ENERGY GENERATOR SYSTEMS WITH A VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED SWITCH

• US 20120242192A1
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Loki Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Loki Incorporated
• Inventors: Baird, Jason, Shkuratov, Sergey
• Granted Patent: US 8,487,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/319
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 99/10 Generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/183 using impacting bodies high voltage generators in spark lighters F23Q
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/45 by the use, as active elements, of non-linear magnetic or dielectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/53 by the use of an energy-accumulating element discharged through the load by a switching device controlled by an external signal and not incorporating positive feedback H03K3/335 takes precedence

Abstract

A first energy generating system comprises a ferromagnetic generator coupled to a voltage controlled switch. The ferromagnetic generator includes a ferromagnetic element generating a magnetic field and positioned within a pulse generating coil and near an explosive charge. Detonation of the explosive charge decreases the magnetic field and induces a pulse of electric energy in the pulse generating coil. When the magnitude of the electric energy reaches a certain level, the voltage controlled switch closes. A second energy generating system comprises a flux compression generator coupled to a voltage controlled switch. The flux compression generator includes a inductance coil generating a magnetic field within a metallic armature that includes an explosive charge. Detonation of the explosive charge changes the magnetic field and induces a pulse of electric energy in the inductance coil. When the magnitude of the electric energy reaches a certain level, the voltage controlled switch closes.

Claims

1. An energy generating system comprising:

a pair of output terminals to which a load is connected;

a power generator configured to generate a pulse of electrical energy; and

a voltage-controlled switch coupled to the power generator, wherein the voltage-controlled switch closes when the generated electrical energy pulse reaches a breakdown level and the switch transfers electrical energy to the output terminals, the voltage-controlled switch including;

a first output terminal and a second output terminal configured to couple the voltage-controlled switch to at least one component,

a first electrode and a second electrode coupled to the first output terminal and the second output terminal, respectively, and configured to possess a voltage therebetween, and

a dielectric film positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to become electrically conductive when the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode reaches the breakdown level.

2. The energy generating system of claim 1, wherein one of the first electrode or the second electrode has a shape configured to counter physical edge-effect phenomena.

3. The energy generating system of claim 1, wherein the power generator includes a ferromagnetic generator comprising:

a pulse generating coil,

an explosive charge, and

a ferromagnetic element configured to generate a magnetic field, the ferromagnetic element positioned within the pulse generating coil and in proximity to the explosive charge, such that detonation of the explosive charge decreases the magnetic field and induces electrical energy in the pulse generating coil.

4. The energy generating system of claim 1, wherein the power generator includes a ferroelectric generator comprising:

a ferroelectric element,

an explosive charge, and

a detonator coupled with the explosive charge, wherein the detonator is configured to detonate the explosive charge to generate a shock wave that propagates at least partially through the ferroelectric element to generate electrical energy.

5. The energy generating system of claim 1, wherein the power generator includes a flux compression generator comprising:

a metallic armature,

an explosive charge positioned within the metallic armature, and

an inductance coil positioned surrounding the metallic armature and configured to induce a magnetic field in the metallic armature, wherein detonation of the explosive charge changes the magnetic field and induces electrical energy in the inductance coil.

6. The energy generating system of claim 1, wherein the voltage-controlled switch is a first voltage-controlled switch and is connected in series with one of the output terminals and further including a second voltage-controlled switch connected in parallel with the pair of output terminals, wherein closing of the first voltage-controlled switch transfers a first pulse of electrical energy to the output terminals and closing of the second voltage-controlled switch transfers a second pulse of electrical energy to the output terminals.

7. The energy generating system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric film is solid material.

8. The energy generating system of claim 1, wherein closing the voltage-controlled switch delivers electric current to a load coupled to the energy generating system with a closing time between approximately 100 picoseconds to approximately 500 picoseconds.

9. An energy generating system comprising:

a power generator configured to generate a pulse of voltage between a pair of output terminals, the power generator including—

an explosively activated element,

an explosive charge, and

a detonator coupled with the explosive charger, wherein the detonator is configured to detonate the explosive charge to generate a shock wave that propagates at least partially through the explosively activated element to generate the voltage across the output terminals; and

a voltage-controlled switch that is connected to one of the output terminals of the power generator, wherein the voltage-controlled switch closes when the generated voltage pulse reaches a breakdown level, the voltage-controlled switch including—

a first output terminal and a second output terminal configured to couple the voltage-controlled switch to at least one component,

a first electrode and a second electrode coupled to the first output terminal and the second output terminal, respectively, and configured to possess a voltage therebetween, and

a dielectric film positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to become electrically conductive when the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode reaches the breakdown level.

10. The energy generating system of claim 9, wherein the explosively activated element is selected from the group consisting of a ferroelectric element, a ferromagnetic element, and a metallic armature.

11. The energy generating system of claim 10, wherein one of the first electrode or the second electrode has a shape configured to counter physical edge-effect phenomena.

12. The energy generating system of claim 9, wherein the voltage-controlled switch is a first voltage-controlled switch and is connected in series with one of the output terminals and further including a second voltage-controlled switch connected in parallel with the pair of output terminals, wherein closing of the first voltage-controlled switch transfers a first pulse of electrical energy to the output terminals and closing of the second voltage-controlled switch transfers a second pulse of electrical energy to the output terminals.

13. An energy generating system comprising:

a pair of output terminals to which a load is connected;

a power generator configured to generate a pulse of electrical energy as the result of a single explosive-driven event, the power generator including—

an explosively activated element,

an explosive charge, and

a detonator coupled with the explosive charge, wherein the detonator is configured to detonate the explosive charge to generate a shock wave that propagates at least partially through the explosively activated element to generate electrical energy; and

a voltage-controlled switch coupled to the power generator and configured to reduce the period of the electrical energy pulse, wherein the voltage-controlled switch closes when the generated electrical energy pulse reaches a breakdown level and the switch transfers electrical energy to the output terminals.

14. The energy generating system of claim 13, wherein the explosively activated element is selected from the group consisting of a ferroelectric element, a ferromagnetic element, and a metallic armature.

15. The energy generating system of claim 14, wherein one of the first electrode or the second electrode has a shape configured to counter physical edge-effect phenomena.