Apparatus and method for measuring the breakdown voltage between two electrodes separated by a dielectric
AssigneeGas Research Institute
InventorsWilliam E. Childress, William A. Griffith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for measuring a breakdown voltage between two electrodes separated by a dielectric. The output of a sensor perceiving the voltage across the two electrodes is transferred to a peak-hold circuit. A spark through the dielectric and across the two electrodes is detected, Restrikes between the electrodes are clamped by precluding further transfers of sensor output to the peak-hold circuit for a predetermined period of time subsequent to the detected occurrence of the spark.
Claims10
An apparatus for measuring a breakdown voltage between two electrodes separated by a dielectric, the apparatus comprising:
- sensor means for sensing a voltage across the two electrodes, the sensor means providing an output charge substantially indicative of the voltage across the two electrodes;
- peak-hold means operably coupled to the sensor means for storing a charge substantially indicative of a total of the output charge provided by the sensor means prior to reaching the breakdown voltage between the two electrodes, the peak-hold means providing an output voltage substantially indicative of the stored charge as an output of the apparatus;
- spark detection means operably coupled to the sensor means for detecting the occurrence of a spark through the dielectric and across the two electrodes;
- and
- restrike clamping means for substantially precluding further transfer of charge from the sensor means to the peak-hold means for a pre-determined period of time subsequent to and in response to the detected occurrence of the spark.
A process for measuring a breakdown voltage between two electrodes separated by a dielectric, the process comprising the steps of:
- sensing a voltage across the two electrodes;
- outputting a charge substantially indicative of the voltage across the two electrodes;
- transferring the charge to a storage capacitor until reaching the breakdown voltage between the two electrodes;
- storing within the storage capacitor [a]the charge substantially indicative of a peak voltage across the two electrodes;
- detecting the occurrence of a spark through the dielectric and across the two electrodes;
- and
- precluding further transfers of charge to the storage capacitor for a pre-determined period of time subsequent to and in response to detecting the occurrence of a spark.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.