Power circuit utilizing self excited Hall effect switch means
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorPeter J. Turchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power circuit utilizing a switch comprised of Hall-effect-active resistive elements for interrupting a current flow in an inductive energy storage system. Interruption of the flow of current causes a high-voltage pulse which drives the current flow into a circuit leg which is parallel to the interrupting elements. The Hall effect switch is controlled by means of an exciter coil that is connected in parallel with the Hall-effect-active resistive elements to provide self excited operation.
Claims4
In a plasma thruster having arc jet electrodes, a current source and a power circuit including a spark gap connecting said current source to said arc jet electrodes, the improvement residing in a Hall effect switch means, said Hall effect switch means comprising
- a self excited Hall effect switch connected across said power circuit and in parallel with said spark gap, said Hall effect switch comprising
- Hall effect active element means having terminals for connection into said power circuit to effect the passage of electrical current through said Hall effect active element means, and
- magnetic field means including an exciter coil for providing a magnetic field perpendicular to the electrical current flow in said Hall effect active element means, said exciter coil being connected in parallel with said Hall effect active element means and controlling the magnitude of said perpendicular magnetic field in response to electrical current flowing through said exciter coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.