The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 27, 2011
Filed:
Jan. 22, 2004
Vladimir J. Hruby, Newton, MA (US);
Bruce M. Pote, Sturbridge, MA (US);
Lawrence Byrne, Cranston, RI (US);
William Connolly, Dover, MA (US);
Vladimir J. Hruby, Newton, MA (US);
Bruce M. Pote, Sturbridge, MA (US);
Lawrence Byrne, Cranston, RI (US);
William Connolly, Dover, MA (US);
Busek Company, Natick, MA (US);
Abstract
A multi-functional power supply system for a Hall thruster including a thruster assembly for providing a plasma discharge and a cathode assembly for providing electrons. The cathode assembly includes an emitter, a keeper with a current limiting device, and a heater. A magnetic field source is operatively associated with the cathode assembly for generating a magnetic field to control the discharge. A plasma discharge circuit creates a plasma and accelerates the plasma to produce thrust. A power supply is connected to the keeper and the plasma discharge circuit and is connected to the heater through a switching device responsive to a predetermined condition for interrupting the power to the heater and simultaneously enabling the power supply to deliver power to the keeper and the plasma discharge circuit to initiate production of thrust.