Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A switching power supply for providing a regulated DC power output, comprising: means for producing an input signal representative of a desired DC power output to be supplied by said switching power supply, a pulse-width modulator (PWM) circuit responsive to said input signal which produces a pulse-width modulated (PWM) output signal with its pulse width varying as a function of the said input signal; a plurality of switching means operating in parallel and each having at least one signal input and at least one AC power output; power transformer means having a core, at least one primary winding, and at least one secondary winding, each primary winding being connected to said AC power output of an associated one of said switching means, said PWM circuit and said switching means producing an AC signal across said power transformer means primary windings, said power transformer being characterized by a finite mutual inductance between said primaries to accommodate variations in the operation of said plurality of switching means; and means for magnetically coupling said PWM circuit to said plurality of switching means to operate said switching means in response to said PWM output signal, said magnetic coupling means including means for controlling circulating electrical energy in said magnetic coupling means and said switching means to reduce timing uncertainty in the switching of said plurality of switching means to a level that assures a substantially synchronous operation of plurality of said switching means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A switching power supply for providing a regulated DC power output, comprising: means for producing an input signal representative of a desired DC power output to be supplied by said switching power supply, a pulse-width modulator (PWM) circuit responsive to said input signal which produces a pulse-width modulated (PWM) output signal with its pulse width varying as a function of the said input signal; a plurality of switching means operating in parallel and each having at least one signal input and at least one AC power output; power transformer means having a core, at least one primary winding, and at least one secondary winding, each primary winding being connected to said AC power output of an associated one of said switching means, said PWM circuit and said switching means producing an AC signal across said power transformer means primary windings, said power transformer being characterized by a finite mutual inductance between said primaries to accommodate variations in the operation of said plurality of switching means; and means for magnetically coupling said PWM circuit to said plurality of switching means to operate said switching means in response to said PWM output signal, said magnetic coupling means including means for controlling circulating electrical energy in said magnetic coupling means and said switching means to reduce timing uncertainty in the switching of said plurality of switching means to a level that assures a substantially synchronous operation of plurality of said switching means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The switching power supply of claim 1 wherein said means for magnetically coupling comprises a pulse transformer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The switching power supply of claim 2 wherein said pulse transformer has a core with a large cross sectional area, a primary winding, and a plurality of secondary windings each electrically connected to an associated one of said switching means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The switching power supply of claim 3 wherein said circulating electrical energy controlling means includes forming said primary and secondary windings of coaxial cable wound around said core.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The switching power supply of claim 4 wherein said core is formed of a magnetic material with good high frequency response and a wide bandwidth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The switching power supply of claim 5 wherein said magnetic material is a ferrite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The switching power supply of claim 6 wherein said core geometry is toroidal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The switching power supply of claim 7 wherein said core has a U shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
The switching power supply of claim 4 wherein the coaxial cables forming the primary and secondary windings include a plurality of coaxial cable segments wound around the core each having the same number of turns, the coaxial cable segments each including an inner conductor and an outer conductor, the first and second ends of one of the inner or outer conductors of each of the segments being connected to form the primary winding, the other of the inner or outer conductors forming said plurality of secondary windings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The switching power supply of claims 1 or 4 wherein each of the switching means includes an H bridge circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The switching power supply of claim 10 wherein each of said H bridge circuits comprises four field effect transistors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The switching power supply of claim 11 wherein said field effect transistors are n channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The switching power supply of claim 11 wherein said field effect transistors are p-channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The switching power supply of claim 11 wherein said magnetic coupling means drives the gates of said field effect transistors.