Controlling circuit
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A circuit for controlling the application of power from a source thereof to a load comprising:
- a phase control circuit for supplying current from the source to the load and having a voltage responsive control node;
means responsive to an effective voltage applied to the load for varying the voltage applied to the control node to maintain the effective voltage to the load near a preferred value despite variations in the voltage of the source;
initializing circuit means coupled to the control node for limiting the initial node voltage thereby preventing the application of excessive voltage to the load upon initial energization of the controlling circuit including a zener diode and a capacitor connected in series; and
a diode bridge network for coupling the initializing circuit to the control node having opposite alternating current junctions, one of which is connected directly to the control node and having opposite direct current junctions connected across the series combination of the zener diode and capacitor.
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Abstract
A circuit for controlling the application of power from a source thereof to a load. In this controlling circuit, a phase control circuit is provided for supplying current from the source to the load for varying voltage applied to the control node to maintain the effective voltage near a preferred value despite variations in the voltage of the source. An initializing circuit is also provided for preventing the application of excessive voltage to the load upon the initial energization of the controlling circuit.
28 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A circuit for controlling the application of power from a source thereof to a load comprising:
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a phase control circuit for supplying current from the source to the load and having a voltage responsive control node; means responsive to an effective voltage applied to the load for varying the voltage applied to the control node to maintain the effective voltage to the load near a preferred value despite variations in the voltage of the source; initializing circuit means coupled to the control node for limiting the initial node voltage thereby preventing the application of excessive voltage to the load upon initial energization of the controlling circuit including a zener diode and a capacitor connected in series; and a diode bridge network for coupling the initializing circuit to the control node having opposite alternating current junctions, one of which is connected directly to the control node and having opposite direct current junctions connected across the series combination of the zener diode and capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A circuit for controlling the application of an alternating current having a regulated effective voltage from a source thereof to a load comprising:
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a phase control circuit for supplying current from the source to the load and having a voltage responsive control node, the phase control circuit including a gate controlled full wave semiconductor switch, a resistance and capacitance connected in series and to the control node, a normally non-conducting alternating current trigger element coupling the gate of the full wave semiconductor switch and the junction of the series connected resistance and capacitance to conduct when the charge on the capacitance exceeds a predetermined breakdown voltage; a voltage divider circuit for supplying a portion of the voltage thereacross to the control node, the voltage divider circuit including at least a direct current portion and an alternating current portion including an impedance connected in series with the source; and feedback path means responsive to the effective voltage applied to the load for varying a portion of the voltage divider circuit and thereby also the voltage applied to the control node to maintain the effective voltage to the load near a preferred value despite variations in the voltage of the alternating current source, the feedback path means including an incandescent lamp energized by the voltage across the load, and a light sensitive semiconductor device in the voltage divider circuit direct current portion optically enabled by energization of the lamp to change the impedance of the voltage divider circuit; the voltage divider circuit including a bridge diode circuit having a pair of opposite alternating current junctions connected between the source and the impedance and a pair of opposite direct current junctions, and further comprising means connected between the opposite direct current junctions for preventing the application of excessive voltage to the load upon initial energization of the load, the series resistance and capacitance of the phase control circuit being connected to the opposite alternating current junctions.
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7. A circuit for controlling the application of power from a source thereof to a load comprising:
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means for applying current from the source to the load and having an alternating current voltage responsive control node; means for supplying a portion of the alternating current voltage to the control node; means responsive to an effective voltage applied to the load for varying a portion of the supplying means and thereby also the voltage applied to the control node to maintain the effective voltage to the load near a preferred value in the event of variations in the voltage of the source including an incandescent lamp energized by the voltage across the load and a light sensitive semiconductor device associated with the supplying means and optically enabled by energization of the lamp to change the impedance of the supplying means; means coupled to the control node for preventing the application of excessive voltage to the load upon initial energization of the controlling circuit including a zener diode and a capacitor connected in series; and the means for supplying including a gate controlled full wave semiconductor switch, a resistance and a capacitance connected in series and to the control node, a normally nonconducting alternating current trigger element coupling the gate of the full wave semiconductor switch and the junction of the capacitance and resistance to conduct when the charge on the capacitor exceeds a predetermined breakdown voltage. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification