Systems and Methods for Fast Kilovolt Switching in an X-Ray System
First Claim
1. A voltage switching system comprising:
- a two-channel inverter configured to receive a non-zero variable input voltage from a voltage source;
a first input channel and a second input channel each electrically coupled to the two-channel inverter;
a transformer having a primary winding in electrical communication with the first input channel and the second input channel, and a plurality of secondary windings; and
an active resonant circuit in electrical communication with the secondary windings of the transformer and configured to generate a switching output voltage at each of two different voltage levels, each of the two different voltage levels being different than the non-zero variable input voltage, the active resonant circuit comprising;
a plurality of switching devices arranged in an anti-parallel configuration;
a capacitor electrically coupled in series with the plurality of switching devices and configured to receive and store energy during a first portion of a resonance cycle and further configured to discharge the energy during a second portion of the resonance cycle;
an inductor electrically coupled in series with the capacitor and the plurality of switching devices and configured to transfer the energy to and from the capacitor during the resonance cycle; and
an output configured to be electrically coupled to a load.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a two-channel inverter for receiving a non-zero variable input voltage, first and second input channels each electrically coupled to the two-channel inverter, a transformer having a primary winding in electrical communication with the first and second input channels and secondary windings, and an active resonant circuit in electrical communication with the secondary windings for generating a switching output voltage at each of two different voltage levels. The active resonant circuit includes switching devices arranged in an anti-parallel configuration, a capacitor electrically coupled in series with the switching devices for receiving and storing energy during a first portion of a resonance cycle and for discharging the energy during a second portion of the resonance cycle, an inductor electrically coupled in series with the capacitor and the switching devices for transferring the energy to and from the capacitor during the resonance cycle, and an output.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A voltage switching system comprising:
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a two-channel inverter configured to receive a non-zero variable input voltage from a voltage source; a first input channel and a second input channel each electrically coupled to the two-channel inverter; a transformer having a primary winding in electrical communication with the first input channel and the second input channel, and a plurality of secondary windings; and an active resonant circuit in electrical communication with the secondary windings of the transformer and configured to generate a switching output voltage at each of two different voltage levels, each of the two different voltage levels being different than the non-zero variable input voltage, the active resonant circuit comprising; a plurality of switching devices arranged in an anti-parallel configuration; a capacitor electrically coupled in series with the plurality of switching devices and configured to receive and store energy during a first portion of a resonance cycle and further configured to discharge the energy during a second portion of the resonance cycle; an inductor electrically coupled in series with the capacitor and the plurality of switching devices and configured to transfer the energy to and from the capacitor during the resonance cycle; and an output configured to be electrically coupled to a load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of voltage switching comprising:
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receiving a non-zero variable input voltage from a voltage source; electrically communicating the non-zero variable input voltage to a primary winding of a transformer via a first input channel and a second input channel; switching a plurality of switching devices arranged in an anti-parallel configuration and coupled to a plurality of secondary windings of the transformer to generate a switching output voltage at each of two different voltage levels, each of the two different voltage levels being different than the non-zero variable input voltage; during a first portion of a resonance cycle, receiving and storing energy in a capacitor electrically coupled in series with the plurality of switching devices; during a second portion of the resonance cycle, discharging the energy stored in the capacitor; during the resonance cycle, transferring the energy to and from the capacitor via an inductor electrically coupled in series with the capacitor and the plurality of switching devices; and outputting the switching output voltage to a load. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of controlling voltage switching at an X-ray tube comprising:
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sending a first control signal on a first channel and a second control signal on a second channel from a stationary circuit to a gantry circuit via a slip-ring; and subsequent to sending the first control signal and the second control signal, sending a third control signal on the first channel and a fourth control signal on the second channel from the stationary circuit to the gantry circuit via the slip-ring, wherein the gantry circuit is located on a gantry, the gantry circuit in electrical communication with the stationary circuit via the first channel and the second channel, the gantry circuit comprising; a first transformer in electrical communication with a first circuit configured to provide resonant switching with energy recovery; and a second transformer in electrical communication with a second circuit configured to provide resonant switching with energy recovery. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification