US 4,549,091 A · Electrical excitation circuit for gas lasers

Abstract

An electrical excitation circuit is disclosed for a gas laser. The electrical excitation circuit includes a charging circuit connected in series with a pulse forming network between a power source and the laser load. The charging circuit includes a capacitor charged by the power source and a thyratron for transferring voltage to the pulse forming network. Alternatively, the charging circuit includes a capacitor charged upon the firing of a silicon controlled rectifier through a saturable step-up transformer which saturates for transferring voltage to the pulse forming network. The pulse forming network includes a saturable inductor switch positioned with respect to a capacitor so that when the voltage on the capacitor reaches a predetermined level, saturation of the saturable inductor switch releases electrical energy stored in the capacitor to the laser load.

Claims29

Dependent claims

An electrical excitation circuit for a gas laser connectable between a power source and a laser load comprising:

charging circuit means connected to the power source;
and
a pulse forming network connected to the charging circuit means and the laser load, the pulse forming network comprising:
(a) a saturable inductor switch alternatively having an unsaturated state and a saturated state, the saturable inductor switch being shunted across the charging circuit means;
and
(b) at least one capacitor shunted across the saturable inductor switch and connected to the laser load, the at least one capacitor being charged by the charging circuit means when the saturable inductor switch is in the unsaturated state and being discharged through the laser load when the saturable inductor switch transposes to the saturated state.

3 more elements

An electrical excitation circuit for a gas laser connectable between a power source and a laser load comprising:

a silicon controlled rectifier shunted across the power source;
a series-connected choke, primary winding of a saturable step-up transformer, and power source capacitor connected between the power source and common;
the series-connected choke, primary winding of the saturable step-up transformer, and power source capacitor being shunted across the silicon controlled rectifier;
a charging capacitor connected between a secondary winding of the saturable step-up transformer and a first node;
a charging diode connected between the first node and common;
the charging capacitor and charging diode being series-connected and shunted across the secondary winding of the saturable step-up transformer;
at least one saturable inductor switch circuit connected between the first node and a second node;
a saturable inductor switch connected between the second node and common;
a first pulse forming network capacitor connected between the second node and common;
a second pulse forming network capacitor connected between the second node and a third node;
and
a magnetic diode charging inductor connected between the third node and common;
the second pulse forming network capacitor and the magnetic diode charging inductor being series-connected and shunted across the first pulse forming network capacitor;
the magnetic diode charging inductor being shunted across the laser load.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrical excitation circuit for gas lasers

Life of this patent

Electrical excitation circuit for gas lasers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29