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US 6,005,880 AGranted
Precision variable delay using saturable inductors
AssigneeLambda Physik AG
InventorsDirk Basting, Hubertus Von Bergmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing accurate sub-nanosecond timing control between the voltage outputs of branches of an excitation circuit which are driven by a common switch. This invention allows for the introduction of variable timing delays between the branches of the circuit, and eliminates relative timing jitter. Using saturable inductors with variable bias in the high-voltage excitation circuit, this invention provides a continuously tuneable delay on the subnanosecond time scale between two or more excitation circuit branches.
Claims42
An energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy to a laser system, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a capacitor capable of storing energy from the power supply;
- a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch;
- a switch operable to cause the transfer of energy from the capacitor to the first branch and the second branch;
- and
- wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core, and a first biasing circuit for controllably biasing the first saturable core, wherein biasing the saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a first output at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a second output at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.
3 more elements
A system for supplying laser light energy including:
- a power supply;
- a laser system for outputting laser light energy;
- a capacitor capable of storing energy from the power supply;
- a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch;
- a switch operable to cause the transfer of energy from the capacitor to the first branch and the second branch;
- and
- wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core, and a first biasing circuit for controllably biasing the first saturable core, wherein biasing the saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to the laser system at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to the laser system at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.
4 more elements
An energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy from a power supply to a laser system, comprising:
- a capacitor capable of storing energy from the power supply;
- a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch;
- a switch operable to cause the transfer of energy from the capacitor to the first branch and the second branch;
- and
- wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core, and a first biasing circuit for controllably biasing the first saturable core, wherein biasing the saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a first output at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a second output at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.
2 more elements
A method for supplying electrical energy to a laser system, comprising the steps of:
- supplying electrical energy from a common source to a transfer circuit, which includes a first branch having a delay stage, and a second branch, wherein said delay stage includes an inductor having a first saturable core;
- outputting electrical energy from the first branch at a first time;
- outputting electrical energy from the second branch at a second time;
- and
- biasing the first saturable core, wherein biasing the first saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.
2 more elements
An energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy from a power supply to a laser system, comprising:
- a first capacitor capable of storing electrical energy from the power supply, and a second capacitor capable of storing electrical energy from the power supply;
- a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch;
- a switch operable to cause the transfer energy from the first capacitor to the first branch and from the second capacitor to the second branch;
- and
- wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core and a first biasing circuit for controllably biasing the first saturable core, wherein biasing the first saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to the laser system at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to the laser system at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.
2 more elements
An energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy to a laser system, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a capacitor capable of storing energy from the power supply;
- a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch;
- a switch operable to cause the transfer of energy from the capacitor to the first branch and the second branch;
- and
- wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core, and a terminal for receiving a biasing current, wherein biasing the saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a first output at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a second output at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.