Temperature and current dependent regulated voltage source

• US 5,757,172 A
• Filed: 03/27/1997
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tracewell Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acme Electric Corp. (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hunsdorf, Jon, Landfried, David, Pellock, Charles III
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US08/828,963
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 323/275, 323/277, 323/276, 323/280, 323/349, 323/267, 323/278, 323/282, 323/284, 323/360
• US Class Current: 323/277
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/567 for temperature compensation

Abstract

A linear voltage regulator is operated by a temperature sensor and a current sensor. The temperature sensor is a thermistor in a voltage divider connected across the output of the regulator. The current sensor operates a voltage follower connected to adjust the voltage in the voltage divider. The regulator controls voltage supplied to a cooling fan in a power supply. The sensed temperature is the air temperature near the power supply enclosure. The sensed current is the output current of the power supply. When the ambient temperature increases and/or the power supply output current increases, the voltage regulator increases the fan speed by raising the voltage. The current sensor can also be used to sense other parameters, such as voltage.

Claims

1. A voltage control circuit comprising:

a voltage regulator controlling a first parameter;

a temperature sensor; and

a parameter sensor sensing a second parameter independent of the first parameter controlled by the voltage regulator;

said temperature sensor and said parameter sensor being connected to control the voltage regulator.

2. A voltage control according to claim 1 wherein the voltage regulator is linear and has input, output, and adjust connections.

3. A voltage control according to claim 2 wherein the temperature sensor comprises:

a voltage divider having a first leg connected between the output connection and the adjust connection and a second leg connected between the adjust connection and ground, said voltage divider defining a central node connected to the adjust connection; and

a temperature dependent resistor connected in a leg of the voltage divider.

4. A voltage control according to claim 3 wherein the parameter sensor comprises a current sensor connected at a leg of the voltage divider.

5. A voltage control according to claim 4 wherein the parameter sensor further comprises a voltage follower connected at the leg of the voltage divider including the current sensor, and said current sensor is adapted for varying an output voltage of the voltage follower so as to vary a voltage at the central node proportionally with a sensed current.

6. A voltage control according to claim 3 wherein the parameter sensor comprises a voltage sensor connected at a leg of the voltage divider.

7. A voltage control according to claim 1 wherein the parameter sensor comprises a current sensor.

8. A voltage control according to claim 7 wherein the current sensor is adapted for sensing an output current of a power source.

9. A voltage control according to claim 8 further comprising a fan receiving power from the regulator and adapted for cooling the power source.

10. A voltage control according to claim 1 wherein the sensors are adapted for controlling the voltage independently from each other.

11. A voltage control according to claim 1 wherein an output of the parameter sensor is connected at a node between an output of the regulator and ground.

12. A voltage control according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is a temperature dependent resistor.

13. A voltage control according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is adapted for sensing temperature at a power supply device.

14. A voltage control according to claim 13 further comprising a fan receiving power from the regulator and adapted for cooling the power supply.

15. A voltage control according to claim 1 further comprising a fan receiving power from the regulator.

16. A voltage control according to claim 1 further comprising a direct current voltage source connected for supplying power to the regulator.

17. A voltage control according to claim 1, wherein the second parameter is independent of an output voltage of the voltage regulator.

18. A voltage control according to claim 1, further comprising a controlled load receiving power from the regulator.

19. A voltage control according to claim 18, wherein the parameter sensor is connected to sense a parameter independent of the controlled load.

20. A voltage control according to claim 15, wherein the fan is disposed for cooling an object and the sensors are connected to sense temperature and a parameter, respectively, corresponding with the object.

21. A voltage controller according to claim 1, further comprising a short circuit protection diode connected at an output of the regulator.

22. A voltage controller according to claim 1, further comprising upper and lower voltage clamps connected to limit the voltage range applied to control the voltage regulator.

23. A voltage control according to claim 5, wherein the temperature dependent resistor is connected in the first leg and the current sensor is connected at the second leg.

33. A voltage control according to claim 18 wherein the parameter sensor is connected at a node between an output of the regulator and ground.

34. A voltage control according to claim 18 wherein the temperature sensor is a temperature dependent resistor.

35. A voltage control according to claim 18 wherein the temperature sensor is adapted for sensing temperature at the power source.

24. A voltage controller comprising:

a linear voltage regulator having an input connection, an output connection, and an adjust connection;

a voltage divider having a first leg connected between the output connection and the adjust connection and a second leg connected between the adjust connection and ground, said voltage divider defining a central node connected to the adjust connection;

a thermistor connected in a leg of the voltage divider so as to vary a voltage at the adjust connection proportionally with a temperature sensed by the thermistor;

a voltage follower connected at a leg of the voltage divider;

a current sensor adapted for varying an output voltage of the voltage follower so as to vary the voltage at the adjust connection proportionally with a sensed current; and

a direct current input voltage connected between the input connection and ground.

25. A voltage controller according to claim 24, further comprising a fan connected between the output and ground, speed of the fan being controlled by output voltage of the regulator.

26. A power supply comprising:

an enclosure;

a power source disposed in the enclosure and adapted for providing a variable output current to a load;

a fan adapted for conveying cooling air through the enclosure; and

a voltage control circuit connected to control the fan, said voltage control circuit comprising;

a voltage regulator controlling a first parameter;

a temperature sensor adapted for sensing temperature at the enclosure; and

a parameter sensor for sensing a second parameter of the power source independent of the first parameter controlled by the voltage regulator;

said temperature sensor and said parameter sensor being connected to control the voltage regulator.

27. A voltage control according to claim 26 wherein the voltage regulator has input, output, and adjust connections, and the temperature sensor comprises:

a voltage divider having a first leg connected between the output connection and the adjust connection and a second leg connected between the adjust connection and ground, said voltage divider defining a central node connected to the adjust connection; and

a temperature dependent resistor connected in a leg of the voltage divider.

28. A voltage control according to claim 27 wherein the parameter sensor comprises a current sensor connected at a leg of the voltage divider.

29. A voltage control according to claim 28 wherein the parameter sensor further comprises a voltage follower connected at the leg of the voltage divider including the current sensor, and said current sensor is adapted for varying an output voltage of the voltage follower so as to vary a voltage at the central node proportionally with a sensed output current of the power source.

30. A voltage control according to claim 26 wherein the parameter sensor comprises a current sensor.

31. A voltage control according to claim 30 wherein the current sensor is adapted for sensing an output current of the power source.

32. A voltage control according to claim 26 wherein the sensors are adapted for controlling the voltage independently from each other.

36. A voltage control according to claim 29, wherein the temperature dependent resistor is connected in the first leg and the current sensor is connected at the second leg.

37. A power supply comprising:

an enclosure;

a power source disposed in the enclosure and adapted for providing a variable output current to a load;

a fan adapted for conveying cooling air through the enclosure;

a linear voltage regulator having an input connection, an output connection, and an adjust connection;

a voltage divider having a first leg connected between the output connection and the adjust connection and a second leg connected between the adjust connection and ground, said voltage divider defining a central node connected to the adjust connection;

a thermistor disposed at the enclosure, adapted for sensing temperature at the enclosure, and connected in the first leg of the voltage divider for varying a voltage at the adjust connection proportionally with the sensed temperature;

a voltage follower connected at the second leg of the voltage divider;

a current sensor connected for varying an output voltage of the voltage follower so as to vary the voltage at the adjust connection proportionally with the output current to the load; and

a direct current voltage connected between the input and ground.