Electrical energy discharge control

• US 7,345,430 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Applied Energetics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ionatron, Inc.
• Inventors: Adler, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUYET THI
• Application Number:
  US11/345,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20070176561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 315/236, 315 46- 49, 315 94-107, 315/66, 315149-159, 315/209.R, 315/247, 315/248, 315274-287, 315/291, 315/307
• US Class Current: 315/158
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

Systems and methods presented herein provide for the control of electrical energy discharge from an electrode. In this regard, a sensor detects electrical energy discharged from the electrode and generates an electronic signal representative of a detected electrical energy discharge. Such a sensor may detect an electric field and/or light from the electrical energy discharge. The sensor may generate the electronic signal therefrom for subsequent processing. Accordingly, the system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor to determine a spurious discharge of the electrical energy discharge from the electrode. The controller processes the electronic signal to control at least one characteristic (e.g., voltage) of the electrical energy provided to the electrode. The controller may change a voltage of the electrical energy to the electrode in response to determining a spurious discharge of the electrical energy discharged from the electrode.

Claims

1. A system that controls electrical energy discharge from an electrode, including:

a sensor that detects electrical energy discharged from the electrode and generates an electronic signal representative of a detected electrical energy discharge;

a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the controller processes the electronic signal to control at least one characteristic of the electrical energy provided to the electrode;

a power supply that provides the electrical energy to the electrode; and

a switch communicatively coupled to the controller to pulse the electrical energy from the power supply to the electrode, wherein the controller operates the switch to control the pulse width of electric energy, wherein the electrical energy is substantially unipolar.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the electrical energy includes voltage of the electrical energy provided to the electrode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power supply is an arbitrary waveform generator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power supply is a loosely coupled transformer.

5. A system that controls electrical energy discharge, including:

a power supply that generates electrical energy;

an electrode coupled to the power supply to discharge the electrical energy;

a sensor that detects the electrical energy discharged from the electrode and generates a signal therefrom;

a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the controller processes the signal to control the voltage of the electrical energy in response to detecting the electrical energy discharged from the electrode; and

a switch communicatively coupled to the controller to pulse the electrical energy from the power supply to the electrode, wherein the controller operates the switch to control the pulse width of electric energy, wherein the electrical energy is substantially unipolar.

6. A system that controls electrical energy discharge from an electrode, including:

a sensor that detects electrical energy discharged from the electrode and generates an electronic signal representative of a detected electrical energy discharge;

a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the controller processes the electronic signal to control at least one characteristic of the electrical energy provided to the electrode;

a power supply that provides the electrical energy to the electrode; and

a switch communicatively coupled to the controller to pulse the electrical energy from the power supply to the electrode, wherein the power supply is a loosely coupled transformer.

7. A system that controls electrical energy discharge, including:

a power supply that generates electrical energy;

an electrode coupled to the power supply to discharge the electrical energy;

a sensor that detects the electrical energy discharged from the electrode and generates a signal therefrom;

a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the controller processes the signal to control the voltage of the electrical energy in response to detecting the electrical energy discharged from the electrode; and

a switch communicatively coupled to the controller to pulse the electrical energy from the power supply to the electrode, wherein the controller operates the switch to control the pulse width of electric energy, wherein the power supply is a loosely coupled transformer.