Eldec Corporation

James L Cooper

Mark Adams

A regulator circuit (,) is connected to a high voltage generator (,). The regulator circuit may be coupled to the generator in either a series or a shunt configuration. In the shunt configuration, the regulator circuit (,) varies the amount of current through a shunt resistor (R,) to change the output voltage provided to a load. The amount of current that is shunted by the regulator circuit is controlled by a feedback circuit consisting of a voltage divider (,) and an error amplifier (,). In the series configuration, the voltage across the regulator circuit (,) is added to the output from the high voltage generator. The current conducted through the regulator circuit therefore varies the summed output provided to the load.

Solid-state high voltage linear regulator circuit

A regulator circuit (10, 50) for connection to a high voltage generator (16, 52). The regulator circuit may be coupled to the generator in either a series or a shunt configuration. In the shunt configuration, the regulator circuit (10) varies the amount of current through a shunt resistor (R1) to change the output voltage provided to a load. The amount of current that is shunted by the regulator circuit is controlled by a feedback circuit consisting of a voltage divider (20) and an error amplifier (22). In the series configuration, the voltage across the regulator circuit (50) is added to the output from the high voltage generator. The current conducted through the regulator circuit therefore varies the summed output provided to the load.

A switching circuit (50) comprising cascaded transistor stages (52a, 52b. . . 52n and 54), connected between a high voltage terminal (62) and a sense resistor (RS) coupled to a low voltage terminal (64). The transistor stage (54) closest to the sense resistor (RS) is referred to as a current gain stage (54), and all the other transistor stages (52a, 52b. . . 52n) are referred to as component stages (52a, 52b. . . 52n). Blocking diodes (DD) are connected across all stages (52a, 52b. . . 52n and 54), forming a continuous path between the high voltage terminal (62) and the low voltage terminal (64). When an enable signal is provided to the current gain stage (54), the transistor stages (52a, 52b. . . 52n and 54) sequentially enter conduction, beginning with the current gain stage (54) and proceeding through the component stages (52a, 52b. . . 52n). As each transistor stage (52a, 52b. . . 52n) enters conduction, the resulting voltage drop will cause each corresponding blocking diode (DD) to avalanche, allowing current to flow. Eventually, all of the component stages (52a, 52b. . . 52n) are turned on, creating a conductive path through the stages (52a, 52b. . . 52n) and completing the switching of the switching circuit (50).

Solid-state high voltage switch and switching power supply

Cascaded transistor stages are connected between a high voltage and a resistance coupled to a lower potential. The transistor stage closest to the lower potential is referred to as a driver stage, and all the other transistor stages are referred to as component stages. When an enable signal is provided to the driver stage, the stages sequentially enter conduction, starting with the driver stage and proceeding to the component stage coupled to the high voltage. The current flow through the driver stage is regulated, proportional to the value of the series resistance, and remains relatively constant as the high voltage is brought to close to the lower potential. The voltage drop is smooth and approximately linear, ensuring that voltage ringing or rebound does not occur following the discharge. After the high voltage is brought to the lower potential, the transistor stages remain in conduction as determined by the presence of the enable signal, to discharge any remaining high voltage that may be attached through a high series impedance. Upon removal of the enable signal, the transistor stages no longer conduct.

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Everett, WA, United States of America

James L Cooper