Pulse generator circuit, related system and method

A pulsed operation system, comprising:

• a pulse generator circuit comprising:
• a first node and a second node configured to provide a pulse signal;
• a first electronic switch coupled between the first node and the second node;
• a second electronic switch coupled between the second node and a reference node;
• an LC resonant circuit comprising a series connection of an inductance and a capacitance having an intermediate node therebetween, the LC resonant circuit coupled between the first node and the reference node;
• charge circuitry comprising a further inductance in a current flow line between a supply node and the intermediate node in the LC resonant circuit;
• and
• drive circuitry of the first electronic switch and the second electronic switch, the drive circuitry configured to repeat switching cycles of a sequence of switching cycles comprising:
• charge time intervals, wherein the first electronic switch is closed and the second electronic switch is open and the capacitance in the LC resonant circuit is charged via the charge circuit;
• and
• an electrical load coupled intermediate the first node and the second node;
• wherein the charge circuitry comprises:
• a comparator configured to perform a comparison of a charge voltage of the capacitance in the LC resonant circuit with a charge threshold;
• and
• a charge switch arranged in the current flow line intermediate the supply node and the further inductance, the charge switch activatable to couple the further inductance to the supply node as a function of an outcome of the comparison at the comparator.

A method of operating a pulse generator circuit, the pulse generator circuit comprising first and second nodes, a first electronic switch coupled between the first node and the second node, a second electronic switch coupled between the second node and a reference node, an LC resonant circuit comprising a series connection of an inductance and a capacitance having an intermediate node therebetween, the LC resonant circuit coupled between the first node and the reference node, and charge circuitry comprising a further inductance in a current flow line between a supply node and the intermediate node in the LC resonant circuit, the method comprising cyclically repeating during a sequence of switching cycles:

• closing the first electronic switch and opening the second electronic switch during charge time intervals, thereby charging the capacitance in the LC resonant circuit via the charge circuit;
• opening the first electronic switch and closing the second electronic switch during pulse generation time intervals, thereby providing, by the LC resonant circuit, a pulsed current to an electrical load via the first node and the second node;
• closing the first and second electronic switches during oscillation time intervals that are interleaved with the charge and pulse generation time intervals, thereby oscillating the LC resonant circuit at a resonance frequency;
• comparing a charge voltage of the capacitance in the LC resonant circuit with a charge threshold;
• and
• activating a charge switch, arranged in the current flow line intermediate the supply node and the further inductance, to couple the further inductance to the supply node as a function of an outcome of the comparing.