Reduced requirement energy storage for load having non-zero minimum operating potential
First Claim
1. A method for providing to a load, at all times when the load should be energized, a D.C. voltage having at least a predetermined holding magnitude, from a varying source voltage having a respective peak and minimum magnitudes respectively greater than and less than the holding voltage, comprising the steps of:
- (a) connecting the source voltage to the load only when the source voltage magnitude is greater than a preselected load voltage magnitude obtained by attenuating the load voltage;
(b) charging an energy storage element to a voltage peak magnitude greater than the load holding magnitude, while the load is connected to the source voltage;
(c) attenuating the source voltage magnitude to provide a first signal, and then continuously comparing the first signal and the preselected load voltage magnitude signal to energize the load from the charged storage element whenever the source voltage magnitude is less than the preselected magnitude;
(d) increasing the effective impedance of the load whenever the load is energized by the charged storage element; and
(e) selecting the characteristics of the energy storage element to provide at least the holding voltage to the load during the entirety of each time interval when the energy storage element is connected to the load.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load is provided, at all times when in operation, with a D.C. voltage having at least a minimum holding magnitude by: providing a source voltage having a peak magnitude greater than the holding magnitude; connecting the source voltage to the load only while the source voltage magnitude is greater than a preselected magnitude; charging from the peak source voltage magnitude an energy storage element while the load is connnected to the source voltage; energizing the load from the charged energy storage element whenever the source voltage magnitude is less than the preselected magnitude; increasing the effective impedance of the load whenever the load is energized by the storage element; and selecting the energy storage element to provide at least the holding voltage to the load during each time interval when the energy storage element is connected to the load. An apparatus for providing a load voltage greater than a desired minimum voltage, but less than the peak voltage of a full-wave-rectified AC signal waveform, is described.
10 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for providing to a load, at all times when the load should be energized, a D.C. voltage having at least a predetermined holding magnitude, from a varying source voltage having a respective peak and minimum magnitudes respectively greater than and less than the holding voltage, comprising the steps of:
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(a) connecting the source voltage to the load only when the source voltage magnitude is greater than a preselected load voltage magnitude obtained by attenuating the load voltage; (b) charging an energy storage element to a voltage peak magnitude greater than the load holding magnitude, while the load is connected to the source voltage; (c) attenuating the source voltage magnitude to provide a first signal, and then continuously comparing the first signal and the preselected load voltage magnitude signal to energize the load from the charged storage element whenever the source voltage magnitude is less than the preselected magnitude; (d) increasing the effective impedance of the load whenever the load is energized by the charged storage element; and (e) selecting the characteristics of the energy storage element to provide at least the holding voltage to the load during the entirety of each time interval when the energy storage element is connected to the load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for providing to a lamp, at all times when the lamp should be energized, a D.C. voltage having at least a predetermined holding magnitude, from a varying source voltage having respective peak and minimum magnitudes respectively greater than and less than the holding voltage, comprising:
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ballast means for energizing the lamp;
said ballast means having a control input and a power input with an effective impedance controllable between high and low impedances respective to different levels of a binary signal at said control input;means for connecting the source voltage to the ballast means power input only when the source voltage magnitude is greater than a preselected magnitude; an energy storage element; means for charging, while the ballast means power input is connected to the source voltage, the energy storage element to a voltage peak magnitude sufficiently large to cause the ballast means to provide the lamp with a voltage greater than the lamp holding magnitude; means for connecting the charged storage element to the ballast means power input whenever the source voltage is less than the preselected magnitude and for providing at said ballast means control input that binary signal level required to cause said ballast means effective impedance to be at the high impedance whenever said energy storage element is connected to the ballst means power input; said energy storage element providing at least the holding voltage to the load during the entirety of each time interval when the energy storage element is connected to the load. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for providing to a load, having a control input and a power input with an effective impedance controllable between high and low impedances responsive to different levels of a binary signal at said control input, at all times when the load should be energized, a D.C. voltage having at least a predetermined holding magnitude, from a varying source voltage having respective peak and minimum magnitudes respectively greater than and less than the holding voltage, comprising:
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means for connecting the source voltage to the load power input only when the source voltage magnitude is greater than a preselected magnitude; an energy storage element; means for charging, while the load power input is connected to the source voltage, the energy storage element to a voltage peak magnitude sufficiently large to provide the load with a voltage grater than the load holding magnitude; means for connecting the charged storage element to the load power input whenever the source voltage is less than the preselected magnitude and for providing at said load control input that binary signal level required to cause said load effective impedance to be at the high impedance whenever said energy storage element is connected to the load power input; said energy storage element providing at least the holding voltage to the load during the entirety of each time interval when the energy storage element is connected to said load. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification