MODULATOR SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A modulator system adapted to generate high voltage pulses suitable for supply across a high voltage load having a thermionic cathode, the modulator system comprising:
- a high voltage DC PSU;
a switching mechanism connected to the high voltage DC PSU and adapted to generate high voltage pulses from the high voltage PSU for application to a thermionic cathode of a high voltage load;
an isolation transformer;
a heater PSU adapted to be connected to a cathode heater through the isolation transformer and to provide an AC current to the cathode heater, the cathode heater being suitable for use with the thermionic cathode; and
a controller adapted toreceive pulse instruction signals and trigger generation of corresponding high voltage pulses by the switching mechanism,calculate the estimated arrival time of a next pulse instruction signal, based on the time between previous pulse instruction signals, anddisable the heater PSU for a preset time, commencing before the estimated arrival time of the next pulse instruction signal, such that no current is supplied from the heater PSU while current is supplied from the high voltage PSU.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a modulator system adapted to generate high voltage pulses suitable for supply across a high voltage load having a thermionic cathode, such as a magnetron. The modulator system comprises a high voltage DC PSU connected to a switching mechanism adapted to generate high voltage pulses from the high voltage DC PSU for application to a thermionic cathode of a high voltage load. The modulator system further comprises an isolation transformer; a heater PSU adapted to be connected to a cathode heater through the isolation transformer and to provide an AC current thereto. The modulator system further comprises a controller to receive pulse instruction signals and trigger generation of corresponding high voltage pulses by the switching mechanism, to calculate the estimated arrival time of a next pulse instruction signal, based on the time between previous pulse instruction signals, and disable the heater PSU for a preset time, commencing before the estimated arrival time of the next pulse instruction signal, such that no current is supplied from the heater PSU while current is supplied from the high voltage PSU.
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17 Claims
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1. A modulator system adapted to generate high voltage pulses suitable for supply across a high voltage load having a thermionic cathode, the modulator system comprising:
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a high voltage DC PSU; a switching mechanism connected to the high voltage DC PSU and adapted to generate high voltage pulses from the high voltage PSU for application to a thermionic cathode of a high voltage load; an isolation transformer; a heater PSU adapted to be connected to a cathode heater through the isolation transformer and to provide an AC current to the cathode heater, the cathode heater being suitable for use with the thermionic cathode; and a controller adapted to receive pulse instruction signals and trigger generation of corresponding high voltage pulses by the switching mechanism, calculate the estimated arrival time of a next pulse instruction signal, based on the time between previous pulse instruction signals, and disable the heater PSU for a preset time, commencing before the estimated arrival time of the next pulse instruction signal, such that no current is supplied from the heater PSU while current is supplied from the high voltage PSU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of generating high voltage pulses suitable for supply across a high voltage load having a thermionic cathode, the method operating in a modulator system comprising a high voltage pulse DC PSU adapted to be connected to a thermionic cathode, a heater PSU adapted to be connected to a cathode heater through an isolation transformer, the cathode heater being suitable for use with the thermionic cathode;
- and a controller, the method comprising
the heater PSU providing an AC current to the cathode heater; the controller receiving pulse instruction signals, each comprising instructions in relation to a requested high voltage pulse, calculating the estimated arrival time of a next pulse instruction signal, based on the time between previous pulse instruction signals;
for a particular requested high voltage pulse, disabling the heater PSU for a preset time longer than that of the requested high voltage pulse, commencing before the estimated arrival time of the next pulse instruction signal;
while the heater PSU is disabled, triggering generation of the requested high voltage pulse, corresponding to the pulse instruction signal, from the high voltage PSU. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- and a controller, the method comprising
Specification