Portable electromagnetic acoustic transducer pulser controller

• US 5,708,354 A
• Filed: 12/18/1996
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McDermott Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: McDermott Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Overby, Charles B., MacLauchlan, Daniel T., Hancock, Jimmy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krishnan, Aditya
• Application Number:
  US08/768,733
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 323/264-265, 323/24-26, 323/22
• US Class Current: 323/265
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

A variable power source is provided having multiple power modules each of which can produce a portion of the total range of voltage required for pulsed operation of an electromagnetic acoustic transducer electromagnet. The power modules are connected in series, and controlled by individual potentiometers which are simultaneously adjusted. Selector switches are provided for enabling or disabling each module. The output of the power modules is connected to a pulser/controller for wave forming prior to sending the output signal to the electromagnet. A noise filter can be placed between the power modules and the pulser. LED-type indicators on the selector switches may be used to indicate the operational status of the modules.

Claims

1. A variable DC power supply for driving a pulser connected to an electromagnet of an electromagnetic acoustic transducer, the power supply comprising:

at least two variable voltage power modules, each module having positive and negative terminals, the modules electrically connected in series such that one positive terminal on one power module is a power module output, the modules for converting AC voltage to DC voltage;

an AC power supply connected to the at least two power modules;

potentiometer means for varying the voltage output of each power module;

diode protection means on each power module for preventing reverse voltages from forming across the positive and negative terminals of each module; and

switching means for selectively enabling and disabling each power module.

2. A variable DC power supply according to claim 1, further comprising noise filter means for producing a clean DC voltage to supply to the pulser connected to the output of the power modules.

3. A variable DC power supply according to claim 2, further comprising a voltmeter connected across the output of the power modules and a ground.

4. A variable DC power supply according to claim 3, wherein the diode protection means comprises at least two diodes, one diode connected between the positive and negative terminals of each power module, such that the cathode of each diode is connected at the positive terminal.

5. A variable DC power supply according to claim 4, further comprising an output diode connected between the output of the power modules and the noise filter, such that the anode of the output diode is connected to the output.

6. A variable DC power supply according to claim 5, wherein the switching means further comprises indicating means for indicating when each of the at least two power modules is enabled.

7. A variable DC power supply according to claim 6, wherein the at least two power modules comprises four power modules.