High-voltage circuit pulser
Inventors
Xiao, Shu • Athos, Brian G. • Kreis, Mark P. • Danitz, David J. • Uecker, Darrin R.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12082878-B2
Publication Date
2024-09-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
A sub-microsecond pulsed electric field generator is disclosed. The field generator includes a controller, which generates a power supply control signal and generates a pulse generator control signal, and a power supply, which receives the power supply control signal and generates one or more power voltages based on the received power supply control signal. The field generator also includes a pulse generator which receives the power voltages and the pulse generator control signal, and generates one or more pulses based on the power voltages and based on the pulse generator control signal. In some embodiments, the controller receives feedback signals representing a value of a characteristic of or a result of the pulses and generates at least one of the power supply control signal and the pulse generator control signal based on the received feedback signals.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a pulse generator system and methods for generating high-voltage pulses using a pulse generator stage that includes a switch and a capacitive element coupled to the switch. The switch driver uses a lossy transformer and is configured to generate switch control signal pulses for switching the switch. The pulse generator provides positive and negative voltage output terminals such that voltages at the positive and negative voltage output terminals can be digitized.
An analog-to-digital converter is coupled to the pulse generator and configured to generate a first digital output based on at least one of voltages at the positive and negative voltage output terminals of the pulse generator. In some embodiments, the digital outputs are conditioned by additional circuitry connected to the positive and negative voltage output terminals, including an input impedance differential buffer, to drive inputs of the analog-to-digital converter.
The disclosed pulse generator stage supports higher-amplitude output pulses relative to driving signal pulses by charging the capacitive element, converting a driving signal pulse into a control signal pulse using the lossy transformer, and switching the switch to discharge the capacitive element based on the control signal pulse. In addition, one or more current monitors are defined to include a sense resistor and an amplifier that generate an input for the analog-to-digital converter based on a voltage across the sense resistor.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims include four independent claim sets that collectively define a pulse generator system and methods for generating high-voltage pulses with digitized feedback signals derived from voltages at positive and negative output terminals, and with a switch driver implemented using a lossy transformer.
Digitizing voltages at positive and negative output terminals
An analog-to-digital converter coupled to the pulse generator and configured to generate a first digital output based on at least one of voltages at positive and negative voltage output terminals of the pulse generator.
Lossy transformer switch driver for switch control signal pulses
A switch driver comprising a lossy transformer, the switch driver connecting to the switch and configured to generate switch control signal pulses for switching the switch.
High-amplitude pulses from charged capacitive element and lossy-transformer control
Charging a capacitive element in the pulse generator; converting a driving signal pulse of the driving signal pulses to a control signal pulse using a lossy transformer in a switch driver; switching, based on the control signal pulse, a switch to discharge the capacitive element; wherein output pulses have a higher amplitude than driving signal pulses.
Current monitoring using sense resistor and amplifier to form ADC input
One or more current monitors each comprising a sense resistor and an amplifier, the sense resistor configured to generate a voltage response of a current flowing therethrough, and the amplifier configured to generate an input for the analog-to-digital converter based on a voltage across the sense resistor.
Sense-resistor voltage response and ADC digitization in generating method
Generating, with a sense resistor, a voltage response of a current flowing through the sense resistor, and generating, with an amplifier, an input for an analog-to-digital converter based on the voltage across the sense resistor; and generating, by the analog-to-digital converter, a first digital output based on at least one of voltages at positive and negative voltage output terminals of the pulse generator.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the combination of a pulse generator stage with a switch, a capacitive element, and a lossy-transformer-based switch driver producing switch control signal pulses, and an analog-to-digital converter generating a first digital output from at least one of voltages at the pulse generator’s positive and negative voltage output terminals, with optional current monitoring implemented via a sense resistor and amplifier feeding an ADC input.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
Interested in licensing this patent?