Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Compagnie Electromecanique

Commissariat a L'

Bernard Hennevin

Serge Gidon

Pierre Vulliez

Pulsed electrical energy power supply

An electric power supply for a laser includes a heating module (44) connected to the electrodes (16,18) of an enclosure (12) containing an active material, and supplies an electric pulse for the vaporization of the active material. An excitation module (14) supplies an electric pulse for exciting the active material. As the operation of the laser is repetitive, the excitation pulse preionizes the active material with a view to triggering the heating pulse.

Electric power supply for laser

A pulse-type electric supply system for a load, equipped with means for diverting the electric power liable to be reflected by the load. The system includes an electric pulse generator (8) for supplying pulses to the load (12), a direct current electric supply (2,6) for the generator and a diverter (10) for diverting the electric power liable to be reflected by the load after the latter has received an electric pulse from the generator , so that the reflected electric power takes a different path from that followed by the pulse and which does not return directly to the generator. The system has particular application for use with metal vapour lasers.

Pulse-type electric supply for a load equipped with means for diverting

An equalizer circuit for switches connected in series between a voltage source (21) and a load (16), each switch (4, 11) being connected in parallel with a respective equalizing capacitor (2, 9) via a respective diode (7, 8). The circuit further includes a transformer (20) having a plurality of windings (6, 13) connected in series with respective diodes (5, 12), with each switch having a respective winding-diode series connection connected in parallel therewith. In this manner, electrical energy initially stored in the capacitors is transferred to be stored in magnetic form by the windings when the switches are closed and is re-used when the switches are opened to accelerate charging of the less charged capacitors until all the capacitors reach the voltage of the most charged capacitor. The invention is particularly applicable to semiconductor switches such as transistors or gate turnoff thyristors connected in series and needing protection against exposure to excessive voltages due to differences in switching times between switches.

Growing community of inventors

Decines, France

Bernard Hennevin