US5675476A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Phase controlled bridge
Assignee: DYNAMIC PATENTS LLC
•
Filing: 1995-06-01
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Granted: 1997-10-07
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Expires: 2015-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A phase controlled 50 percent duty cycle variable output bridge power converter in which the 50% duty cycle is maintained constant while power output is controlled by changing the phase relationships between two 50 percent duty cycle square waves. When the 50 percent duty cycle square waves are 180 degrees out of phase, the output power is maximum, whereas when the waves are in phase, the output power is essentially zero. The circuits are conditioned to operate in a current mode, snubbing circuits are provided to improve load line characteristics and power consumption of the switching elements, and both soft start-up and controlled shut-down circuits are included to further enhance circuit performance.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan A. Nostwick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:47
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/38; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/325; H02M3/335; H02M3/337; H02M3/3376; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/687; H03K17/689; H03K17/691
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge comprising: (a) pairs of switching elements severally conducting during alternate half waves to produce two essentially fifty percent duty cycle substantially square wave signals, said switching elements normally having first load-line voltage-current load characteristics; (b) means including phase shifting circuits interconnected with said switching elements for controlling phase relationships between said two substantially square wave signals; and (c) circuit conditioning means including snubbing circuits interconnected with said switching elements for modifying said first load-line characteristics at moments of switch-on of said switching elements to reduce voltage and current through said switching elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge comprising: (a) pairs of switching elements severally conducting during alternate half waves to produce two essentially fifty percent duty cycle substantially square wave signals, said switching elements normally having first load-line voltage-current load characteristics; (b) means including phase shifting circuits interconnected with said switching elements for controlling phase relationships between said two substantially square wave signals; and (c) circuit conditioning means including snubbing circuits interconnected with said switching elements for modifying said first load-line characteristics at moments of switch-on of said switching elements to reduce voltage and current through said switching elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 1 in which said circuit conditioning means includes means for minimizing voltage and current through said switching elements at said moments of switch-on.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 1 further including, in combination, means for effecting soft start-up.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 1 further including, in combination, means for effecting controlled shut-down.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 1 further including, in combination, means for affecting soft start-up and means for affecting controlled shut-down.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 1 in which said circuit conditioning means further includes circuits for modifying said normal load-line characteristics at moments of switch off of said switching elements to minimize voltage and current through said switching elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 6 further including, in combination, means for effecting soft start-up.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 6 further including, in combination, means for affecting controlled shut-down.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 6 further including, in combination, means for affecting soft start-up and means for effecting controlled shut-down.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 6 wherein said two essentially fifty percent duty cycle substantially square wave signals are of opposite polarity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 6 wherein said means for controlling phase relationships includes means for controllably changing said phase relationships between about 0 and about 180 degrees.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 6 further including a battery, battery charging means for charging said battery according to a cyclic recharging mode or to a float charging mode, means for identifying a cyclic recharge battery voltage level and a float charge battery voltage level, and means responsive to battery voltage levels for conditioning said battery charging means to said cyclic recharging mode when voltage level of said battery is at said cyclic recharge battery voltage level and for conditioning said battery charging means to said float charging mode when said voltage level of said battery is at said float charge voltage level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 6 further including circuits interconnected with said switching elements to operate said switching elements by current mode control.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 13 wherein said two essentially fifty percent duty cycle substantially square wave signals are of opposite polarity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 13 wherein said means for controlling phase relationships includes means for controllably changing said phase relationships between about 0 and about 180 degrees.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 13 further including circuits interconnected with said switching elements to operate said switching elements by current mode control.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 13 further including, in combination, means for effecting soft start-up.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 13 further including, in combination, means for affecting controlled shut-down.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 13 further including, in combination, means for affecting soft start-up and means for effecting controlled shut-down.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
87 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 13 wherein said switching elements comprise two pairs of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETS), one of said pairs for driving a high side of said bridge and the other of said pairs for driving a low side of said bridge, said bridge further including switching means for driving said pairs of MOSFETS to prevent MOSFETS of said high side and said low side from being on together at any time during operation of said bridge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 20 wherein said phase shifting circuits include a first flip-flop circuit and a second flip-flop circuit and wherein when said first and said second flip-flop circuits are in an identical condition, output of said bridge is essentially zero.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 21 including means for changing relative phase relationship between said flip-flops and wherein said output of said bridge corresponds to said relative phase relationship.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 22 further including means interconnecting said phase shifting circuits with said two pairs of MOSFETS to drive said pairs of MOSFETS with fast voltage transitions and controlled time delays.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 1 wherein said two essentially fifty percent duty cycle substantially square wave signals are of opposite polarity.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 1 wherein said means for controlling phase relationships includes means for controllably changing said phase relationships between about 0 and about 180 degrees.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
87 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 1 wherein said switching elements comprise two pairs of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETS), one of said pairs for driving a high side of said bridge and the other of said pairs for driving a low side of said bridge, said bridge further including switching means for driving said pairs of MOSFETS to prevent MOSFETS of said high side and said low side from being on together at any time during operation of said bridge.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
108 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 1 further including a battery, battery charging means for charging said battery according to a cyclic recharging mode or to a float charging mode, means for identifying a cyclic recharge battery voltage level and a float charge battery voltage level, and means responsive to battery voltage levels for conditioning said battery charging means to said cyclic recharging mode when voltage level of said battery is at said cyclic recharge battery voltage level and for conditioning said battery charging means to said float charging mode when said voltage level of said battery is at said float charge voltage level.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 27 further including light emitting diode flashing means for visually indicating state of charge of said battery.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
88 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 1 further including jumper means comprising a set of jumpers mounted on a physical support, and connecting means for receiving said jumpers, said connecting means being effective when said jumpers are connected to said connecting means in one mode for conditioning said bridge to receive alternating current potential at a first voltage level and when in another mode for conditioning said bridge to receive alternating current potential at a second voltage level twice that of said first level.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
73 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 1 further including commercial power means for introducing alternating current power into circuits of said bridge to provide power for operating said bridge and filter means including a pair of input filters interconnected between said commercial power means and said bridge for supressing radio frequency interference and for reducing harmonic content of current waveform with which said bridge circuits load said commercial power.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 30 in which said input filters are connected in series.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
99 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge comprising: (a) pairs of switching elements severally conducting during alternate half waves to produce two essentially fifty percent duty cycle substantially square wave signals, said switching elements normally having first load-line voltage-current load characteristics; (b) means including phase shifting circuits interconnected with said switching elements for controlling phase relationships between said two substantially square wave signals; and (c) circuit conditioning means including snubbing circuits interconnected with said switching elements for modifying said first load-line characteristics at moments of switch-off of said switching elements to reduce voltage and current through said switching elements.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
99 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge comprising: (a) pairs of switching elements severally conducting during alternate half waves to produce two essentially fifty percent duty cycle substantially square wave signals, said switching elements normally having first load-line voltage-current load characteristics; (b) means including phase shifting circuits interconnected with said switching elements for controlling phase relationships between said two substantially square wave signals; and (c) circuit conditioning means including snubbing circuits interconnected with said switching elements for modifying said first load-line characteristics at moments of switch-off of said switching elements to reduce voltage and current through said switching elements.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 32 in which said circuit conditioning means includes means for minimizing voltage and current through said switching elements at said moments of switch-off.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 32 further including, in combination, means for affecting soft start-up.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 32 further including, in combination, means for affecting controlled shut-down.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 32 further including, in combination, means for effecting soft start-up and means for affecting controlled shut-down.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 32 further including circuits interconnected with said switching elements to operate said switching elements by current mode control.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 37 further including, in combination, means for affecting soft start-up.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 37 further including, in combination, means for affecting controlled shut-down.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 37 further including, in combination, means for affecting soft start-up and means for affecting controlled shut-down.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 32 wherein said two essentially fifty percent duty cycle substantially square wave signals are of opposite polarity.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 32 wherein said means for controlling phase relationships includes means for controllably changing said phase relationships between about 0 and about 180 degrees.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
108 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 32 further including a battery, battery charging means for charging said battery according to a cyclic recharging mode or to a float charging mode, means for identifying a cyclic recharge battery voltage level and a float charge battery voltage level, and means responsive to battery voltage levels for conditioning said battery charging means to said cyclic recharging mode when voltage level of said battery is at said cyclic recharge battery voltage level and for conditioning said battery charging means to said float charging mode when said voltage level of said battery is at said float charge voltage level.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 43 further including light emitting diode flashing means for visually indicating state of charge of said battery.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
88 words
A phase controlled constant duty cycle bridge according to claim 32 further including jumper means comprising a set of jumpers mounted on a physical support, and connecting means for receiving said jumpers, said connecting means being effective when said jumpers are connected to said connecting means in one mode for conditioning said bridge to receive alternating current potential at a first voltage level and when in another mode for conditioning said bridge to receive alternating current potential at a second voltage level twice that of said first level.
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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) | 2000-10-06 | 2001-04-07 | 2001-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | 2005-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-06 | 2009-04-07 | 2009-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |