Electricity: power supply or regulation systems – In shunt with source or load – Using a three or more terminal semiconductive device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-27
2001-09-18
Berhane, Adolf Deneke (Department: 2838)
Electricity: power supply or regulation systems
In shunt with source or load
Using a three or more terminal semiconductive device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06291975
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to power supplies, and more particularly relates to clean voltage regulators for power supplies, and even more particularly relates to methods and systems for efficiently isolating power transients capable of communicating information through a power supply.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past, designers of military communication systems have endeavored to enhance security in communication equipment used with classified information. TEMPEST is a U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) program to develop methods of preventing the compromise of government and military information by reducing or eliminating unintended electronic emissions. One approach used in the past to reduce unintended electronic emissions has been to use a constant current shunt voltage regulator to prevent emission of signals on the power lines of communication equipment. While these current shunt regulating power supplies have many advantages, they also have significant drawbacks. “Red” information is used herein to denote information which is classified by the DOD as secret and, therefore, not to be permitted to be communicated to persons other than those having a predetermined clearance to receive such red information. “Black” information is used to denote information which is not classified by the DOD as secret.
Typically, this type of voltage regulator provides a clean source of voltage, but it does it by drawing a constant amount of power from the primary voltage source, irrespective of the immediate power needs. Furthermore, this power level is set so that it exceeds the maximum demanded power level. During normal, non-peak power levels, and during non-classified or non-“red” operations, these prior art shunt regulators dissipate large amounts of unnecessary power in the form of undesirable heat.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for regulating power supplies which have reduced power dissipation and which concomitantly provide for isolation of power transients and their associated undesirable emissions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved efficiency of shunt regulators.
It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a current monitor to provide feedback to adjust shunt regulator input voltages.
It is another feature of the present invention to include a very low pass filter in the feedback loop.
It is an advantage of the present invention to reduce unnecessary power dissipation while maintaining isolation of “red” information.
It is yet another feature of the present invention to include an optical communication path to transmit the feedback across the “red”/“black” boundary.
It is another advantage to reduce the potential of undesirable electro-magnetic emissions pertaining to the information fed back to regulate shunt regulator input voltages.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for efficiently regulating a power supply with reduced emissions, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in an “unnecessary power dissipation-less” manner in a sense that the unnecessary dissipation of power in a shunt regulator has been greatly reduced.
Accordingly, the present invention is a power supply shunt regulator which includes a current monitor to feedback information to adjust the shunt regulator input voltage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5041777 (1991-08-01), Riedger
patent: 6057607 (2000-05-01), Rader, III et al.
Berhane Adolf Deneke
Eppele Kyle
Jensen Nathan O.
Rockwell Collins
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