Power regulation for redundant battery supplies
First Claim
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1. A voltage regulator, operating to supply a regulated direct current voltage from a positive unregulated voltage, the voltage regulator comprising:
- variable impedance means coupled to receive the unregulated voltage to supply therefrom the regulated voltage, the variable impedance means including a control terminal for receiving a control signal, the variable impedance means being responsive to the control signal to maintain the regulated voltage at substantially a fixed value;
control circuit means coupled to receive the regulated voltage for generating therefrom the control signal to maintain the regulated voltage at the fixed value, the control circuit means including reference circuit means coupled to detect a difference between the regulated voltage and the fixed value from which the control circuit means develops the control signal indicative of the difference; and
sense means coupled to the unregulated voltage and to the control circuit means to cause the control circuit means to de-assert the control signal to place the variable impedance means in a high impedance state when the unregulated voltage has dropped to a predetermined voltage level.
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Abstract
A regulator circuit supplies a regulated low, DC voltage that is derived from an unregulated voltage provided by a pair of redundant batteries. The regulator circuit comprises regulation control that responds to a feedback signal developed from monitoring the regulated voltage to maintain the regulated voltage at a desired level. Battery monitors supervise the voltage levels of the batteries used, and shut down the regulator when the battery voltages drop below a predetermined voltage level to preserve battery life.
28 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A voltage regulator, operating to supply a regulated direct current voltage from a positive unregulated voltage, the voltage regulator comprising:
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variable impedance means coupled to receive the unregulated voltage to supply therefrom the regulated voltage, the variable impedance means including a control terminal for receiving a control signal, the variable impedance means being responsive to the control signal to maintain the regulated voltage at substantially a fixed value; control circuit means coupled to receive the regulated voltage for generating therefrom the control signal to maintain the regulated voltage at the fixed value, the control circuit means including reference circuit means coupled to detect a difference between the regulated voltage and the fixed value from which the control circuit means develops the control signal indicative of the difference; and sense means coupled to the unregulated voltage and to the control circuit means to cause the control circuit means to de-assert the control signal to place the variable impedance means in a high impedance state when the unregulated voltage has dropped to a predetermined voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A voltage regulator for supplying a regulated voltage derived from a redundant battery supply comprising at least two batteries each supplying an unregulated voltage, the voltage regulator comprising:
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circuit means coupled to the redundant battery supply for receiving together the regulated voltages from the two batteries to provide therefrom the regulated voltage, the circuit means including first circuit means for providing a fixed reference voltage indicative of the regulated voltage, second circuit means for generating an error indication of a difference between the fixed reference voltage and the regulated voltage, and variable resistance means coupled to adjust the regulated voltage in response to the error indication; and sense means coupled to the circuit means and to each of the two batteries for terminating operation of the circuit means when the unregulated voltages both fall below a predetermined voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A voltage regulator for supplying a regulated voltage derived from at least a pair of direct current batteries, comprising:
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first and second diodes each respectively coupled to corresponding ones of the pair direct current batteries; a first resistance coupling the first and second diodes to a voltage node; a PNP transistor having an emitter lead coupled to the voltage node, a base lead, and a collector node whereat the regulated voltage is supplied when the PNP transistor is in conduction; a reference circuit coupled to the regulated voltage and operating to develop a reference voltage; a compare transistor having a base lead coupled to receive the reference voltage to detect a deviation between the regulated voltage and the reference voltage, the compare transistor including a collector lead; and a control transistor having a collector lead coupled to the base lead of the PNP transistor, and a base lead coupled to the collector lead of the compare transistor; whereby the deviation detected by the compare transistor is reflected by the control transistor to the base lead of the PNP transistor to increase or decrease conduction of the PNP transistor to maintain the regulated voltage approximately at a fixed value. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification