Low dissipation controllable electron valve for controlling energy delivered to a load and method therefor
First Claim
1. A controllable electron valve for controlling an energy delivered to a load circuit in response to an input power source, comprising:
- a power controller for controlling a voltage across said load circuit, an input current being introduced to said power controller via an input voltage (VIN) electrode, said input current being generated by said input power source, said input current including a load current and an internal current (IIN), said load current being output by said power controller to said load circuit, the internal current (IIN) being output via a switching output;
a current controller for maintaining the internal current (IIN) at a constant value, said current controller having an output coupled to a ground, having an input, and having at least one current control electrode;
a voltage threshold controller for outputting a threshold current, said voltage threshold controller having at least one input and at least one output; and
a current separator for controlling the passage of the internal current (IIN) and said threshold current to said constant current source, a first input of said current separator being coupled to said switching output of said power controller, a second input of said current separator being coupled to said output of said voltage threshold controller, an output of said current separator being coupled to said input of said current controller.
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Abstract
A controllable electron valve for controlling an energy delivered to a load circuit in response to an input power source, comprising a power controller for controlling a voltage across said load circuit, an input current being introduced to said power controller via an input voltage (VIN) electrode, said input current being generated by said input power source, said input current including a load current and an internal current (IIN), said load current being output by said power controller to said load circuit, IIN being output via a switching output, a current controller for maintaining IIN at a constant value, said current controller having an output coupled to a ground, having an input, and having at least one current control electrode; a voltage threshold controller for outputting a threshold current, said voltage threshold controller having at least one input and at least one output; and a current separator for controlling the passage of IIN and said threshold current to said constant current source, a first input of said current separator being coupled to said switching output of said power controller, a second input of said current separator being coupled to said output of said voltage threshold controller, an output of said current separator being coupled to said input of said current controller.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A controllable electron valve for controlling an energy delivered to a load circuit in response to an input power source, comprising:
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a power controller for controlling a voltage across said load circuit, an input current being introduced to said power controller via an input voltage (VIN) electrode, said input current being generated by said input power source, said input current including a load current and an internal current (IIN), said load current being output by said power controller to said load circuit, the internal current (IIN) being output via a switching output; a current controller for maintaining the internal current (IIN) at a constant value, said current controller having an output coupled to a ground, having an input, and having at least one current control electrode; a voltage threshold controller for outputting a threshold current, said voltage threshold controller having at least one input and at least one output; and a current separator for controlling the passage of the internal current (IIN) and said threshold current to said constant current source, a first input of said current separator being coupled to said switching output of said power controller, a second input of said current separator being coupled to said output of said voltage threshold controller, an output of said current separator being coupled to said input of said current controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An energy controller responsive to an input power source and coupled to a load, comprising:
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a power controller for controlling an output voltage across said load, said power controller having an input, a load output, and an internal output, an input current being introduced to said power controller via said input, said input current being generated by said input power source, said input current including a load current and an internal current, said load current flowing out said load output and said internal current flowing out said internal output, said power controller having an input voltage generated by said input power source, said output voltage being a function of said input voltage, said power controller having a gain, said load current having a proportional relationship to the internal current relative to said gain; a current separator, coupled to said internal input of said power controller, for controlling the flow of the internal current and a threshold current, said current separator having a current input and a switching current output; a voltage threshold controller, coupled to said current input of said current separator, for outputting said internal current; and a constant current source, coupled to said switching current output of said current separator, for maintaining the internal current at a constant value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for controlling energy delivered to a load, comprising:
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generating a threshold voltage and a threshold current; controlling an output voltage across said load, including;
generating an input current and an input voltage, said input current including a load current and an internal current, introducing said input current into a power controller, outputting said load current to said load, outputting said internal current from said power controller, wherein said output voltage is a function of said input voltage and is dependent on said threshold voltage, wherein said power controller has a gain and said load current has a proportional relationship to said internal current relative to said gain, and wherein said power controller has a saturation current, said saturation current being a constant value;maintaining said internal current at a constant value, such that the sum of said internal current and said threshold current is equal to said saturation current; and controlling the flow of said internal current and said threshold current, such that at least one of either said internal current or said threshold current flows to a ground.
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Specification