Switch-mode voltage and current regulator

Claim 2

A power supply according to claim 1 in which said rectifier means includes a means for charging at least one of said storage devices with a half cycle of said alternating current electrical energy and an other storage device with the next successive half cycle of said alternating current energy, whereby said potential provided for application to said power supply output includes the additive potential of said one and said other storage devices formed from charge applied to said one storage device from a half cycle of one polarity and to said other storage device from a half cycle of the opposite polarity such that an increase in said potential provided to said power supply output due to a change in the power supply input is developed in two successive half steps corresponding in time to two successive half cycles of said alternating current electrical energy.

Claim 3

A power supply according to claim 1 including a voltage multiplier electrically connected in series between said switching means and said power supply output, said voltage multiplier comprising said rectifier means and said storage means, whereby said direct current electrical energy applied to said load may have a higher potential than the alternating half cycles of alternating electrical current energy applied to said power supply input.

Claim 4

A power supply according to claim 1 in which said switching means comprises a bidirectional semiconductor switching device.

Claim 5

A power supply according to claim 1 in which said power supply output comprises a series-pass output regulator having its input electrically connected to said feedback input and including power supply output terminals.

Claim 6

A power supply according to claim 5 in which said series-pass regulator comprises: a transistor having first, second and third electrodes; said first electrode comprising a base of said transistor; one of said second and third electrodes comprising a collector for said transistor and the other of said second and third electrodes comprising the emitter of said transistor; said second electrode being electrically connected to said feedback input, whereby said switching means is controlled to prevent excessive voltages from being applied to said second electrode so as to prevent damage to said transistor; said series-pass regulator further including a filter and a series-pass feedback circuit; said filter being connected between said third electrode and said power supply output terminals; said series-pass feedback circuit being electrically connected between said first electrode and said filter.

Claim 7

A power supply according to claim 1 comprising a voltage quadrupler, said voltage quadrupler including said rectifier means and said storage means.

Claim 8

A power supply according to claim 7 in which: said switching means comprises a thyristor having a first element electrically connected to said power supply input, a control element electrically connected to said feedback output and a second element electrically connected to said voltage quadrupler; said rectifier means of said voltage quadrupler including first, second, third, and fourth diodes; said second electrode of said thyristor being electrically connected to the anode of said first diode and the cathode of said second diode; the anode of said second diode being connected to the cathode of said third diode and the cathode of said first diode being connected to the anode of said fourth diode; said storage means of said voltage multiplier comprising first, second, third, and fourth capacitors; said first capacitor having one plate electrically connected to said power supply input means and said second plate electrically connected to the cathode of said first diode and the anode of said fourth diode; said second capacitor having one plate electrically connected to the cathode of said fourth diode and having its other plate electrically connected to the first plate of said third capacitor and to the anode of said first diode and to the cathode of said second diode; said third capacitor having its first plate electrically connected to the second plate of said second capacitor and having its second plate electrically connected to the anode of said third diode; said fourth capacitor having one plate electrically connected to the power supply input means and the other plate electrically connected to the anode of said second diode; said second and third capacitors being electrically connected in series across the power supply output.

Claim 9

A power supply having a power-supply input adapted to receive a series of alternating half cycles of alternating current electrical energy and a power-supply output adapted to supply direct current electrical energy to a load, comprising: switching means having a switching-means control terminal, a switching-means output terminal and a switching-means input terminal for blocking first portions and passing second portions of said alternating half cycles of alternating current electrical energy between said switching-means input terminal and said switching-means output terminal, for increasing the first portions and decreasing the second portions when a characteristic of a control signal applied to the switching means control terminal changes in a first direction and for decreasing the first portions and increasing the second portions when said characteristic changes in a second direction; switching-control feedback means, having a feedback output electrically connected to said switching-means control terminal and having a feedback input, for causing said characteristic of said control signal to change in said first direction when one parameter of said direct current electrical energy at said feedback input increases and for causing said characteristic of said control signal to change in said second direction when said one parameter of said direct current electrical energy decreases; rectifier means for rectifying said second portion of said half cycles of alternating current electrical energy; and electrical energy storage means having a plurality of storage devices across said power-supply output for storing in different ones of said storage devices with additive polarity electrical charge from different second portions of the pluraliTy of said half cycles of electrical energy to provide a potential for application to said power supply output, whereby a change in the amplitude of a series of said rectified second portions of said half cycles results in a related change in the potential provided by the storage means over a period of time required for storage of a plurality of half cycles; said switching-means input terminal being electrically connected to the input of said power supply and said feedback input being electrically connected in series with said power supply output; said rectifier means and said storage means being electrically connected between said switch means and said feedback input means, whereby the stability of said power supply is increased; said power supply output comprising a series-pass output regulator having its input electrically connected to said feedback input and including power supply output terminals; said series-pass regulator comprising a transistor having first, second and third electrodes; said first electrode comprising a base of said transistor; one of said second and third electrodes comprising a collector for said transistor and the other of said second and third electrodes comprising the emitter of said transistor; said second electrode being electrically connected to said feedback input, whereby said switching means is controlled to prevent excessive voltages from being applied to said second electrode so as to prevent damage to said transistor; said series-pass regulator further including a filter and a series-pass feedback circuit; said filter being connected between said third electrode and said power supply output terminals; said series-pass feedback circuit being electrically connected between said first electrode and said filter; said series-pass feedback circuit comprising an operational amplifier having an output terminal, a first input terminal, and a second input terminal; the output terminal of said operational amplifier being electrically connected to said first electrode; said series-pass feedback circuit further comprising an adjustable source of reference voltage; said first input terminal of said operational amplifier being electrically connected to said adjustable source of reference voltage; said series-pass feedback circuit further comprising a resistor having first and second ends; said first end of said resistor being connected to the negative output terminal of said power supply; said series-pass feedback circuit further comprising switch means for selectively electrically connecting said second input terminal of said operational amplifier to said filter means and said first input terminal of said operational amplifier to said second end of said resistor. 10 A power supply having a power-supply input adapted to receive a series of alternating half cycles of alternating current electrical energy and a power-supply output adapted to supply direct current electrical energy to a load, comprising: switching means having a switching-means control terminal, a switching-means output terminal and a switching-means input terminal for blocking first portions and passing second portions of said alternating half cycles of alternating current electrical energy between said switching-means input terminal and said switching-means output terminal, for increasing the first portions and decreasing the second portions when a characteristic of a control signal applied to the switching means control terminal changes in a first direction and for decreasing the first portions and increasing the second portions when said characteristic changes in a second direction; switching-control feedback means, having a feedback output electrically connected to said switching-means control terminal and having a feedback input, for causing said characteristic of said control signal to change in said first direction when one parameter of said direct current electrical energy at said feedback input increases and for causing said characteristic of said control signal to change in said second direction when said one parameter of said direct current electrical energy decreases; recitifer means for rectifying said second portion of said half cycles of alternating current electrical energy; and electrical energy storage means having a plurality of storage devices across said power-supply output for storing in different ones of said storage devices with additive polarity electrical charge from different second portions of the plurality of said half cycles of electrical energy to provide a potential for application to said power supply output, whereby a change in the amplitude of a series of said rectified second portions of said half cycles results in a related change in the potential provided by the storage means over a period of time required for storage of a plurality of half cycles;

Claim 10

A power supply having a power-supply input adapted to receive a series of alternating half cycles of alternating current electrical energy and a power-supply output adapted to supply direct current electrical energy to a load, comprising: switching means having a switching-means control terminal, a switching-means output terminal and a switching-means input terminal for blocking first portions and passing second portions of said alternating half cycles of alternating current electrical energy between said switching-means input terminal and said switching-means output terminal, for increasing the first portions and decreasing the second portions when a characteristic of a control signal applied to the switching means control terminal changes in a first direction and for decreasing the first portions and increasing the second portions when said characteristic changes in a second direction; switching-control feedback means, having a feedback output electrically connected to said switching-means control terminal and having a feedback input, for causing said characteristic of said control signal to change in said first direction when one parameter of said direct current electrical energy at said feedback input increases and for causing said characteristic of said control signal to change in said second direction when said one parameter of said direct current electrical energy decreases; rectifier means for rectifying said second portion of said half cycles of alternating current electrical energy; and electrical energy storage means having a plurality of storage devices across said power-supply output for storing in different ones of said storage devices with additive polarity electrical charge from different second portions of the pluraliTy of said half cycles of electrical energy to provide a potential for application to said power supply output, whereby a change in the amplitude of a series of said rectified second portions of said half cycles results in a related change in the potential provided by the storage means over a period of time required for storage of a plurality of half cycles; said switching-means input terminal being electrically connected to the input of said power supply and said feedback input being electrically connected in series with said power supply output; said rectifier means and said storage means being electrically connected between said switch means and said feedback input means, whereby the stability of said power supply is increased; said power supply output comprising a series-pass output regulator having its input electrically connected to said feedback input and including power supply output terminals; said series-pass regulator comprising a transistor having first, second and third electrodes; said first electrode comprising a base of said transistor; one of said second and third electrodes comprising a collector for said transistor and the other of said second and third electrodes comprising the emitter of said transistor; said second electrode being electrically connected to said feedback input, whereby said switching means is controlled to prevent excessive voltages from being applied to said second electrode so as to prevent damage to said transistor; said series-pass regulator further including a filter and a series-pass feedback circuit; said filter being connected between said third electrode and said power supply output terminals; said series-pass feedback circuit being electrically connected between said first electrode and said filter; said series-pass feedback circuit comprising an operational amplifier having an output terminal, a first input terminal, and a second input terminal; the output terminal of said operational amplifier being electrically connected to said first electrode; said series-pass feedback circuit further comprising an adjustable source of reference voltage; said first input terminal of said operational amplifier being electrically connected to said adjustable source of reference voltage; said series-pass feedback circuit further comprising a resistor having first and second ends; said first end of said resistor being connected to the negative output terminal of said power supply; said series-pass feedback circuit further comprising switch means for selectively electrically connecting said second input terminal of said operational amplifier to said filter means and said first input terminal of said operational amplifier to said second end of said resistor. 10 A power supply having a power-supply input adapted to receive a series of alternating half cycles of alternating current electrical energy and a power-supply output adapted to supply direct current electrical energy to a load, comprising: switching means having a switching-means control terminal, a switching-means output terminal and a switching-means input terminal for blocking first portions and passing second portions of said alternating half cycles of alternating current electrical energy between said switching-means input terminal and said switching-means output terminal, for increasing the first portions and decreasing the second portions when a characteristic of a control signal applied to the switching means control terminal changes in a first direction and for decreasing the first portions and increasing the second portions when said characteristic changes in a second direction; switching-control feedback means, having a feedback output electrically connected to said switching-means control terminal and having a feedback input, for causing said characteristic of said control signal to change in said first direction when one parameter of said direct current electrical energy at said feedback input increases and for causing said characteristic of said control signal to change in said second direction when said one parameter of said direct current electrical energy decreases; recitifer means for rectifying said second portion of said half cycles of alternating current electrical energy; and electrical energy storage means having a plurality of storage devices across said power-supply output for storing in different ones of said storage devices with additive polarity electrical charge from different second portions of the plurality of said half cycles of electrical energy to provide a potential for application to said power supply output, whereby a change in the amplitude of a series of said rectified second portions of said half cycles results in a related change in the potential provided by the storage means over a period of time required for storage of a plurality of half cycles;

Claim 11

A power supply according to claim 10 in which said pulse amplifier includes: a pulse transforer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; said secondary winding being eectrically connected to said switching-means control terminal; a self-actuated semiconductor switch having an input electrode and an output electrode; an input amplifier stage having an input terminal electrically connected to said comparing-means output terminal and an output terminal electrically connected to the input electrode of said self-actuated semiconductor switch; and an output amplifier stage having an input electrically connected to the output electrode of said self-actuated semiconductor switch and an output electrically connected to the primary of said pulse transformer.

Claim 16

A method in accordance with claim 12 in which the step of storing chaRge comprises the steps of: applying first and second increments of charge to first and second capacitors respectively in a direction and an amount related to a change in the amplitude of the alternating current electrical energy during a first half cycle of the alternating current energy; applying third and fourth increments of charge to third and fourth capacitors in the same direction and amount as the first and second increments were applied to said first and second capacitors during a half cycle of the alternating current energy; adding the first increment of potential from the first increment of charge on the first capacitor to the direct current output during said first half cycle; adding the second and third increments of potential from the second and third capacitors to the direct current output during the second half cycle; and adding the fourth increment of potential from the fourth capacitor to the direct current output during the third half cycle.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 12 in which the step of comparing said output direct potential with a reference potential comprises the steps of: applying said output direct current potential across a potential divider; applying a portion of said output direct current potential from said potential divider to a threshold switch; and applying the output from the threshold switch to said bidirectional switching means to control the phase angle at which said bidirectional switching means is fired.