Soft-Start Voltage Regulator Circuit for Generator Duty Cycle Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pre-excitation circuits for generators lack flexibility in duty cycle adjustment and are costly due to fixed duty cycle integrated circuit designs, leading to high manufacturing costs and limited adjustment capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A soft-start circuit composed of active and passive components, including a voltage regulator and an astable multivibrator unit, allows for adjustable duty cycles and reduced manufacturing costs by using discrete components, achieving zero leakage current and wider adjustment ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed duty cycle integrated circuit design is used, then manufacturing cost increases, but duty cycle adjustment flexibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic duty cycle adjustment mechanism where the duty cycle can be changed during operation by modifying the resistance values in the oscillation circuit. This allows the system to adapt to different operating conditions without requiring multiple fixed-duty-cycle ICs, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining adjustment flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters (resistance values) of existing components to achieve duty cycle adjustment. By varying the resistance values in the astable multivibrator circuit, different duty cycles can be obtained without changing the fundamental circuit structure or requiring expensive custom ICs.
2Ease of manufacture
If discrete active and passive components are used instead of integrated circuit, then manufacturing cost decreases, but circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the voltage regulator into functional modules: power management circuit, soft-start circuit, regulator circuit, and excitation driver. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently analyzed and manufactured, reducing overall circuit complexity while using discrete components.
Solution Approach 2:
The discrete component design uses standard, widely-available parts that can serve multiple functions. For example, the astable multivibrator circuit serves both as a soft-start mechanism and as a duty cycle adjustment mechanism, reducing the need for additional dedicated components.
3Reliability
If trio diode is included in pre-excitation circuit, then excitation current path is defined, but circuit complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the trio diode from the pre-excitation circuit and replaces it with a simplified transistor-based switching mechanism. The excitation current path is defined through the switching action of transistors Q1 and Q2 controlled by the soft-start circuit, eliminating the need for the complex trio diode configuration while maintaining reliable current path definition.
Data Source
AI summary
A soft-start circuit composed of active components and passive components and a soft-start voltage regulator based on this soft-start circuit are disclosed. The soft-start voltage regulator is coupled to a generator, a battery and a starter. When the starter is started, the soft-start voltage regulator receives the voltage of the battery to generate a soft-start signal, enabling the generator to establish a voltage. Further, after the generator established the voltage, the soft-start voltage regulator is shut off and the soft-start signal is outputted.