Optical pseudospark switch

• US 5,399,941 A
• Filed: 05/03/1993
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Bernardes, Jack S., Stoudt, David C., Grothaus, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GAMBINO, DARUIS
• Application Number:
  US08/056,084
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 315/150, 315/153, 315/154, 315/344, 315/155, 315/156, 315/159
• US Class Current: 315/150
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 2/02 comprising a trigger electrode or an auxiliary spark gap

Abstract

Disclosed is a high-voltage, high-current, multichannel, optically-trigge switch with the potential for improved lifetime of operation. Triggering of the switch is accomplished by ultraviolet illumination of multiple cathode apertures via fiber-optic cables. The trigger optics for each channel, being composed of a fiber-optic cable terminated by some collimating optics, are protected from damaging metalization by enclosing them in an angled metal or dielectric tubes in the cathode backspace. The use of collimating optics at the output of the fiber allows the fiber to be recessed inside the shield tube, providing further protection from discharge by-products.

Claims

1. An improved optically-triggered pseudospark switch having an opposing cathode and anode mounted within a low pressure switch housing wherein the improvement resides in multiple fiber-optic cables forming a plurality of triggers corresponding to a plurality of apertures in the cathode and anode;

a plurality of conducting tubes shielding said multiple fiber-optic cables from metallization, said multiple fiber-optic cables being physically mounted within the cathode whereby the cathode forms said plurality of conducting tubes.

2. An improved optical pseudospark switch for use in a high-power, high-current and high-repetition rate current comprising:

a cylindrical anode cup having an extended base;

a cylindrical anode plate having a plurality of apertures, said cylindrical plate being affixed to said cylindrical anode cup;

a cylindrical cathode cup having an extended base opposing said cylindrical anode cup;

a cylindrical cathode plate having a plurality of apertures in correspondence with the apertures in said anode cylindrical plate constructed so that said anode cylindrical plate and said cathode cylindrical plate define a psuedospark discharge region;

an insulating cylinder having a first end attached to the extended base on said anode cup and a second end attached to the extended base on said cathode cup forming a low pressure switch cavity;

a plurality of fiber-optic trigger cables extending through a plurality of holes in said cylindrical cathode cup;

a plurality of conducting tubes forming a shield around each of said plurality of fiber-optic trigger cables electrically and sealably attached to said extended base of said cathode cup; and

collimating optics mounted within said plurality of conducting tubes whereby outputs of said fiber-optic trigger cables are focussed on the apertures in said cylindrical cathode plate.