Voltage regulating circuit and PTC element for automotive vehicles
AssigneeYazaki Corporation
InventorsKouichi Uezono, Yasuhiro Hara, Tsuyoshi Nakamura
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Abstract
A voltage regulating circuit for automotive vehicles includes: a supply voltage; a load; and a Positive Temperature Coefficient ("PTC") resistance element connected in series between the supply voltage and the load, for regulating voltage applied from the supply voltage to the load creating by a voltage drop across the PTC element. The PTC element includes a PTC element body substance; electrode plates provided on both side surfaces of the PTC element body substance; connection terminals provided for the respective electrode plates; and a return portion provided for at least one of the electrode plates or the connection terminals, for adjusting resistance of the element.
Claims18
A voltage regulating circuit for automotive vehicles having a supply voltage, comprising:
- a load connected with said supply voltage;
- and
- a positive temperature coefficient element connected in series between said supply voltage and said load, for regulating voltage applied from said supply voltage to said load by a voltage drop across said positive temperature coefficient element, wherein said positive temperature coefficient element includes an adjustable resistance.
A positive temperature coefficient element, comprising:
- a positive temperature coefficient element body substance;
- electrode plates provided on both side surfaces of said positive temperature coefficient element body substance;
- connection terminals provided for said electrode plates, respectively;
- and
- a return portion provided between one of said connection terminals and at least one of said electrode plates, for adjusting resistance between said connection terminals of said element.
A positive temperature coefficient element having a resistance value, comprising:
- a positive temperature coefficient element body substance;
- electrode plates provided on both side surfaces of said positive temperature coefficient element body substance;
- connection terminals provided for said electrode plates, respectively;
- and
- a return portion provided for at least one of said connection terminals, for increasing the minimum resistance of said positive temperature coefficient element.
The method of adjusting a voltage regulating circuit for a vehicle lamp circuit, comprising:
- providing a supply voltage source;
- providing a lamp circuit current load;
- providing a positive temperature coefficient element having a return portion for adjustment of the resistance of said positive temperature coefficient element;
- connecting the source, load, and positive temperature coefficient element in series;
- adjusting the minimum internal resistance of the positive temperature coefficient element to accommodate one of an overvoltage and overcurrent condition in said lamp circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.