Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices – circuits – and – Specific identifiable device – circuit – or system – With specific source of supply or bias voltage
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-06
2004-11-09
Lam, Tuan T. (Department: 2816)
Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices, circuits, and
Specific identifiable device, circuit, or system
With specific source of supply or bias voltage
C327S542000, C323S312000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06816002
ABSTRACT:
FILED OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for controlling a current through a load.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Circuit arrangements for controlling a current through a load are used in many different applications, in order, for example to apply a constant current to a load. Such circuit arrangements are used for example in the field of automobile technology, to ensure that power is supplied to various loads such as components/systems which consume power by a motor vehicle battery. To this end, circuit arrangements are known which, by electronic means, emulate a power source, generally an apparently very high voltage source with a very high internal resistance.
Known circuit arrangements measure the current flow in a suitable manner, for example by providing a measuring resistor in the load branch. The voltage drop across the measuring resistor is evaluated and an actuator is controlled as a function thereof in such a way that the voltage drop across this resistor remains as constant as possible.
In order to optimise the effective operating range of such a power source, the voltage drop across this resistor also the resistor should be as small as possible. However, this complicates evaluating the voltage drop.
A constant power source is known from DE 3 624 586 A1, which comprises a first and a second bipolar transistor. The emitter of the first transistor is connected to an input terminal by a resistor and the collector of the first transistor is connected to an output terminal. The base of the second transistor is connected to the emitter of the first transistor. The emitter of the second transistor is likewise connected to the input terminal. The collector of the second transistor is connected to the base of the first transistor. Power is supplied to the base of the first transistor across a drive resistor. The second transistor here serves as a controller and discharges the base current not required by the first transistor. Thanks to the above-described constant power source, an approximately constant current is provided at the output terminal, without the need for complex control by using an operational amplifier. However, in this circuit arrangement too, a resistor is arranged in the load circuit, which causes an additional voltage drop. In the event of a dip in the supply voltage across the input terminal, for example, this additional voltage drop leads to a premature dip in the output current across the output terminal. Thus, in the event of a short-term fall in the supply voltage, it is possible that sufficient voltage will no longer be available to supply a load reliably with constant current.
SUMMARY
An object of the invention is therefore to provide a circuit arrangement for controlling an approximately constant current, with which the voltage drop in the load circuit is reduced.
This and other objects are achieved by a circuit arrangement which provides an approximately constant current despite a fluctuating supply voltage. A first bipolar transistor having it's base-emitter path connected in series with a parallel combination of the base-emitter path of a second bipolar transistor and a second resistor. The collector voltage of the second bipolar transistor controls a third bipolar transistor as a bypass to the base-emitter path of the first bipolar transistor and opposes variation of the base-emitter voltage of the first bipolar transistor. If, for example, the base-emitter voltage of the first bipolar transistor increases as a result of a higher supply voltage, the collector current of the third bipolar transistor is increased and thus the increase in the base current of the first bipolar transistor is reduced, thereby causing negative feedback.
The invention advantageously prevents an additional voltage drop in the load circuit. The circuit arrangement allows for a virtually constant current for supplying a load even in the event of a drastic dip in supply voltage. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.
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European Search Report.
Lam Tuan T.
Nguyen Hiep
Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
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