Triggering system for pulsed-power drivers

Abstract

An integrated triggering system for a pulsed-power driver is presented. The triggering system includes a pulse distribution circuit that couples externally generated trigger pulses to midplanes of a limited number of stages of the pulsed-power driver. The pulse distribution circuit includes common midplane nodes, each coupled to a group of midplanes of a same stage via respective isolating inductors. Isolating elements are coupled between the common midplane nodes of a same stage. The triggering system further includes a protection circuit configured to reduce coupling of high voltages triggered at the midplanes to external circuits while allowing the trigger pulses to couple to the midplanes. The protection circuit includes a high pass filter comprising a capacitor. The triggering system further includes a midplane biasing circuit configured to provide a reference ground to the midplanes of all stages. The midplane biasing circuit includes a resistive ladder with nodes coupled to the midplanes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.