US 5,118,969 AGranted

Multiple pulse generator using saturable inductor

AssigneeGeneral Atomics

InventorsHiroyuki Ikezi, John S. deGrassie

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Abstract

A high power multiple pulse generator includes a plurality of transmission line sections, adjacent sections of which are coupled together by a saturable inductor. One transmission line section is switchably connected to a load impedance through an output switch. With the output switch open, the coupled transmission line sections are charged to a desired voltage potential. A burst of multiple pulses is generated by closing the output switch, causing the charge on the transmission line section connected to the load through the closed switch to be delivered to the load as a first pulse. This first pulse has an amplitude equal to one half of the charging potential and a duration that is a function of the length of the transmission line section. Once this first pulse is delivered to the load, a voltage is developed across the saturable inductor coupling the discharged transmission line section with an adjacent charged transmission line section, causing current to flow therethrough. When the current flowing through the inductor reaches a certain amplitude, the saturable inductor saturates, effectively transferring the charge of the next transmission line section to the load as a second pulse. The interval between the first and second pulses is a function of the saturation time of the saturable inductor. This process continues with the number of pulses delivered to the load being equal to the number of transmission line sections.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A pulse burst generator for delivering a burst of a prescribed number of pulses to a load upon the single closure of a switch connecting said pulse burst generator to said load, said load having a load impedance, said pulse burst generator comprising:

a plurality of transmission line sections, each of said transmission line sections having a characteristic impedance approximately equal to said load impedance;
first switching means connecting adjacent ones of said plurality of transmission line sections, said first switching means presenting a high impedance connecting between adjacent ones of said plurality of transmission line sections when open, and a low impedance connection when closed, the opening and closing of said first switching means being a function of the current flowing through said first switching means;
means for charging each of said transmission line sections to a prescribed voltage potential, whereby all of said transmission line sections are charged to the same prescribed voltage potential;
and
second switching means for selectively connecting a first transmission line section of said plurality of transmission line sections to said load after said charging means has charged all of said transmission line sections to said prescribed voltage potential;
a first pulse being developed across said load at the time said second switch means connects the first transmission line section to said load, the pulse width of said first pulse being a function of the length of the first transmission line section, the pulse amplitude of said first pulse being a function of the prescribed voltage potential to which said transmission line sections are charged;
and
a first voltage being respectively developed across the first switching means connecting adjacent transmission line sections of said plurality of transmission line sections after the prescribed voltage potential on one of said transmission line sections has been discharged as a pulse to said load, said first voltage causing a sufficiently high current to flow through said first switching means to close said first switching means within a switching time, said closed first switching means thereby connecting the prescribed voltage potential on the other of said adjacent transmission line sections through said closed switch to the one of said transmission line sections that has been discharged, whereupon a second pulse is developed across said load at the conclusion of said switching time in the same manner as said first pulse was developed across said load at the time said second switching means was closed;
and
additional pulses being developed across aid load in the same manner as were said first and second pulses for each additional transmission line section of said plurality of transmission line sections, with each pulse being developed one switching time subsequent to the prior pulse;
whereby multiple pulses are developed across said load upon the single closure of said second switching means.

8 more elements

A pulse burst generator comprising:

a plurality of transmission line sections, each having substantially the same characteristic impedance;
means for forming a series combination of said transmission line sections, said series combination forming means coupling said transmission line sections via a high impedance connection when the current flowing through the series combination is low, and a low impedance connection when the current flowing through the series combination is high;
switch means for selectively connecting a first section of said series combination to a load, said load having an impedance approximately equal to the characteristic impedance of said transmission line sections;
charging means for charging said series combination to a prescribed voltage potential;
and
control means for selectively activating said switch means at a time subsequent to the charging of said series combination to connect said first section of said series combination to said load, a burst of pulses being delivered to said load from the charged series combination when said switch means is closed, and for selectively deactivating said switch means after said burst of pulses has been delivered to said load to disconnect said first section of said series combination from said load, said series combination thereafter being charged to said prescribed voltage by said charging means in anticipation of a next delivery of a burst of pulses to said load.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/478,106Filed 9 Feb 1990
Granted: 2 Jun 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H03K 17/80
Characterised by the components used: using non-linear magnetic devices; using non-linear dielectric devices
H03K 3/45
Generators characterised by the type of circuit or by the means used for producing pulses: by the use, as active elements, of non-linear magnetic…
H03K 3/53
Generators characterised by the type of circuit or by the means used for producing pulses: by the use of an energy-accumulating element discharged…
H03K 5/159
Manipulating of pulses not covered by one of the other main groups of this subclass: applications of delay lines not covered by the preceding…