Integrated circuit voltage regulator and charging system
US4882531A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 1988 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J7/00308
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Integrated circuit voltage regulator (60; 81; 91) is provided for use in a battery charging system (10) for providing excitation current to a field coil (13) of an alternator (11). The integrated circuit voltage regulator includes a transistor (70) which is selectively switched on and off to implement the prior art diesel diode (26) functions of providing initial field coil excitation current while preventing undesired current flow from an alternator voltage supply terminal (20) during subsequent field coil excitation current. The transistor (70) is provided as part of an integrated circuit and, therefore, eliminates the need for a diesel diode (26) external to the integrated circuit. In addition, use of the switched transistor (70) minimizes voltage drop loss when providing initial field excitation current. Constructing the transistor (70) as a PNP vertical substrate transistor minimizes integrated circuit area and simplifies integrated circuit topology.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.