Protective power controller
First Claim
1. A protective multiple output power controller for supplying ranges of currents within selected limits at those of a plurality of outputs thereof to which corresponding loads are electrically connected to result in selected voltages occurring thereacross, said power controller comprising:
- a plurality of input controllers each having a first output region and each having a control input region and a cessation input region, said plurality of input controllers each being capable of having its said first output region in a first state for a first control state occurring at its said control input region and a first cessation signal value on its said cessation input region, and having its said first output region in a second state for a second control state occurring at its said control input region with said first cessation signal value on its said cessation input region, and of having its said first output region in said second state if a second cessation signal value occurs on its said cessation input region;
a first plurality of output energization means each having first and second current pass regions and having a control region therein by which it is capable of being directed, through electrical energization thereof, to effectively provide a conductive path between its said first and second current pass regions, said control region of each of said first plurality of output energization means being electrically connected to a said first output region of a corresponding one of said plurality of input controllers, said first and second current pass regions of each of said first plurality of output energization means having a selected one thereof serving as one of said power controller outputs and with that one thereof remaining being electrically connected to a first terminal means adapted for electrical connection to a first supply of electrical energization;
a first plurality of current sensing means each having an output region and each being capable of sensing currents flowing through at least one of said first and second current pass regions of a corresponding one of said first plurality of output energization means, and of providing a selected logic state on said output region thereof if a current being sensed thereby is beyond a selected threshold value;
a plurality of resettable memory means each having an output region and both a setting input region and a resetting input region such that one logic state occurs on its said output region if a selected logic state occurs on its said setting input region but that an opposite logic state occurs on its said output region if a selected logic state occurs on its said resetting input region, said setting input region of each of said plurality of memory means being electrically connected to a said output region of a corresponding one of said first plurality of sensing means;
a power removal timer means having an initiation input region and an output region, said power removal timer means being capable of having a selected signal occur on its said output region at a selected time duration after a selected signal occurs on said power removal timer means initiation input region, said power removal timer means output region being electrically connected to said resetting input region of each of said plurality of resettable memory means;
a first coupling means having an output region and a plurality of input regions, said first coupling means being capable of having a selected signal occur on its output region after a selected signal occurs on any one of its said plurality of input regions, said first coupling means output region being electrically connected to said power removal timer means initiation input region and said first coupling means plurality of input regions each being electrically connected to a said output region of a corresponding one of said first plurality of sensing means; and
a plurality of second coupling means each having an output region and a pair of input regions, said plurality of said coupling means each being capable of having a signal occur on its said output region after selected signals occur concurrently on both of its said, pair of input regions, said plurality of second coupling means each having its output region electrically connected to a said cessation input region of a corresponding one of said plurality of input controllers, said plurality of second coupling means each having one of its said pair of input regions electrically connected to a said output region of a corresponding one of said plurality of resettable memory means and having that input region thereof remaining electrically connected to said output region of said power removal timer means.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power controller system for providing electrical power to a multiplicity of loads at outputs thereof under direction of a plurality of input controllers operating a corresponding plurality of output energization means with the controllers capable of having different output states in response to differnt system input signals, the controller having selected common components for forcing selected ones of said input controllers to terminate power to corresponding loads. Current sensing means upsetting current balances in bipolar transistors are used to sense beyond-limit currents.
34 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A protective multiple output power controller for supplying ranges of currents within selected limits at those of a plurality of outputs thereof to which corresponding loads are electrically connected to result in selected voltages occurring thereacross, said power controller comprising:
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a plurality of input controllers each having a first output region and each having a control input region and a cessation input region, said plurality of input controllers each being capable of having its said first output region in a first state for a first control state occurring at its said control input region and a first cessation signal value on its said cessation input region, and having its said first output region in a second state for a second control state occurring at its said control input region with said first cessation signal value on its said cessation input region, and of having its said first output region in said second state if a second cessation signal value occurs on its said cessation input region; a first plurality of output energization means each having first and second current pass regions and having a control region therein by which it is capable of being directed, through electrical energization thereof, to effectively provide a conductive path between its said first and second current pass regions, said control region of each of said first plurality of output energization means being electrically connected to a said first output region of a corresponding one of said plurality of input controllers, said first and second current pass regions of each of said first plurality of output energization means having a selected one thereof serving as one of said power controller outputs and with that one thereof remaining being electrically connected to a first terminal means adapted for electrical connection to a first supply of electrical energization; a first plurality of current sensing means each having an output region and each being capable of sensing currents flowing through at least one of said first and second current pass regions of a corresponding one of said first plurality of output energization means, and of providing a selected logic state on said output region thereof if a current being sensed thereby is beyond a selected threshold value; a plurality of resettable memory means each having an output region and both a setting input region and a resetting input region such that one logic state occurs on its said output region if a selected logic state occurs on its said setting input region but that an opposite logic state occurs on its said output region if a selected logic state occurs on its said resetting input region, said setting input region of each of said plurality of memory means being electrically connected to a said output region of a corresponding one of said first plurality of sensing means; a power removal timer means having an initiation input region and an output region, said power removal timer means being capable of having a selected signal occur on its said output region at a selected time duration after a selected signal occurs on said power removal timer means initiation input region, said power removal timer means output region being electrically connected to said resetting input region of each of said plurality of resettable memory means; a first coupling means having an output region and a plurality of input regions, said first coupling means being capable of having a selected signal occur on its output region after a selected signal occurs on any one of its said plurality of input regions, said first coupling means output region being electrically connected to said power removal timer means initiation input region and said first coupling means plurality of input regions each being electrically connected to a said output region of a corresponding one of said first plurality of sensing means; and a plurality of second coupling means each having an output region and a pair of input regions, said plurality of said coupling means each being capable of having a signal occur on its said output region after selected signals occur concurrently on both of its said, pair of input regions, said plurality of second coupling means each having its output region electrically connected to a said cessation input region of a corresponding one of said plurality of input controllers, said plurality of second coupling means each having one of its said pair of input regions electrically connected to a said output region of a corresponding one of said plurality of resettable memory means and having that input region thereof remaining electrically connected to said output region of said power removal timer means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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3. The apparatus of claim wherein there is further provided a plurality of delay timer means each having an input region and an output region, said plurality of delay timer means each being capable of having a signal occur on its said output region at a selected time duration after a selected signal occurs on its input region, said plurality of delay timer means each having its input region electrically connected to said output region of a corresponding one of said first plurality of current sensing means, said setting input region of each of said plurality of memory means being electrically connected to said output region of a corresponding one of said first plurality of current sensing means, as aforesaid, by being electrically connected to said output region of that said delay timer means electrically connected to that said current sensing means output region, and said input region of said first coupling means being electrically connected to said output region of a corresponding one of said first plurality of current sensing means, as aforesaid, by being electrically connected to said output region of that said delay timer means electrically connected to that said current sensing means output region.
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6. The apparatus of claim wherein said plurality of second coupling means each comprises a logic gate which performs the AND logic function.
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7. The apparatus of claim wherein said plurality of resettable memory means each comprises a R-S flip-flop.
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24. A voltage limit indicator for providing an output signal at an output thereof if a monitored voltage provided at a selected input thereof goes beyond a selected limit, said voltage limit indicator comprising:
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a pair of initial bipolar transistors substantially matched to one another, including first and second initial bipolar transistors, said pair of initial bipolar transistors having base regions of each directly electrically connected together and having emitter regions of each electrically connected to a first terminal means adapted for electrical connection to a first source of electrical energization, said first initial bipolar transistor having its base region electrically connected to its collector region; a pair of complementary bipolar transistors each of which is of a type complementary to that of said first and second initial bipolar transistors, including first and second complementary bipolar transistors, said first complementary bipolar transistor being substantially matched to said second complementary bipolar transistor except for said second complementary bipolar transistor having an emitter area which is a selected fraction of that of said first complementary bipolar transistor, said pair of complementary bipolar transistors having base regions of each directly electrically connected together and each emitter regions of each electrically connected to a second terminal means adapted for electrical connection to a second source of electrical energization, said first complementary bipolar transistor having its base region electrically connected to its collector region, said first initial and first complementary bipolar transistors having collector regions of each electrically connected to one another, there being a selected one as said first complementary bipolar transistor and said second initial bipolar transistor emitter regions electrically connected to its corresponding one of said first and second terminal means through a source of said monitored voltage; and an output bipolar transistor having its base region electrically connected to each of said second initial and second complementary bipolar transistor base regions, and having its emitter and base regions electrically connected to said first and second terminal means, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification