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US 5,118,993 AGranted
Variable voltage regulator
OwnerTai-Her Yanginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable voltage regulator for incrementally regulating an input signal. The regulator includes a diode configuration which allows incremental reduction or clamping of an AC or DC input signal. Such a universal diode configuration has widespread use in many different voltage regulating applications, either as an integrated circuit or in discrete component form.
Claims15
A variable voltage regulator, comprising:
- a first terminal and a second terminal for receiving an AC input signal;
- a third terminal and a fourth terminal for outputting a regulated AC signal;
- a regulating circuit having a fifth terminal coupled to said first terminal and said third terminal, a sixth terminal connected to said second terminal and said fourth terminal, a seventh terminal and an eighth terminal, said regulating circuit further comprising,
- a diode bridge including a first diode connected between said fifth terminal and said seventh terminal, a second diode connected between said fifth terminal and said eighth terminal, a third diode connected between said seventh terminal and said sixth terminal, a fourth diode connected between said eighth terminal and said sixth terminal, and
- a diode chain including a plurality of diodes connected in series between said seventh terminal and said eighth terminal;
- a plurality of tap leads, each tap lead being connected to an anode of a corresponding diode in said series-connected diode chain;
- whereby said seventh terminal can be selectively connected to said tap leads and said eighth terminal, thereby short circuiting a selected number of said plurality of diodes in said diode chain so that an AC input signal applied to said first and second terminals can be incrementally regulated and output on said third and fourth terminals.
4 more elements
A variable voltage regulator, comprising:
- a first terminal and a second terminal for receiving a DC input signal;
- a third terminal and a fourth terminal for outputting a regulated DC signal;
- a regulating circuit having a fifth terminal coupled to said first terminal and said third terminal, a sixth terminal connected to said second terminal and said fourth terminal, a seventh terminal and an eighth terminal, said regulating circuit further comprising,
- a diode bridge including a first diode connected between said fifth terminal and said seventh terminal, a second diode connected between said fifth terminal and said eighth terminal, a third diode connected between said seventh terminal and said sixth terminal, a fourth diode connected between said eighth terminal and said sixth terminal, and
- a diode chain including a plurality of diodes connected in series between said seventh terminal and said eighth terminal;
- a plurality of tap leads, each tap lead being connected to an anode of a corresponding diode in said series-connected diode chain;
- whereby said seventh terminal can be selectively connected to said tap leads and said eighth terminal, thereby short circuiting a selected number of said plurality of diodes in said diode chain so that a DC input signal applied to said first and second terminals can be incrementally regulated and output on said third and fourth terminals.
4 more elements
A variable power supply, comprising:
- a first terminal and a second terminal for receiving an AC input signal;
- a third terminal and a fourth terminal for outputting a regulated DC signal;
- a transformer having a primary winding connected across said first and second terminals, and a secondary winding having a first output and a second output;
- a regulating circuit having a fifth terminal coupled to said first output of said transformer, a sixth terminal connected to said second output of said transformer, a seventh terminal, and an eighth terminal connected to said seventh terminal through a capacitance, said regulating circuit further comprising,
- a diode bridge including a first diode connected between said fifth terminal and said seventh terminal, a second diode connected between said fifth terminal and said eighth terminal, a third diode connected between said seventh terminal and said sixth terminal, a fourth diode connected between said eighth terminal and said sixth terminal, and
- a diode chain including a plurality of diodes connected in series between said seventh terminal and said eighth terminal;
- a plurality of tap leads, each tap lead being connected to an anode of a corresponding diode in said series-connected diode chain;
- whereby said third terminal can be selectively connected to said tap leads and said eighth terminal, thereby short circuiting a selected number of said plurality of diodes in said diode chain so that an AC input signal applied to said first and second terminals is amplified and regulated to a selectable DC level which is output on said third and fourth terminals.
5 more elements
A variable voltage regulator, comprising:
- a first terminal and a second terminal for receiving an AC input signal;
- a third terminal and a fourth terminal for outputting a regulated AC signal;
- a regulating circuit having a fifth terminal connected to said third terminal, a sixth terminal connected to said second terminal and said fourth terminal, a seventh terminal and an eighth terminal, said regulating circuit further comprising,
- a diode bridge including a first diode connected between said fifth terminal and said seventh terminal, a second diode connected between said fifth terminal and said eighth terminal, a third diode connected between said seventh terminal and said sixth terminal, a fourth diode connected between said eighth terminal and said sixth terminal, and
- a diode chain including a plurality of diodes connected in series between said seventh terminal and said eighth terminal;
- and
- an impedance connected between said first terminal and a junction of said third terminal and fifth terminal;
- a plurality of tap leads, each tap lead being connected to an anode of a corresponding diode in said series-connected diode chain;
- whereby said seventh terminal can be selectively connected to said tap leads and said eighth terminal, thereby short circuiting a selected number of said plurality of diodes in said diode chain so that an AC input signal applied to said first and second terminals can be incrementally regulated and output on said third and fourth terminals.
6 more elements
A variable voltage regulator, comprising:
- a first terminal and a second terminal for receiving an AC input signal;
- a third terminal and a fourth terminal for outputting a regulated AC signal, said third terminal being connected to said first terminal;
- a regulating circuit having a fifth terminal, a sixth terminal connected to said second terminal and said fourth terminal, a seventh terminal and an eighth terminal, said regulating circuit further comprising,
- a diode bridge including a first diode connected between said fifth terminal and said seventh terminal, a second diode connected between said fifth terminal and said eighth terminal, a third diode connected between said seventh terminal and said sixth terminal, a fourth diode connected between said eighth terminal and said sixth terminal, and
- a diode chain including a plurality of diodes connected in series between said seventh terminal and said eighth terminal;
- a plurality of tap leads, each tap lead being connected to an anode of a corresponding diode in said series-connected diode chain;
- and
- an impedance connected between said fifth terminal and a junction of said first terminal and third terminal;
- whereby said seventh terminal can be selectively connected to said tap leads and said eighth terminal, thereby short circuiting a selected number of said plurality of diodes in said diode chain so that an AC input signal applied to said first and second terminals can be incrementally regulated and output on said third and fourth terminals.
6 more elements
A variable voltage regulator, comprising:
- a first terminal and a second terminal for receiving a DC input signal;
- a third terminal and a fourth terminal for outputting a regulated DC signal;
- a regulating circuit having a fifth terminal connected to said third terminal, a sixth terminal connected to said second terminal and said fourth terminal, a seventh terminal and an eighth terminal, said regulating circuit further comprising,
- a diode bridge including a first diode connected between said fifth terminal and said seventh terminal, a second diode connected between said fifth terminal and said eighth terminal, a third diode connected between said seventh terminal and said sixth terminal, a fourth diode connected between said eighth terminal and said sixth terminal, and
- a diode chain including a plurality of diodes connected in series between said seventh terminal and said eighth terminal;
- a plurality of tap leads, each tap lead being connected to an anode of a corresponding diode in said series-connected diode chain;
- and
- an impedance connected between said first terminal and a junction of said third terminal and fifth terminals;
- whereby said seventh terminal can be selectively connected to said tap leads and said eighth terminal, thereby short circuiting a selected number of said plurality of diodes in said diode chain so that a DC input signal applied to said first and second terminals can be incrementally regulated and output on said third and fourth terminals.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.