Circuit and method for voltage regulation of electric power sources

• US 5,017,857 A
• Filed: 09/17/1990
• Issued: 05/21/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fox, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peckman, Kristine
• Application Number:
  US07/582,826
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 322/22, 322/23, 322/24, 322/25, 322/27, 322/28, 322/59
• US Class Current: 322/25
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/458 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/305 controlling voltage H02P9/302 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of regulating the output voltage of an electric power source combines a status signal representative of the output voltage of the power source with a reference signal to produce a first control signal. A status signal representative of the output current of the power source is combined with the reference signal to produce a second control signal. A bias voltage signal is applied to a junction point and the first and second control signals are connected through an OR network to the junction point, thereby forming an output signal at the junction point. The power source output is then controlled in response to this output signal. Under normal operating conditions, the magnitude of the control signal corresponding to the power source output voltage is less than the magnitude of the bias voltage signal, and the magnitude of the control signal representative of current is greater than the magnitude of the bias voltage signal, such that the voltage sensing loop is in control of the power source output.

Claims

1. A method of regulating output voltage of an electric power source, said method comprising the steps of:

producing a first status signal representative of the output voltage of an electric power source;

combining said first status signal with a reference signal to produce a first control signal;

producing a second status signal representative of the output current of said power source;

combining said second status signal with said reference signal to produce a second control signal;

supplying a bias voltage signal to a junction point;

coupling said first and second control signals to said junction point through first and second diodes, thereby forming a linear output signal at said junction point;

controlling the output voltage of said power source in response to said output signal;

wherein the magnitude of said first control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the output voltage of said power source is less than a preselected magnitude; and

wherein the magnitude of said second control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the output current of said power source is less than a predetermined magnitude.

2. A method of regulating the output voltage of an electric power source said method comprising the steps of:

producing a first status signal representative of the output voltage of an electric power source;

combining said first status signal with a reference signal to produce a first control signal;

producing a second status signal representative of the output current of said power source;

combining said second status signal with said reference signal to produce a second control signal;

producing a third status signal representative of a DC voltage formed by rectifying the output voltage of said power source;

combining said third status signal with said reference signal to produce a third control signal;

supplying a bias voltage signal to a junction point;

coupling said first, second and third control signals to said junction point through first, second and third diodes thereby forming a linear output signal at said junction point;

wherein the magnitude of said first control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the output voltage of said power source is less than a preselected magnitude;

wherein the magnitude of said second control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the output current of said power source is less than a predetermined magnitude; and

wherein the magnitude of said third control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the magnitude of said DC voltage is less than a second preselected magnitude.

3. A method of regulating output voltage of an electric power source, said method comprising the steps of:

producing a first status signal representative of the average output voltage of a multiple phase electric power source;

combining said first status signal with a reference signal to produce a first control signal;

producing a second status signal representative of the magnitude of the highest voltage on a plurality of output phases of said power source;

producing a third status signal representative of the output current of said power source;

combining said second and third status signals to obtain a fourth status signal;

combining said fourth status signal with said reference signal to produce a second control signal;

supplying a bias voltage signal to a junction point;

coupling said first and second control signals to said junction point through first and second diodes, thereby forming a linear output signal at said junction point;

controlling the output voltage of said power source in response to said output signal;

wherein the magnitude of said first control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the output voltage of said power source is less than a preselected magnitude; and

wherein the magnitude of said second control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when both the output current of said power source is less than a predetermined magnitude and the magnitude of the highest voltage on said output phase of said power source is less than a second preselected magnitude.

4. A sensing and control circuit for a voltage regulator comprising:

means for producing a first status signal representative of the output voltage of an electric power source;

means for combining said first status signal with a reference signal to produce a first control signal;

means for producing a second status signal representative of the output current of said power source;

means for combining said second status signal with said reference signal to produce a second control signal;

means for supplying a bias voltage signal to a junction point;

first and second diodes for coupling said first and second control signals to said junction point, thereby forming a linear output signal at said junction point;

wherein the magnitude of said first control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the output voltage of said power source is less than a preselected magnitude; and

wherein the magnitude of said second control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the output current of said power source is less than a predetermined magnitude.

5. A sensing and control circuit for a voltage regulator comprising:

means for producing a first status signal representative of the output voltage of an electric power source;

means for combining said first status signal with a reference signal to produce a first control signal;

means for producing a second status signal representative of the output current of said electric power source;

means for combining said second status signal with said reference signal to produce a second control signal;

means for producing a third status signal representative of a DC voltage formed by rectifying said output voltage of said power source;

means for combining said third status signal with said reference signal to produce a third control signal;

means for supplying a bias voltage signal to a junction point;

first, second and third diodes for coupling said first, second and third control signals to said junction point, thereby forming a linear output signal at said junction point;

wherein the magnitude of said first control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the output voltage of said power source is less than a preselected magnitude;

wherein the magnitude of said second control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the output current of said power source is less than a predetermined magnitude; and

wherein the magnitude of said third control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the magnitude of said DC voltage is less than a second preselected magnitude.

6. A sensing and control circuit for a voltage regulator comprising:

means for producing a first status signal representative of the average output voltage of a multiple phase electric power source;

means for combining said first status signal with a reference signal to produce a first control signal;

means for producing a second status signal representative of the magnitude of the highest voltage on a plurality of output phases of said power source;

means for producing a third status signal representative of the output current of said power source;

means for combining said second status signal with said third status signal to obtain a fourth status signal;

means for combining said fourth status signal with said reference signal to produce a second control signal;

means for supplying a bias voltage signal to a junction point;

first and second diodes for coupling said first and second control signals to said junction point, thereby forming a linear output signal at said junction point;

wherein the magnitude of said first control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when the output voltage of said power source is less than a preselected magnitude; and

wherein the magnitude of said second control signal is greater than the magnitude of said bias voltage signal when both the output current of said power source is less than a predetermined magnitude and the voltage of the highest voltage on said output phases of said power source is less than a second preselected magnitude.