US5162984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rectifier able to operate with at least two separate ranges of alternating current supply voltage
Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
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Filing: 1991-03-05
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Granted: 1992-11-10
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Expires: 2011-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A rectifier power supply automatically adjusts to operate over either of two separate ranges of AC line voltages by reconfiguring filter capacitors so as to charge the capacitor serially when operated over the higher range of voltages and to charge the capacitors separately over each half cycle when operated over the lower voltage range. A triac device, used to control charging of the capacitors, is selectively activated only during a small portion of each half cycle to minimize power consumption. The device includes a bridge rectifier circuit receiving an AC line voltage and supplying pulsating DC to the serially connected two filter capacitors. The triac is used as a switch and is connected between one input terminal of the diode bridge and a node point between the two capacitors. An AC line voltage range detector and triac control circuit responsive to the range detector causes the triac to conduct when the AC line voltage is detected within the lower range. In particular, the control circuit causes the triac to conduct after a first time interval after a zero crossing of the AC line voltage and to cease conducting after a second time interval.
Inventors
- 👤 Thierry Castagnet
- 👤 Jean-Claude Bielli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:57
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/10; H02M7/00; H02M7/02; H02M7/04; H02M7/12; H02M7/145; H02M7/155
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A rectifier adapted to operate with at least two separate ranges of AC line voltage comprising: a diode bridge having one input adapted to be connected to an AC line voltage; two reservoir capacitors connected in series with each other and shunting an output of said diode bridge; a switch connected between one input terminal of said diode bridge and a series connection point between said two capacitors; an AC line voltage range detector; and switch control means responsive to said detector and adapted to cause said switch to be closed when said AC line voltage is in a predetermined one of said AC line voltage ranges, in which rectifier said control means are further adapted to close said switch after a first time interval after a zero crossing of said AC line voltage and to open said switch after a second time interval.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A rectifier adapted to operate with at least two separate ranges of AC line voltage comprising: a diode bridge having one input adapted to be connected to an AC line voltage; two reservoir capacitors connected in series with each other and shunting an output of said diode bridge; a switch connected between one input terminal of said diode bridge and a series connection point between said two capacitors; an AC line voltage range detector; and switch control means responsive to said detector and adapted to cause said switch to be closed when said AC line voltage is in a predetermined one of said AC line voltage ranges, in which rectifier said control means are further adapted to close said switch after a first time interval after a zero crossing of said AC line voltage and to open said switch after a second time interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The rectifier according to claim 1 wherein said switch comprises a triac and said switch control means comprises triac control means connected to trigger said triac to turn on after said first time interval after each zero crossing of said AC line voltage and to disable control of said triac after said second time interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The rectifier according to claim 1 wherein said switch control means is adapted to close said switch after said first time interval, the end of said first time interval substantially corresponding to a time whereat an instantaneous value of a voltage of said reservoir capacitors is substantially equal to an instantaneous value of said AC line voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The rectifier according to claim 1 wherein said first time interval is within a range of 1.6 to 1.7 milliseconds and said second time interval has a duration of approximately 3.4 milliseconds and immediately follow said first time interval.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
The rectifier according to claim 1 wherein said switch control means comprises: a clock for supplying a periodic clock signal; a zero crossing detector for detecting a zero crossing of said AC line voltage and, in response, providing a control signal; counter means responsive to said periodic clock signal and said control signal for supplying a switch enable signal between said first and second time intervals; and trigger means responsive to said switch enable signal for closing said switch after said first time interval and opening said switch after said second time interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
A rectifier adapted to operate with at least two separate ranges of AC line voltage comprising: a diode bridge having one input adapted to be connected to an AC line voltage; two reservoir capacitors connected in series with each other and shunting an output of said diode bridge; a switch comprising a triac connected between one input terminal of said diode bridge and a series connection point between said two capacitors; an AC line voltage range detector; and switch control means responsive to said detector and adapted to cause said switch to be closed when said AC line voltage is in a predetermined one of said AC line voltage ranges, said control means adapted to close said switch by turning on said triac after a first time interval after a zero crossing of said AC line voltage and to open said switch by disabling control of said triac after a second time interval, said triac control means are adapted to apply to said trigger of said triac a stream of control pulses during said second time interval.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
177 words
A rectifier adapted to operate with at least two separate ranges of AC line voltage comprising: a diode bridge having one input adapted to be connected to an AC line voltage; two reservoir capacitors connected in series with each other and shunting an output of said diode bridge; a switch comprising a triac connected between one input terminal of said diode bridge and a series connection point between said two capacitors; an AC line voltage range detector; and switch control means responsive to said detector and adapted to cause said switch to be closed when said AC line voltage is in a predetermined one of said AC line voltage ranges, said control means adapted to close said switch by turning on said triac after a first time interval after a zero crossing of said AC line voltage and to open said switch by disabling control of said triac after a second time interval, said triac control means are adapted to apply to said trigger of said triac a stream of control pulses during said second time interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
A rectifier adapted to operate with at least two separate ranges of AC line voltage comprising: a diode bridge having one input adapted to be connected to an AC line voltage; two reservoir capacitors connected in series with each other and shunting an output of said diode bride; a switch connected between one input terminal of said diode bridge and a series connection point between said two capacitors; an AC line voltage range detector; and switch control means responsive to said AC line voltage range for closing said switch when said AC line voltage is in a predetermined one of said AC line voltage ranges, said control means closing said switch after a first time interval after a zero crossing of said AC line voltage and opening said switch after a second time interval, the end of said second time interval corresponding to a maximum absolute value of the AC voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
A rectifier adapted to operate with at least two separate ranges of AC line voltage comprising: a diode bridge having one input adapted to be connected to an AC line voltage; two reservoir capacitors connected in series with each other and shunting an output of said diode bride; a switch connected between one input terminal of said diode bridge and a series connection point between said two capacitors; an AC line voltage range detector; and switch control means responsive to said AC line voltage range for closing said switch when said AC line voltage is in a predetermined one of said AC line voltage ranges, said control means closing said switch after a first time interval after a zero crossing of said AC line voltage and opening said switch after a second time interval, the end of said second time interval corresponding to a maximum absolute value of the AC voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The rectifier according to claim 7 wherein said switch comprises a triac and said switch control means comprise triac control means connected to trigger said triac to turn said triac on after said first time interval after each zero crossing of said AC line voltage and to disable control of said triac after said second time interval.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The rectifier according to claim 8 wherein said triac control means is adapted to supply to a trigger of said triac a stream of control pulses during said second time interval.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The rectifier according to claim 7 wherein said switch control means is adapted to close said switch after said first time interval, the end of said first time interval substantially corresponding to a time whereat an instantaneous voltage of said reservoir capacitors is substantially equal to an instantaneous voltage of said AC line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The rectifier according to claim 7 wherein said first time interval is within a range of 1.6 to 1.7 milliseconds and said second time interval has a duration of approximately 3.4 milliseconds and immediately follows said first time interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
The rectifier according to claim 7 wherein said switch control means comprises: a clock for supplying a periodic clock signal; a zero crossing detector for detecting a zero crossing of said AC line voltage and, in response, providing a control signal; counter means responsive to said periodic clock signal and said control signal for supplying a switch enable signal between said first and second time intervals; and trigger means responsive to said switch enable signal for closing said switch after said first time interval and opening said switch after said second time interval.
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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) | 1995-11-10 | 1996-05-11 | 1996-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-10 | 2000-05-11 | 2000-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-10 | 2004-05-11 | 2004-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |