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Publication Number
US-11469742-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
The waveform generator (10) comprises a switch (13). The waveform generator (10) comprises a transformer (15) having a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit. The primary side circuit has a first terminal arranged to be conductively coupled to a DC voltage source, and a second terminal conductively coupled to the switch (13). The waveform generator (10) further comprises a controller (11) arranged to supply a drive signal to the switch for switching the switch between on and off states. The controller (11) is arranged to adjust the frequency of the drive signal so as to control at least one of the peak voltage and the duty cycle of a waveform generated by the waveform generator (10). The frequency of the drive signal may be adjusted as the voltage level of the DC voltage source remains constant. The frequency of the drive signal may be adjusted in response to a change in the voltage level of the DC voltage source.
Core Innovation
A waveform generator includes a switch and a transformer having a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit. The primary side circuit includes a first terminal conductively coupled to a DC voltage source and a second terminal conductively coupled to the switch. A controller supplies a drive signal to the switch to switch the switch between on and off states and generates a waveform by driving the transformer via the switch.
The controller adjusts a frequency of the drive signal to control at least one of a peak voltage and a duty cycle of the waveform generated by the waveform generator. As the voltage level of the DC voltage source changes, the controller adjusts the frequency to substantially maintain the duty cycle at a constant value. This frequency adjustment mitigates a voltage dependent capacitance effect of the switch so that the waveform duty cycle and/or peak voltage are substantially maintained despite changes in DC source voltage.
The controller receives the voltage level of the DC voltage source and determines a frequency of the drive signal based on the voltage level to substantially maintain the duty cycle at a constant value. The received voltage level is determined based on a desired field strength of an oscillating electric field generated by the waveform. The disclosed motivation relates to a dispersion field that depends on atmospheric pressure and temperature via reduced electric field E/N and Townsend values, and the controller uses the desired field strength to set the DC voltage level for the oscillating electric field.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a waveform generator that maintains waveform duty cycle (and/or peak voltage) under DC voltage variation by frequency adjustment to mitigate a voltage dependent capacitance effect, while determining the DC voltage level from a desired oscillating electric field field strength.
Transformer-driven waveform generator with switch
A waveform generator includes a switch and a transformer having a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit, where the primary side circuit has a first terminal conductively coupled to a DC voltage source and a second terminal conductively coupled to the switch.
Controller supplies drive signal and frequency-adjusts waveform
A controller supplies a drive signal to the switch for switching the switch between on and off states and adjusts a frequency of the drive signal to control at least one of a peak voltage and a duty cycle of a waveform generated by the waveform generator.
Frequency adjustment with DC voltage level to mitigate voltage dependent capacitance effect
The controller adjusts the frequency of the drive signal as the voltage level of the DC voltage source changes to substantially maintain the duty cycle of the waveform at a constant value by mitigating a voltage dependent capacitance effect of the switch.
Determining drive frequency from received DC voltage level and desired field strength
The controller receives the voltage level of the DC voltage source and determines a frequency of the drive signal to be supplied to the switch based on the voltage level to substantially maintain the duty cycle of the waveform at a constant value, wherein the received voltage level is determined based on a desired field strength of an oscillating electric field generated by the waveform.
Across the independent claim, the key inventive coverage is frequency control of the drive signal in a transformer-driven switch waveform generator to substantially maintain waveform duty cycle (and/or peak voltage) as DC source voltage changes, using a received DC voltage level that is determined from a desired field strength of an oscillating electric field.
Stated Advantages
Substantially maintain the duty cycle of the waveform at a constant value as the voltage level of the DC voltage source changes.
Mitigate a voltage dependent capacitance effect of the switch.
Control at least one of a peak voltage and a duty cycle of the waveform.
Documented Applications
Field-asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer (FAIMS) related operation, where dispersion field depends on atmospheric pressure and temperature via reduced electric field E/N (Townsend), motivating the desired field strength approach for the oscillating electric field.
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