# US 4,392,043 A · Pulse generator

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- Number: US 4,392,043 A
- Document ID: US4392043A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/238,744
- Filed: 1981-02-27
- Granted: 1983-07-05
- Earliest claimed: 1980-02-28
- Assignees: Inoue-Japax Research Incorporated
- Inventors: Kiyoshi Inoue
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392043A

## CPC

- H03K 21/38: Starting, stopping or resetting the counter (counters with a base other than a power of two H03K23/48, H03K23/66)
- B23H 1/022: {for shaping the discharge pulse train (B23H1/024 takes precedence)}
- B23K 9/091: {characterised by the circuits}
- H03K 3/017: Adjustment of width or dutycycle of pulses (pulse width modulation H03K7/08 {; to maintain energy constant H03K3/015})
- H03K 3/78: Generating a single train of pulses having a predetermined pattern, e.g. a predetermined number
- B23H 2300/10: Pulsed electrochemical machining
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)
- B23H: WORKING OF METAL BY THE ACTION OF A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF ELECTRIC CURRENT ON A WORKPIECE USING AN ELECTRODE WHICH TAKES THE PLACE OF A TOOL; SUCH WORKING COMBINED WITH OTHER FORMS OF WORKING OF METAL (processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings, electroforming, or apparatus therefor C25D; processes for the electrolytic removal of material from objects C25F; manufacturing printed circuits using precipitation techniques to apply the conductive material to form the desired conductive pattern H05K3/18)
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

## Abstract

A pulse generator, e.g. for electrical machining such as EDM, is provided which comprises: an on-time setting unit for selectively setting on-times, a first matrix circuit for producing a first output signal on a selected output thereof corresponding to a particular on-time set in the on-time setting unit; an off-time setting unit, independent of the on-time setting unit, for selectively setting off-times; a second matrix circuit, independent of the first matrix circuit, for producing a second output signal on a selected output thereof corresponding to a particular off-time set in the off-time setting unit; a clock pulser for producing clock pulses; a single preset counter for counting the clock pulses; and a circuit for establishing, in the single preset counter, first and second levels to be reached by the clock pulse count in accordance with the first and second output signals, respectively. The circuit is operable, upon the count of the counter in a first mode reaching the first level, to switch the latter to the second level and, upon the count of the counter in a second mode reaching the second level, to switch the latter to the first level, whereby the circuit provides an on-output signal while the preset counter is in the first mode and an off-output signal while the preset counter is in the second mode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pulse generator comprising:
on-time setting means for selectively setting on-times;
a first matrix circuit for producing a first output signal on a selected output thereof corresponding to a particular on-time set in said on-time setting means;
off-time setting means, independent of said on-time setting means, for selectively setting off-times;
a second matrix circuit, independent of said first matrix circuit, for producing a second output signal on a selected output thereof corresponding to a particular off-time set in said off-time setting means;
a clock pulser for producing clock pulses;
a single preset counter means for counting said clock pulses; and
circuit means for establishing, in said single preset counter means, first and second levels to be reached by the clock pulse count in accordance with said first and second output signals, respectively, said circuit means being operable, upon the count of said counter means in a first mode reaching said first level, to switch the latter to said second level and, upon the count of said counter means in a second mode reaching said second level, to switch the latter to said first level, whereby said circuit means provides an on-output signal while said preset counter means is in said first mode and an off-output signal while said preset counter means is in said second mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pulse generator defined in claim 1 wherein each of said on-time setting means and off-time setting means comprises a selector switch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The pulse generator defined in claim 1 wherein said clock pulser includes a plurality of channels for providing clock pulses of different periods.

### Claim 4

An electrical machining apparatus comprising in combination:
a machining tool;
means for supporing an electrically conductive workpiece in juxtaposition with said tool; and
a pulse generator for applying machining pulses across said tool and said workpiece to electrically machine said workpiece with said tool, said pulse generator comprising:
on-time setting means for selectively setting on-times,
a first matrix circuit for producing a first output signal on a selected output thereof corresponding to a particular on-time set in said on-time setting means,
off-time setting means, independent of said on-time setting means, for selectively setting off-times,
a second matrix circuit, independent of said first matrix circuit, for producing a second output signal on a selected output thereof corresponding to a particular off-time set in said off-time setting means,
a clock pulser for producing clock pulses,
a single preset counter means for counting said clock pulses, and
circuit means for establishing, in said single preset counter means, first and second levels to be reached by the clock pulse count in accordance with said first and second output signals, respectively, said circuit means being operable, upon the count of said counter means in a first mode reaching said first level, to switch the latter to said second level and, upon the count of said counter means in a second mode reaching said second level, to switch the latter to said first level, whereby said circuit means provides an on-output signal while said preset counter means is in said first mode and an off-output signal while said preset counter means is in said second mode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electrical machining apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein each of said on-time setting means and off-time setting means comprises a selector switch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The electrical machining apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said clock pulser includes a plurality of channels for providing clock pulses of different periods.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 3)

The pulse generator defined in any one of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein each of said first and second matrix circuits comprises a diode matrix.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4, 5, 6)

The electrical machining apparatus defined in any one of claim 4, claim 5 or claim 6 wherein each of said first and second matrix circuits comprises a diode matrix.