← Back to Patent Explorer
US5023542A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Current limiting arrangement in a power converter

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1990-05-03
•
Granted: 1991-06-11
•
Expires: 2010-05-03
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A power converter unit includes a pair of switching DC/DC converter secti for positive and negative voltages which incorporate a MOSFET switching arrangement in which a pair of MOSFETs are forced to share the output load current equally, a current limiting arrangement which activates shutdown whenever the current threshold limit is exceeded, and an internal grounding arrangement which minimizes output of current spikes by isolating the switching spikes from the input and output. The current limiting arrangement includes a resistor for sensing the voltage between the input and output of the converter and a comparator for comparing the sensed voltage with a reference threshold voltage and being operable to shut down the converter when the sensed voltage exceeds the reference threshold voltage.

Inventors

  • 👤 George A. Banura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 17:41
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/156; H02M3/158

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 111 words
A current limiting arrangement in a switching DC/DC converter, comprising: (a) means connected between an input and an output of the converter for receiving a flow of current and sensing the voltage between the converter input and output; and (b) means connected between said voltage sensing means and the current output for establishing a reference threshold voltage; and (c) a comparator coupled to said establishing means and said sensing means, said comparator being operable for comparing the sensed voltage and reference threshold voltage and shutting down the converter when said sensed voltage exceeds said referenced threshold voltage, said comparator including a plurality of transistors being connected together in a cascaded manner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 111 words
A current limiting arrangement in a switching DC/DC converter, comprising: (a) means connected between an input and an output of the converter for receiving a flow of current and sensing the voltage between the converter input and output; and (b) means connected between said voltage sensing means and the current output for establishing a reference threshold voltage; and (c) a comparator coupled to said establishing means and said sensing means, said comparator being operable for comparing the sensed voltage and reference threshold voltage and shutting down the converter when said sensed voltage exceeds said referenced threshold voltage, said comparator including a plurality of transistors being connected together in a cascaded manner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 12 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said sensing means is a resistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said establishing means includes a transistor connected as a diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said comparator includes at least one transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The arrangement of claim 4 wherein said establishing means includes a transistor connected as a diode and matched with said transistor of said comparator.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3796943A Cited
SU754383A1 Cited
SU935902A1 Cited
US4428016A Cited
US4618813A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-06-10 1994-12-10 1995-06-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-06-10 1998-12-10 1999-06-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-06-10 2002-12-10 2003-06-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag