Patent US4864482A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4864482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conversion circuit for limiting inrush current
Assignee: EMERGENT BUSINESS CAPITAL Inc
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Filing: 1988-07-07
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Granted: 1989-09-05
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Expires: 2008-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A conversion circuit is provided which includes a negative temperature coefficient resistance between a rectifier and a storage capacitor to limit inrush current when power is applied to the circuit after a power interruption of a relatively long duration. When power is resumed after a short term power interruption and the resistance of the negative temperature coefficient resistance is still low, inrush current is limited by disconnecting a load from the conversion circuit immediately upon the occurrence of the power interruption to maintain the charge on the storage capacitor for the duration of the interruption. A boost regulator unit is provied between the negative temperature coefficient resistance and the storage capacitor to provide a regulated direct current potential across the capacitor which is not responsive to input power variations.
Inventors
- 👤 Fazie S. Quazi
- 👤 Ira S. Faberman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:12
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M5/00; H02M5/40; H02M5/42; H02M5/44; H02M5/453; H02M5/458; H02H; H02H9/00; H02H9/001; H02H3/00; H02H3/24; H02H7/00; H02H7/10; H02H7/12; H02H7/1216
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
315 words
A conversion unit for converting an alternating current signal from a power source and providing a converted signal to a load while operating to limit inrush current from the power source under all conditions comprising rectifier means connected to receive the alternating current signal from said power source and to convert said alternating current signal to a pulsating direct current signal, storage capacitor means connected to said rectifier means to receive said pulsating direct current signal and to charge in response thereto, said storage capacitor means operating to provide a filtered output direct current signal, and boost switching regulator means connected between said rectifier means and said storage capacitor means, said boost switching regulator means including inductor means connected to receive the pulsating direct current signal from said rectifier means and to raise said pulsating direct current signal to provide an inductor output signal of a higher potential, switch means connected to said inductor means, said switch means operating in a first state to cause the inductor means to store a potential and in a second state to permit said inductor output signal to charge said storage capacitor means, drive means operative in response to said pulsating direct current signal to drive said switch means repetitively between said first and second states, and an inverter means connected between said storage capacitor means and said load, said inverter means operating to change said filtered output direct current signal to an alternating current signal wherein said inverter means includes inverter switching means connected to receive the filtered output direct current signal from said storage capacitor means, and inverter switching control means operative in response to said pulsating direct current signal to drive said switching means, said inverter switching control means operating upon the discontinuance of said pulsating direct current signal to cause said inverter switching means to open and disconnect said load from the storage capacitor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
315 words
A conversion unit for converting an alternating current signal from a power source and providing a converted signal to a load while operating to limit inrush current from the power source under all conditions comprising rectifier means connected to receive the alternating current signal from said power source and to convert said alternating current signal to a pulsating direct current signal, storage capacitor means connected to said rectifier means to receive said pulsating direct current signal and to charge in response thereto, said storage capacitor means operating to provide a filtered output direct current signal, and boost switching regulator means connected between said rectifier means and said storage capacitor means, said boost switching regulator means including inductor means connected to receive the pulsating direct current signal from said rectifier means and to raise said pulsating direct current signal to provide an inductor output signal of a higher potential, switch means connected to said inductor means, said switch means operating in a first state to cause the inductor means to store a potential and in a second state to permit said inductor output signal to charge said storage capacitor means, drive means operative in response to said pulsating direct current signal to drive said switch means repetitively between said first and second states, and an inverter means connected between said storage capacitor means and said load, said inverter means operating to change said filtered output direct current signal to an alternating current signal wherein said inverter means includes inverter switching means connected to receive the filtered output direct current signal from said storage capacitor means, and inverter switching control means operative in response to said pulsating direct current signal to drive said switching means, said inverter switching control means operating upon the discontinuance of said pulsating direct current signal to cause said inverter switching means to open and disconnect said load from the storage capacitor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The conversion unit of claim 1 which includes negative temperature coefficient thermistor means connected in series between said rectifier and inductor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The conversion unit of claim 1, wherein said inductor means forms the primary winding of a transformer means, said transformer means having secondary winding means connected to provide power to said drive means in response to the pulsating direct current signal from said rectifier means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The conversion unit of claim 1, wherein power circuit means is provided to provide power to said drive means in response to the pulsating direct current signal from said rectifier means, said power circuit means including delay means to delay the provision of power to said drive means until said storage capacitor means has charged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The conversion unit of claim 4, wherein said inductor means forms the primary winding of a transformer means, said transformer means having secondary winding means connected to provide power to said power circuit means in response to the pulsating direct current signal provided to said inductor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The conversion unit of claim 4 which includes negative temperature coefficient thermistor means connected in series between said rectifier and inductor means, said power circuit means being connected between said negative temperature coefficient thermistor means and said inductor means to receive the pulsating direct current signal from said thermistor means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The conversion unit of claim 1 which includes negative temperature coefficient thermistor means connected in series between said rectifier and inductor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The conversion unit of claim 7, wherein said inductor means forms the primary winding of a transformer means having secondary winding means connected to provide power to said inverter switching control means in response to the pulsating direct current signal from said rectifier and thermistor means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The conversion unit of claim 8, wherein said secondary winding means is connected to provide power to said drive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The conversion unit of claim 9, wherein power circuit means is provided to provide power from said thermistor means to said drive means, said power circuit means including delay means to delay the provision of power to said drive means until said storage capacitor means has charged.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The conversion unit of claim 1, wherein said load includes fluorescent lamp means having lamp ballast means connected thereto, said lamp ballast means including an inverter means connected between said storage capacitor means and said fluorescent lamp means, said inverter means operating to change said filtered output direct current signal to an alternating current signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
209 words
A conversion unit for converting an alternating current signal from a power source and providing a converted signal to a load while operating to limit inrush current from the power source under all conditions comprising rectifier means connected to receive the alternating current signal from said power source and to convert said alternating current signal to a pulsating direct current signal, storage capacitor means connected to said rectifier means to receive said pulsating direct current signal and to charge in response thereto, said storage capacitor means operating to provide a filtered and regulated output direct current signal and inverter means connected to said load and to receive said filtered output direct current signal from said storage capacitor means and operative to convert said filtered output direct current signal to an alternating current signal for said load, said inverter means including switching means for selectively making and breaking a circuit to said storage capacitor means, and switch control means operative in response to said pulsating direct current signal to control said switching means, said switch control means operating upon the loss of said pulsating direct current signal to cause said switching means to break the circuit to said storage capacitor means to disconnect the load from said storage capacitor means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
209 words
A conversion unit for converting an alternating current signal from a power source and providing a converted signal to a load while operating to limit inrush current from the power source under all conditions comprising rectifier means connected to receive the alternating current signal from said power source and to convert said alternating current signal to a pulsating direct current signal, storage capacitor means connected to said rectifier means to receive said pulsating direct current signal and to charge in response thereto, said storage capacitor means operating to provide a filtered and regulated output direct current signal and inverter means connected to said load and to receive said filtered output direct current signal from said storage capacitor means and operative to convert said filtered output direct current signal to an alternating current signal for said load, said inverter means including switching means for selectively making and breaking a circuit to said storage capacitor means, and switch control means operative in response to said pulsating direct current signal to control said switching means, said switch control means operating upon the loss of said pulsating direct current signal to cause said switching means to break the circuit to said storage capacitor means to disconnect the load from said storage capacitor means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The conversion unit of claim 12 which includes a boost switching regulator means connected between said rectifier means and storage capacitor means to receive the pulsating direct current signal and to raise said pulsating direct current signal to provide a regulator output signal of a higher potential to said storage capacitor means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The conversion unit of claim 13 which includes negative temperature coefficient resistance means connected in series between said rectifier and boost switching regulator means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The conversion unit of claim 13, wherein said boost switching regulator means includes inductor means connected to receive the pulsating direct current signal, said inductor means forming the primary winding of a transformer means, said transformer means having secondary winding means connected to provide power to said switch control means in response to the pulsating direct current signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The conversion unit of claim 15, wherein said boost switching regulator means operates to provide a regulated DC potential across said storage capacitor means which is substantially independent of variations in the alternating current signal from said power source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-04 | 1993-03-06 | 1993-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-04 | 1997-03-06 | 1997-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-04 | 2001-03-06 | 2001-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |