Stable high voltage pulse power supply

• US 4,992,719 A
• Filed: 07/24/1989
• Issued: 02/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Harvey, Robin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Application Number:
  US07/383,691
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/59, 363/60, 363/61, 307/109, 307/110, 320/1
• US Class Current: 363/59
• 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 high voltage stable pulse power supply 10 which includes a first power supply 11, ; a first capacitor 12 ; connected in parallel with the first power supply, a first switch 13 mounted in parallel with the first capacitor 12. The switch 13 selectively connects the first capacitor 12 to a load 14 so that the first capacitor 12 may discharge therethrough. An anti-droop network 15 is connected in series with the first capacitor 12. The anti-droop network 15 cancels droop in the output of the first capacitor 12 as it discharges into the load 14.

In a specific embodiment, the anti-droop network 15 includes an inductive element 42 connected in series with the first capacitor 12 which is charged just prior to the activation of the first switch 13. The inductor 42 provides energy to compensate for the droop in the energy supplied by the first capacitor 12. In a more specific embodiment, the first switch 12 is implemented with a Crossatron switch 31 and a modulating anode electron gun 32 to minimize system control voltages.

The present invention achieves coherent emission in a free electron laser, for long pulses, allowing selection of single modes.

Claims

1. A high voltage stable pulse power supply comprising:

a first power supply;

first capacitive means connected in parallel with said power supply for storing a charge provided thereby;

first switch means mounted in parallel with said first capacitive means for selectively connecting said first capacitive means to a load so that said first capacitive means may discharge therethrough; and

anti-droop network means connected in series with said first capacitive means for canceling droop in the output of said first capacitive means as said first capacitive means discharges into said load, said anti-droop network means including an inductor mounted in series with said first capacitive means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said anti-droop network means includes second capacitive means mounted in parallel with said inductor for discharging a stored charge therethrough.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said anti-droop network means includes a second power supply mounted in parallel with said second capacitive means and second switch means for selectively connecting said second capacitive means to said inductor.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein first switch means includes a modulating anode electron gun.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said modulating anode electron gun includes a cathode, a first modulating anode and a second anode.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said modulating anode is mounted about the periphery of said cathode.

8. The invention of claim 5 wherein said first capacitive means is a capacitor bank, said cathode being connected to a first tap thereof and said modulating anode being connected to a second tap thereof.

7. The invention of claim 7 wherein said first switch means further includes a Crossatron switch connected between said first capacitive means and said cathode of said electron gun.

9. A high voltage stable pulse power supply comprising:

a first power supply;

first capacitive means connected in parallel with said first power supply for storing a charge provided thereby;

first switch means mounted in parallel with said first capacitive means for selectively connecting said first capacitive means to a load so that said first capacitive means may discharge therethrough, said first switch means including a modulating anode electron gun having a cathode, a modulating anode, and a second anode connected to said load, said first switch means further including a Crossatron modulator switch connected between said first capacitive means and said cathode of said electron gun; and

anti-droop network means connected in series with said first capacitive means for canceling droop in the output of said first capacitive means as said first capacitive means discharges into said load, said anti-droop network means including;

an inductor mounted in series with said first capacitive means,

a second capacitive means mounted in parallel with said inductor for discharging a stored charge therethrough, and

a second power supply mounted in parallel with said second capacitive means and second switch means for selectively connecting said second capacitive means to said inductor.

10. In a high voltage pulse power supply having a power supply, a first capacitor connected in parallel with said power supply and a first switch for selectively connecting said capacitor across a load to allow said capacitor to discharge into said load, a method for canceling droop in the output of said capacitor during the discharge thereof including the steps of:

(a) connecting an anti-droop network in series with said capacitor, said network including an inductor connected in series with said first capacitor, a second power supply and a second capacitor in parallel with said inductor and a second switch between said capacitor and said inductor;

(b) charging the first capacitor;

(c) charging the second capacitor;

(d) activating said second switch to allow said second capacitor to discharge through said inductor; and

(e) activating said first switch to allow said first capacitor to discharge through said load.

11. The invention of claim 10 including the step of activating said first switch when said second capacitor has substantially discharged into said inductor.

12. A high voltage stable pulse power supply comprising:

a first power supply;

first capacitive means connected in parallel with said power supply for storing a charge provided thereby;

first switch means mounted in parallel with said first capacitive means for selectively connecting said first capacitive means to a load so that said first capacitive means may discharge therethrough; and

anti-droop network means connected in series with said first capacitive means for canceling droop in the output of said first capacitive means as said first capacitive means discharges into said load, said anti-droop network means including means for providing inductance.