A regulated dc-to-dc converter requires negligible standby power for the operation of critical electronic equipment. The main operating circuitry consumes power intermittently according to load conditions, rather than constantly

Thornwall, J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

January 1968	 Brief 68-10017 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the' U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Regulated DC-to-DC Converter Features Low Power Drain 
Transformer l	 I 
	
Coupled	 Coupler	 __.1SmoothngI	 I Filter 
	
Load 
Oscillator 
	
Power	 L.. ReferenceComparator 
	
Supply	 Network HCircuit 
Switch 
The problem: 
In the close regulation of dc power for the operation 
of critical electronic equipment, the equipment is nor-
mally isolated from the power supply by a dc-to-dc 
converter. In prior art, such converters employed 
transformer coupling circuits using relatively large 
magnetic cores, plus pulse width control. circuitry for 
regulation, each of which consumes appreciable 
power. 
The solution: 
A regulated dc-to-dc converter that requires negli-
gible standby power and whose main operating cir-
cuitry consumes power intermittently, according to 
load conditions, rather than constantly.: 
How it's done: 
The transformer-coupled oscillator receives a volt-
age from the power supply in accordance with the 
switch as controlled by the voltage level at the load. 
Thus, the switch functions to release the transformer-
coupled oscillator only when the load voltage drops 
below a predetermined value. The comparator circuit, 
a differential amplifier, compares the voltage output 
from the reference network. In this way, the corn para-
tor circuit enables the switch as the load demands it to
provide additional energy by way of the transformer-
coupled oscillator. The switching rate of the oscillator 
thus functions to automatically compensate for varia-
tions either in the input voltage or the load demands. 
Notes: 
I. This circuitry has been satisfactory in several 
NASA space experiments as rocket, balloon, and 
spacecraft applications, and should find use where-
'ever such conversion must be made in limited 
power situations. 
2. Inquiries concerning this invention may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Goddard Space Flight Center 
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 
Reference: B68-10017 
Patent status: 
'Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial
use of this invention may be made to NASA, Code 
GP, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Source: Joseph Thornwall 
(GSC-03429) 
Category 01 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
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Regulated dc-to-dc converter features low power drain

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