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that the load comprises a rechargeable battery and the output signal of the power-supply arrangement comprises a current for charging the battery.

Claim 11

A power-supply arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the load includes a rechargeable battery connected to the output terminals, a motor and a switch for selectively coupling the motor in parallel with the battery, and wherein when the motor is connected in parallel with the battery, said first feedback signal supplied by said control amplifier is a measure of the difference between said reference signal and said output signal which is then proportional to motor voltage, and a second control amplifier for supplying to said second input of the pulse width modulator a feedback signal which is a measure of the difference between a reference signal and a signal which is proportional to the average charging current of the battery when said switch decouples the motor from the battery.

Claim 12

A switching power-supply comprising: first and second input terminals for connection to a source of supply voltage, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a controlled semiconductor switch, a current-sensing resistor, means connecting said primary winding, said semiconductor switch and said resistor in a first series circuit across said input terminals so that the resistor develops a voltage determined by current in the primary winding, first and second output terminals for connection to a load, means coupling a diode and said secondary winding in a second series circuit to said output terminals, a pulse width modulator having first and second inputs and an output for supplying control pulses to a control electrode of the semiconductor switch, a sawtooth oscillator supplying a sawtooth signal independent of load to the first input of the pulse width modulator, a source of reference signal indicative of a desired output voltage at the output terminals, a control amplifier having a first input coupled to an output of said reference signal source and a second input coupled to receive a signal proportional to output voltage or current of the power supply, said control amplifier having an output for supplying a first feedback signal which is a measure of the difference between the signals at its first and second inputs, and means for additively combining and supplying to the second input of the pulse width modulator said first feedback signal and a second feedback signal which is a measure of the voltage developed across said resistor.

Claim 13

A switching power-supply comprising: first and second input terminals for connection to a source of supply voltage, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a controlled semiconductor switch, a current-sensing resistor, means connecting said primary winding, said semiconductor switch and said resistor in a first series circuit across said input terminals so that the resistor develops a voltage determined by current in the primary winding, first and second output terminals for connection to a load, means coupling a diode and said secondary winding in a second series circuit to said output terminals, a pulse width modulator having first and second inputs and an output for supplying control pulses to a control electrode of the semiconductor switch, a sawtooth oscillator supplying a sawtooth signal independent of load to the first input of the pulse width modulator, a source of reference signal indicative of a desired output voltage at the output terminals, a control amplifier having a first input coupled to an output of said reference signal source and a second input coupled to receive a signal proportional to output voltage or current of the power supply, said control amplifier having an output for supplying a first feedback signal which is a measure of the difference between the signals at its first and second inputs, and means for additively combining and supplying to the second input of the pulse width modulator said first feedback signal and a second feedback signal which is a measure of the voltage developed across said resistor.

Claim 14

A power-supply as claimed in claim 11 wherein said combining and supplying means includes a capacitor coupled between said resistor and said second input of the pulse width modulator.

Claim 15

A power-supply as claimed in claim 12 wherein said capacitor and resistor are coupled in series between the second input of the pulse width modulator and a point of reference potential whereby said capacitor and resistor further function as a low-pass filter to bypass high-frequency variations of the first feedback signal away from the second input of the pulse width modulator.

Claim 16

A power-supply as claimed in claim 11 wherein said semiconductor switch comprises a low-voltage transistor having a base, an emitter and a collector, said power supply further comprising a high-voltage switching transistor having a base, an emitter and a collector, said high voltage switching transistor being connected in series with the low-voltage transistor, the primary winding and the current-sensing resistor in said first series circuit, a capacitor coupling said base of the high-voltage transistor to a point in the first series circuit whereby a capacitor discharge path is formed that includes the base-emitter circuit of the high-voltage transistor and the collector-emitter circuit of the low-voltage transistor, and switching means for periodically coupling said transformer secondary winding to the base of the high-voltage transistor, and wherein the output terminals are intended for connection to a load that comprises a motor.

Claim 17

A power-supply as claimed in claim 11 wherein the load includes a rechargeable battery connected to the output terminals, a motor and a switch for selectively coupling the motor in parallel with the battery, means for deriving a control voltage proportional to the battery average charge current, a second control amplifier having a first input coupled to said output of the reference signal source and a second input coupled to receive said proportional control voltage, said second control amplifier having an output for supplying a further feedback signal which is a measure of the difference between the reference signal and said control voltage, and a second switch operable in synchronism with the first switch for selectively coupling the second input of the pulse width modulator to the outputs of the first and second control amplifiers, said second switch coupling the output of the second control amplifier to the second input of the pulse width modulator when the first switch is open and coupling the output of the first control amplifier to the second input of the pulse width modulator when the first switch is closed.

Claim 18

An electric shaver comprising: a motor, a power-supply arrangement comprising: a series arrangement of at least a primary winding of a transformer, a transistor switch and a first resistor connected between a first and second input terminal for receiving an input voltage, a series arrangement of at least a secondary winding of the transformer and a diode coupled between a first and a second output terminal for connection to a load, a pulse width modulator for supplying control pulses to the transistor switch, an oscillator for supplying a sawtooth signal to a first input of the pulse-width modulator, and a control amplifier for supplying to a second input of the pulse-width modulator a first feedback signal and a signal which is a measure of the difference between a reference signal which is proportional to an output signal of the power-supply arrangement, and means for applying to the second input of the pulse-width modulator a second feedback signal which is a measure of the voltage across the first resistor, and means coupling said motor to said output terminals of the power-supply arrangement.

Claim 19

An electric shaver comprising: a motor, a power-supply arrangement comprising: a series arrangement of at least a primary winding of a transformer, a transistor switch and a first resistor connected between a first and second input terminal for receiving an input voltage, a series arrangement of at least a secondary winding of the transformer and a diode coupled between a first and a second output terminal for connection to a load, a pulse width modulator for supplying control pulses to the transistor switch, an oscillator for supplying a sawtooth signal to a first input of the pulse-width modulator, and a control amplifier for supplying to a second input of the pulse-width modulator a first feedback signal and a signal which is a measure of the difference between a reference signal which is proportional to an output signal of the power-supply arrangement, and means for applying to the second input of the pulse-width modulator a second feedback signal which is a measure of the voltage across the first resistor, and means coupling said motor to said output terminals of the power-supply arrangement.