Charge regulation circuit

• US 5,124,617 A
• Filed: 04/23/1991
• Issued: 06/23/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Enrichment Corporation (Centrus Energy Corp.)
• Original Assignee: United States Department of Energy
• Inventors: Ball, Don G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Application Number:
  US07/689,564
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 323/282, 323/285, 323/286, 323/287, 323/901, 361/18, 361/87, 361/93, 361/94
• US Class Current: 323/285
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/137 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators

Abstract

A charge regulation circuit provides regulation of an unregulated voltage supply in the range of 0.01%. The charge regulation circuit is utilized in a preferred embodiment in providing regulated voltage for controlling the operation of a laser.

Claims

1. A charge regulation circuit comprising:

an unregulated power supply having a first unregulated voltage value during a first charge cycle and a second unregulated voltage value during a second charge cycle,

an inductor and capacitor connected in series with one another, wherein a charge voltage exists across the capacitor,

a diode connected in parallel with said inductor and capacitor,

a switch, and means for closing the switch at a first time for permitting said unregulated power supply to be connected to said capacitor through said inductor when the switch is in a closed position,

means for opening said switch during the first charge cycle at a second time when said charge voltage reaches a first charge voltage such that the charge voltage across said capacitor will rise after said second time to a regulated final charge voltage, and means for opening said switch at a third time during the second charge cycle when said charge voltage reaches a second charge voltage such that the charge voltage across the capacitor will rise after said third time to said regulated final charge voltage, wherein the second charge voltage across said capacitor at said third time is equal to the product of the first charge voltage across said capacitor at said second time and the ratio of said first unregulated voltage value and said second unregulated voltage value.

2. A circuit as in claim 1 wherein said means for opening include an overcurrent shutdown circuit for providing fault protection.

3. A circuit as in claim 2 wherein said means for opening include a voltage check circuit for checking the voltages of said power supply and said capacitor.

4. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein said means for opening includes a charge stop circuit for stopping the charging of said capacitor when the voltage reaches the regulated final charge voltage.

5. A circuit as in claim 4 wherein said means for opening include a charge delay circuit for providing delays between said switch and the operation of said regulation circuit.

6. A circuit as in claim 5 wherein said means for opening include a charge time circuit for opening said switch.

7. A charge regulation circuit, comprising:

an unregulated power supply producing an unregulated power which varies between first unregulated voltage value, E, and a second unregulated voltage value, E'"'"',

an inductor and capacitor connected in series with one another, wherein a charge voltage exists across the capacitor,

a diode connected in parallel with said inductor and capacitor,

a switch, and means for closing the switch at a first time for permitting said unregulated power to be supplied to said capacitor through said inductor when the switch is in a closed position,

means for opening said switch at a second time when said unregulated power has said first unregulated voltage value, at which second time the charge voltage across the capacitor has a first value, V₁ and for opening said switch at a third time when said unregulated power has said second unregulated voltage value, at which third time the charge voltage across the capacitor has a second value, V₁ '"'"', such that

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">V.sub.1 '"'"'=V.sub.1 E/E'"'"'.

8. A charge regulation circuit comprising:

an unregulated power supply having a first unregulated voltage value during a first charge cycle and a second unregulated voltage value during a second charge cycle,

an inductor and capacitor connected in series with one another,

a diode connected in parallel with said inductor and capacitor, wherein a charge voltage exists across the capacitor,

a switch, and means for closing the switch at a first time for permitting said unregulated power supply to be connected to said capacitor through said inductor when the switch is in a closed position,

means for opening said switch at a second time during the first charge cycle when said charge voltage reaches a first charge voltage such that the charge voltage across said capacitor will rise after said second time to a regulated final charge voltage, and means for opening said switch at a third time during the second charge cycle when said charge voltage reaches a second charge voltage such that the charge voltage across the capacitor will rise after said third time to said regulated final charge voltage, wherein the second charge voltage across said capacitor at said third time is equal to the product of the first charge voltage across said capacitor at said second time and the ratio of said first unregulated voltage value and said second unregulated voltage value, said means for opening including;

an overcurrent shutdown circuit for providing fault protection, a voltage check circuit for checking the voltages of said power supply and said capacitor, a charge stop circuit for stopping the charging of said capacitor when the voltage reaches the regulated final charge voltage, a charge delay circuit for providing delays between said switch and the operation of said regulation circuit, and a charge time circuit for opening said switch.