Battery charging circuit responsive to generator output voltage and current

Abstract

.Iadd.A voltage regulator for a vechicular generator having a field winding and a transistor in series therewith. The transistor is controlled by an oscillatory type, two transistor circuit with regenerative feedback which is responsive to the voltage and current output of the generator..Iaddend.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination, a power source, a control winding for varying the voltage input of said power source as a function of current flow therethrough, a first transistor having emitter, collector, and base electrodes, a second transistor having emitter, collector, and base electrodes, .[.and.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.output circuit energized by said power source, a first circuit connected across the said output circuit including the emitter-collector circuit of said first transistor and said control winding, a second circuit connected across said output circuit including the emitter-collector circuit of said second transistor, means connecting the base electrode of said first transistor with the collector electrode of said second transistor, voltage responsive means connected with said output circuit and the base electrode of said second transistor, and means for causing said first transistor to operate at only two stable conditions of operation, one of which is the substantially fully conductive state and the other of which is the substantially fully non-conductive state, said last named means including a feedback circuit connecting said first circuit and the base circuit of said second transistor. 
     
     
       2. The system according to the preceding claim wherein the feedback circuit includes a condenser. 
     
     
       3. A control circuit for a power source having a control winding that varies the output voltage of said source in response to current flow therethrough comprising, a D.C. output circuit connected with said power source, a first transistor having base, collector and emitter electrodes, a first resistor, means connecting said first resistor, the emitter-collector circuit of said first transistor and said control winding in series across said D.C. output circuit, a second transistor having base, emitter and collector electrodes, means connecting the emitter-collector circuit of said second transistor in shunt with the emitter-base circuit of said first transistor with the emitter electrode of said second transistor being connected between said first resistor and the emitter electrode of said first transistor, a voltage responsive diode, means connecting said voltage responsive diode between the base electrode of said second transistor and said D.C. output circuit, and a second resistor connected between the junction of the base electrode of said second transistor and said voltage responsive diode and one side of said D.C. output circuit. 
     
     
       4. A control circuit for a power source having a control winding that varies the output voltage of said source in response to current flow therethrough comprising, a D.C. output circuit connected with said power source, first and second transistors each having base, collector and emitter electrodes, a first .Iadd.series .Iaddend.circuit connected across said D.C. output circuit including the emitter-collector circuit of said first transistor .Iadd., .Iaddend.a first resistor and said control winding, a second .Iadd.series .Iaddend.circuit connected across said D.C. output circuit including said first resistor and the emitter-collector circuit of said second transistor, a voltage responsive diode, means connecting said voltage responsive diode between the base electrode of said second transistor and said D.C. output circuit, a second resistor, means connecting one side of said first and second resistors together and to one side of said D.C. output circuit, and means connecting the opposite side of said second resistor with the junction of said second transistor base electrode and .Iadd.said .Iaddend.voltage responsive diode. 
     
     
       5. .[.In an electric circuit for controlling current flow through a circuit element, the combination.]. .Iadd.A control circuit for a power source having a control winding that varies the output voltage of said source in response to current flow therethrough .Iaddend.comprising, .[.a power source.]. .Iadd.an output circuit connected with said power source.Iaddend., a first transistor, a diode having a substantially constant voltage drop thereacross with varying current flow therethrough, means connecting the emitter-collector circuit of said first transistor, said diode and said .[.circuit element.]. .Iadd.control winding .Iaddend.in series .[.with said power source.]. .Iadd.across said output circuit .Iaddend.whereby the current flow through said .[.circuit element.]. .Iadd.control winding .Iaddend.varies as a function of the emitter-collector conductance of said first transistor, a second transistor, means connecting said second transistor with said first transistor and .[.with said power source.]. .Iadd.to said output circuit .Iaddend.including means for causing said first transistor to conduct inversely with the conduction of said second transistor, and means connecting the emitter-base circuits of said first and second transistors and said diode in a series loop circuit.  .[.6. A control circuit for a power source having a control winding that varies the output voltage of said source in response to current flow therethrough comprising, a D.C. output circuit having a pair of output leads connected with said power source, a transistor having a base, emitter and collector, a diode having a substantially constant voltage drop thereacross with varying current flow therethrough means connecting said transistor, control winding and diode in series circuit relationship with each other and across said output leads, means operating in response to the voltage appearing across said output leads for varying the conduction of said transistor including means for rendering said transistor either fully conductive or fully nonconductive, said last-named means including means for connecting said diode across the base and emitter of said transistor in such a direction that the voltage appearing across said diode opposes current flow from emitter to base in said transistor when said transistor is rendered substantially nonconductive..]. .[.7. A control circuit for a power source having a control winding that varies the output voltage of said source in response to current flow therethrough comprising, a D.C. output circuit connected with said power source, a first transistor having base, emitter and collector electrodes, a diode having a substantially constant voltage drop thereacross with varying current flow therethrough, means connecting said diode, emitter-collector circuit of said first transistor and said control winding in series and across said D.C. output circuit, a second transistor having base, collector and emitter electrodes, means connecting the base electrode of said first transistor with the collector electrode of said second transistor and with a first side of said D.C. output circuit, means connecting the emitter electrode of said second transistor with one side of said diode, a resistor connected directly between the base electrode of said second transistor and the second side of said D.C. output circuit and means for controlling the conduction of said second transistor in response to changes in voltage across said D.C. output 
     
     
        circuit..]. 8.  In an electric circuit for controlling the current flow through a circuit element, the combination comprising, a power source, an output circuit energized by said power source, a first transistor having base, emitter and collector electrodes, a semiconductor diode, means connecting said semiconductor diode, said circuit element and the emitter-collector circuit of said first transistor .Iadd.in series circuit and .Iaddend.across adid output circuit, a second transistor having base, emitter and collector electrodes, means connecting the emitter-collector circuit of said second transistor in parallel with the emitter-collector circuit of said first transistor, means connecting the base electrode of said first transistor .[.,.]. with the collector electrode of said second transistor, control means connected with the base electrode of said second transistor, and means connecting opposite sides of said .[.semi-conductor.]. .Iadd.semiconductor .Iaddend.diode with the emitter electrodes of said transistors. .[.9. In an electric circuit for controlling the current flow through a circuit element, the combination comprising, a power source, an output circuit energized by said power source, a first transistor having base, emitter and collector electrodes, a second transistor having base, emitter and collector electrodes, a first circuit connected across said output circuit including said circuit element and the emitter-collector circuit of said first transistor, a second circuit connected across said output circuit including the emitter-collector circuit of said second transistor, means connecting the collector electrode of said second transistor with the base electrode of said first transistor, control means connected with said output circuit and with the base electrode of said second transistor, and means causing said first transistor to be substantially fully nonconductive when said second transistor is substantially fully conductive, said last named means including a semiconductor diode connected in said first circuit and connected to cancel the voltage appearing across the emitter-collector 
     
     
        circuit of said second transistor..]. 10. In a battery charging circuit, the combination comprising, a source of direct current power having a control winding for controlling the voltage output of the source as a function of current flow therethrough, a storage battery connected in circuit with said power source to be charged thereby, a rectifier connected between said power source and storage battery for preventing current flow from said battery toward said power source, voltage regulating means connected in circuit with said power source, a sensing circuit for said voltage regulating means connected in circuit with said power source, means for applying a first voltage to said sensing circuit that is proportional to the outout voltage of the said power source, and means for decreasing the apparent voltage sensed by said circuit to increase the output voltage of the said power source to thereby compensate 
     
     
        for the voltage drop across said rectifier. 11. In a battery charging circuit, the combination comprising, a direct current generator having a field winding for controlling the voltage output of said generator as a function of current flow therethrough, a load circuit connected to be energized from said generator, a storage battery connected with said load circuit, a rectifier connected between said generator and said storage battery for preventing current flow from said battery toward said generator, means for .[.controling.]. .Iadd.controlling .Iaddend.the voltage output of said generator including a transistor connected in circuit with said generator and field winding, an electric circuit for controlling the conduction of said transistor, means for deriving a first voltage that is proportional to the output voltage of said power source, means for deriving a second voltage that is proportional to load current, and means for applying the difference of said first and second voltages to 
     
     
        said electric circuit. 12. In a battery charging circuit, the combination comprising, a D.C. generator having a field winding for controlling the output of said generator as a function of current flow therethrough, a load circuit including a storage battery connecting to be energized by said generator, a rectifier connected between said generator and storage battery for preventing current flow from said battery toward said generator, voltage regulating means connected with said generator and said field winding for controlling the current flow through said winding as a function of the output voltage of said generator, a voltage sensing circuit for said voltage regulating means, means for deriving a voltage that is proportional to the output voltage of said power source, means for deriving a second voltage that is proportional to load current including a resistor connected in series with said rectifier, and means for applying the difference of said first and second voltages to said voltage sensing 
     
     
        circuit. 13. In a battery charging circuit, the combination comprising, a D.C. generator having a field winding for controlling the output voltage of said generator as a function of current flow therethrough, a load circuit connected to be energized from said generator, a storage battery connected with said load circuit, a rectifier connected between said generator and said battery for preventing current flow from said battery toward said generator, voltage regulating means connected with said generator and with said field winding for controlling the voltage output of said power source, means for deriving a first voltage that is proportional to the output voltage of said power source including a circuit element having resistance connected directly across said generator, means for deriving a second voltage that is proportional to load current including a second resistor connected in series with said rectifier, and means for applying the difference of said first and second 
     
     
        voltages to said voltage regulating means. 14. In a battery charging circuit, the combination comprising, a generator having a field winding for controlling the voltage output of said generator as a function of current flow therethrough, a load circuit connected to be energized from said generator, a storage battery connected with said load circuit, a pn junction semiconductor rectifier connected between said generator and said storage battery for preventing current flow from said storage battery toward said generator, voltage regulating means for controlling the voltage output of said generator connected in circuit with said control winding and said generator, means for deriving a first voltage that is proportional to the output voltage of said generator, means for deriving a second voltage that is proportional to output current of said generator, and means for applying the difference of said first and second voltages to 
     
     
        said voltage regulating circuit. 15. In combination, a direct current generator having a field winding for controlling the voltage output of said generator as a function of current flow therethrough, a direct current load circuit connected to be energized by said generator, a storage battery connected with said load circuit to be charged thereby, a rectifier connected between said generator and said battery and poled in such a direction as to prevent current flow from said battery toward said generator while permitting current flow between said generator and battery, means including voltage sensing means connected with said load circuit for varying the current flow through said control winding as a function of voltage appearing across said load circuit, and means for applying a voltage to said voltage sensing means of such a polarity as to cause said sensing means to sense an apparent decrease in load voltage whereby the voltage output of said generator is increased to compensate 
     
     
        for the voltage drop across said rectifier. 16. In a battery charging circuit, the combination comprising, a direct current generator having a field winding, a load circuit connected to be energized from said generator, a storage battery connected with said load circuit, a pn junction semi-conductor rectifier connected between said generator and said storage battery for preventing current flow from said storage battery toward said power source, voltage regulating means including a transistor connected in circuit with said generator and field winding for controlling the voltage output of said generator, a control circuit for controlling the conduction of said transistor including a Zener diode, means for deriving a first voltage that is proportional to the output voltage of said generator including a voltage dividing network connected directly across the output terminals of the generator, means for deriving a second voltage that is proportional to the current passing through said rectifier, and means for applying the difference of said first and second voltages to said control circuit whereby said generator has an output voltage which is increased a sufficient amount over that necessary to charge the battery to compensate for the voltage drop across said 
     
     
        rectifier. 17. In a battery charging circuit, the combination comprising, a direct current generator having a field winding, a storage battery connected with said generator to be charged thereby, a rectifier connected between said generator and said storage battery for preventing current flow from said storage battery toward said generator, a first transistor having an emitter-collector circuit connected with the output terminals of the generator and with said generator field for controlling the current flow therethrough, a second transistor controlling the conduction of said first transistor, a voltage dividing network connected directly across the output terminals of the generator, a Zener diode connected between said voltage dividing network and the base electrode of said second transistor, and a resistor connected in series with said generator and with said voltage dividing network, the voltage drops across said resistor and at least a portion of said voltage dividing network being operative to control the conduction of said second transistor with the voltage drop across the resistor tending to cause an increase in the output voltage of the generator by an amount sufficient to compensate for the voltage drop across said rectifier. .[.18. In a combined voltage and current regulating circuit, a combination comprising, a source of direct current power having a control winding, an output circuit energized by said source of power, a first semi-conductor having a pair of current carrying electrodes and a control electrode, means connecting the current carrying electrodes of said semiconductor in series with said control winding and across said output circuit, voltage developing means connected across said output circuit for developing a voltage in accordance with changes in voltage appearing across said output circuit, voltage responsive means connected between said voltage developing means and the control electrode of said semi-conductor for controlling the conduction of said semi-conductor between its current carrying electrodes, a voltage developing circuit element connected in series with said semi-conductor, means connecting said voltage developing circuit element, with said voltage responsive means and with said voltage developing means, and means for varying the conduction of said semi-conductor in response to current flow through one of the leads of said output circuit..]. .[.19. In a combined voltage and current regulating circuit, a combination comprising, a power source having a control winding, a two-lead direct current output circuit energized by said power source, a semi-conductor having a pair of current carrying electrodes and a control electrode, means connecting the current carrying electrodes of said semi-conductor in series with said control winding and across said two-lead direct current output circuit, a voltage developing circuit connected across said two-lead output circuit, a voltage responsive circuit element connected between said voltage developing circuit and the control electrode of said semi-conductor for controlling the conduction of said semi-conductor between its current carrying terminals, a circuit element adapted to develop a voltage upon current flow therethrough connected in series with one of the current carrying terminals of said semi-conductor, means connecting said circuit element with at least a portion of said voltage developing circuit and with said voltage responsive circuit element, and means for controlling the conduction of said semi-conductor between its current carrying terminal in response to current flow in said two-lead output circuit..]. .[.20. In a combined voltage and current regulating circuit, a combination comprising, a power source having a control winding, a direct current output circuit energized by said power source, a transistor having emitter, collector and base electrodes, a first current path connected across said direct current output circuit including said control winding, the emitter to collector circuit of said transistor, and a voltage developing circuit element, a voltage divider network connected across said direct current output circuit including a resistor and the emitter to collector circuit of a second transistor, voltage responsive means connected between said voltage divider network and the base electrode of said first transistor for controlling its conduction, means for varying the conduction of said second transistor between its emitter and collector in accordance with current flow through said direct current output circuit, and means connecting said voltage developing circuit element with said voltage responsive means and with said voltage divider network..]. .[.21. In a combined voltage and current regulating circuit, the combination comprising, a power source having a control winding, a direct current output circuit energized by said power source, a first transistor having emitter, collector and base electrodes, means connecting the emitter to collector circuit of said first transistor and said control winding in series and across said output circuit, a voltage dividing network connected across said output circuit, said voltage dividing network including a resistor and emitter to collector circuit of a second transistor, means connected with said second transistor for controlling its conduction from emitter to collector in accordance with current flow in said output circuit, a voltage responsive diode connected with said voltage dividing network and with the base electrode of said first transistor for controlling the conduction of said first transistor from emitter to collector in accordance with the voltage developed across said voltage divider network, and a resistor connected in series with the emitter electrode of said first transistor, said resistor being connected with said voltage responsive diode and with said voltage divider network..]. .[.22. In combination, a power source having a control winding for controlling the voltage output of said source as a function of current flow therethrough, a load circuit connected with said power source to be energized thereby, a storage battery connected with said load circuit, a rectifier connected between said power source and said battery for preventing current flow from said battery toward said power source, a transistor, means connecting said transistor and said control winding in series across said load circuit whereby the current flow through said control winding is controlled as a function of the conductance of said transistor, means for developing a first voltage that is proportional to output voltage of said power source, means for generating a second voltage that is dependent on output current of said power source, means for generating a third voltage that is dependent on output current of said power source, and means for controlling the conduction of said transistor in response to said first, second, and third voltages, said first and second voltages providing voltages and current regulation and said third voltage providing compensation for the voltage drop across said rectifier..]..Iadd. 23. In combination, a power source, a control winding for varying the voltage output of said power source as a function of current flow there through, a first transistor having emitter, collector, and base electrodes, a second transistor having emitter, collector and base electrodes, and an output circuit energized by said power source, a first circuit connected across the said output circuit including the emitter-collector circuit of said first transistor and said control winding, a second circuit connected across said output circuit including the emitter-collector circuit of said second transistor, means connecting the base electrode of said first transistor with the collector electrode of said second transistor, voltage responsive means connected with said output circuit and the base electrode of said second transistor, said voltage responsive means including a voltage divider means connected across said output circuit and a semi-conductor voltage breakdown device connected to said voltage divider and to said base electrode of said second transistor, and means for causing said first transistor to operate at only two stable conditions of operation, one of which is the substantially fully conductive state and the other of which is the substantially fully non-conductive state, said last named means including a feedback circuit connecting said first circuit and the base circuit of said second transistor.