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US4935836A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Guard circuit for the protection of capacitive loads

Assignee: HDD Technologies GmbH
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Filing: 1989-04-21
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Granted: 1990-06-19
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Expires: 2009-04-21
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Abstract

Abstract The DIN Standard VDE 160/01.86 involves specific requirements as far as the dielectric strength of electronic devices is concerned which are intended for operation at high-voltage networks. A guard circuit for the protection of capacitive loads is described. In this system, a current detector means is provided to detect the current flowing into the load and to emit a first blocking signal at least when the amount of the detected current exceeds a preset maximum value. A voltage detector means is provided to detect the voltage in the supply network and to emit a second blocking signal when the amount of the detected voltage exceeds a preset maximum value. A controllable switching means is provided which is so designed and in such controlled communication with the current and voltage detector means that the load will be isolated from the supply network as soon as at least one of the two blocking signals is applied.

Inventors

  • 👤 Juergen Labbus
  • 👤 Ralf Bertram

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 06:11
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H3/00; H02H3/20; H02H3/08; H02H3/10; H02H9/00; H02H9/001

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 148 words
Guard circuit for the protection of capacitive loads from pulse-shaped overvoltages and interference pulses from an AC supply network, comprising a current detector means to detect the amplitude of a DC current flowing through the load and to emit a first blocking signal at least when the amplitude of the detected current exceeds a defined maximum value, a voltage detector means to detect the amplitude of a DC voltage applied in said supply network and to emit a second blocking signal when the amplitude of the detected voltage exceeds a defined maximum value, and a controllable switching means communicating with and under control of said current detector means and said voltage detector means so as to isolate the load from the supply network, with said controllable switching means isolating the load from the supply network when at least one of said first or second blocking signals is applied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 148 words
Guard circuit for the protection of capacitive loads from pulse-shaped overvoltages and interference pulses from an AC supply network, comprising a current detector means to detect the amplitude of a DC current flowing through the load and to emit a first blocking signal at least when the amplitude of the detected current exceeds a defined maximum value, a voltage detector means to detect the amplitude of a DC voltage applied in said supply network and to emit a second blocking signal when the amplitude of the detected voltage exceeds a defined maximum value, and a controllable switching means communicating with and under control of said current detector means and said voltage detector means so as to isolate the load from the supply network, with said controllable switching means isolating the load from the supply network when at least one of said first or second blocking signals is applied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 37 words
Guard circuit according to claim 1, comprising a delay means to emit said first blocking signal during a defined delay period following the time by which the current flowing through the load drops below the maximum current.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
Guard circuit according to claim 2, wherein the said delay means includes an RC low-pass filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
Guard circuit according to claim 1, comprising a filter means to filter the current flowing through the load and to attenuate high-frequency interference voltages and conducted interferences from the load.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
Guard circuit according to claim 1, wherein the said controllable switching means includes a switching transistor in a cross branch of a bridge circuit constituted by diodes in an anti-parallel circuit arrangement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
Guard circuit according to claim 1, wherein the said voltage detector means includes an opto-coupler for the electrical isolation and decoupling of said second blocking signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
Guard circuit according to claim 1, wherein the said current detector means includes an opto-coupler for the electrical isolation and decoupling of said first blocking signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
Guard circuit according to claim 1, characterized by a power supply unit including an energy storage means for the supply of said current detector means and said voltage detector means with electrical energy from said AC power supply network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 36 words
Guard circuit according to claim 1, wherein the said current detector means is connected to said switching means so as to detect the voltage drop across the switching means, which occurs due to the current flow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 60 words
Guard circuit according to claim 1, wherein the said controllable switching means includes a logic circuit provided with an OR-function and comprising signal inputs, while the said current detector means and voltage detector means respectively include comparator means to generate said first and second blocking signals, and wherein the logic circuit inputs are connected to outputs from said comparator means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 153 words
Power pack under primary clock-pulse control, including an input rectifier to rectify an AC current from an AC power supply network as well as to emit a rectified voltage, and including smoothing capacitors to smooth the rectified AC voltage, a guard circuit for protection against pulse-shaped overvoltages and interference pulse in said AC power supply network, a current detector means to detect the current flowing and to emit a first blocking signal which is output when the amount of the current flowing exceeds a preset maximum value, a voltage detector means to detect the voltage in said supply network and to emit a second blocking signal which is output when the amount of the detected voltage exceeds a preset maximum value, as well as a controllable switching means to isolate at least said smoothing capacitors from said supply network in response to the application of at least said first or second blocking signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 153 words
Power pack under primary clock-pulse control, including an input rectifier to rectify an AC current from an AC power supply network as well as to emit a rectified voltage, and including smoothing capacitors to smooth the rectified AC voltage, a guard circuit for protection against pulse-shaped overvoltages and interference pulse in said AC power supply network, a current detector means to detect the current flowing and to emit a first blocking signal which is output when the amount of the current flowing exceeds a preset maximum value, a voltage detector means to detect the voltage in said supply network and to emit a second blocking signal which is output when the amount of the detected voltage exceeds a preset maximum value, as well as a controllable switching means to isolate at least said smoothing capacitors from said supply network in response to the application of at least said first or second blocking signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
Power pack under primary clock pulse control, according to claim 11, wherein said guard circuit is coupled between the input rectifier and said smoothing capacitors.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DD150820A1 Cited
US4420787A Cited
US4414598A Cited
EP0130254A1 Cited
US4719531A Cited
US4703387A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-06-18 1993-12-18 1994-06-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-06-18 1997-12-18 1998-06-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-06-18 2001-12-18 2002-06-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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