Other

University of Southern California

Sparktronics, Inc.

Joseph Yampolsky

Martin Adolph Gundersen

A high-voltage pulse generator to generate short high-voltage pulses is described. In one embodiment, a multi-stage Blumlein is used to form relatively short relatively high-voltage pulses. In one embodiment, the multi-stage Blumlein is based on transmissions lines and provides short pulses to a desired load. In one embodiment, repetition rates on the order of 1 kHz-5 kHz are be achieved due to relatively small charging time and relatively small charging inductances. In one embodiment, water as a capacitor dielectric provides a working field strength of 150-200 kv/cm. In one embodiment, the multi-stage Blumlein is used to provide short pulses for a cold cathode as a source of electrons.

Multi-stage Blumlein

A solid-state high-voltage pulse generator based on a three-phase chopper capacitance charger is described. In a first phase, an intermediate capacitor is resonance-charged via a diode. In a second phase, the intermediate capacitor is discharged to the load through one or more solid-state switches. In a third phase, the energy remaining in the intermediate capacitor is returned to a power-supply filter capacitor. In one embodiment, the three-phase chopper includes an intermediate capacitor that is charged by first and fourth branches of a bridge and discharged by second and third branches of a bridge. In one embodiment, each branch of the bridge includes a diode in series with an inductor. In one embodiment, a composite solid-state switch connects the intermediate capacitor to a primary winding of an output transformer such that the intermediate capacitor discharges through the primary winding. In one embodiment, a secondary winding of the output transformer is provided to an output load. In one embodiment, the output load is a reactive load. In one embodiment, the output load is a capacitive load.

Solid-state microsecond capacitance charger for high voltage and pulsed power

A solid-state pulse generator using a split magnetic core transformer is described. In one embodiment, the solid-state drive circuit uses MOSFETs switching a blumlein to produce a desired input pulses in a primary winding of the split magnetic core. The pulse length is determined primarily by the characteristics of the blumlein and the split core transformer. The &ldquo;on&rdquo; time of the solid-state devices can exceed the output pulse length, thereby reducing the chance of damaging voltage spikes. The use of a split magnetic core allows several solid-state drive circuits to be used in parallel to produce a single output pulse. In one embodiment, each solid-state drive circuit drives a separate single-turn primary winding of a split magnetic core transformer. In one embodiment, each core of the split core transformer has one primary winding. The separate cores of the split core transformer are provided with a single secondary winding that couples all of the cores to produce a relatively high-voltage output pulse with relatively few turns in the secondary winding.

Growing community of inventors

Torrance, CA, United States of America

Joseph Yampolsky