The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 13, 1980
Filed:
Mar. 30, 1978
Larry D Bishop, Colleyville, TX (US);
Jack C Parker, Jr, Bolingbrook, IL (US);
Wescom, Inc., Downers Grove, IL (US);
Abstract
A current regulator for a pulse code modulated (PCM) transmission line is interposed between a voltage potential and a load (consisting of repeater amplifiers along the PCM transmission line) for limiting the current flow to the load. During normal operation, the regulator provides a relatively low impedance path from the voltage potential to the load through a series pass transistor and a sensing resistor. During an overload condition, which is sensed by the sensing resistor, the series pass transistor is deprived of base drive thereby providing a high impedance path with an accompanying increased voltage drop across the series pass transistor of the series regulator. This voltage drop is used to drive a timer which turns the series pass transistor off and on, with a low on time or duty cycle, in order to minimize power dissipation during the overload condition. After the overload condition has been alleviated, the series pass transistor is turned back on by the timer, and due to the low current flowing to the load, the series pass transistor is again returned to its relatively low impedance conducting condition.