Modular current supply
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A current supply system for a plasma gas discharge application, the current supply system comprising one or more current supply units each comprising:
- a plurality of separate and distinct current supply modules each having an input terminal, an output terminal, and its own control receptacle, the current supply modules connected such that each current supply unit has a single output connection that provides a maximum output power that is greater than the maximum output power of its individual current supply modules;
a control unit plugged into the control receptacle of a first of the current supply modules, and movable to any of the control receptacles of the other current supply modules of the current supply unit; and
a data connection connecting all the current supply modules of the current supply unit to the control unit such that the control unit is able to control all of the current supply modules of the current supply unit through connection to any one control receptacle of the current supply modules of the current supply unit.
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Abstract
A current supply system includes one or more, or a plurality of current supply modules that each includes an input terminal and an output terminal and that each has a maximum output power. Multiple current supply modules are electrically combined to form a current supply unit having a maximum output power that is greater than the maximum output power of the individual current supply modules, and a control unit is connected to the current supply unit. A data connection connects the control unit to all the current supply modules of the current supply unit.
23 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A current supply system for a plasma gas discharge application, the current supply system comprising one or more current supply units each comprising:
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a plurality of separate and distinct current supply modules each having an input terminal, an output terminal, and its own control receptacle, the current supply modules connected such that each current supply unit has a single output connection that provides a maximum output power that is greater than the maximum output power of its individual current supply modules; a control unit plugged into the control receptacle of a first of the current supply modules, and movable to any of the control receptacles of the other current supply modules of the current supply unit; and a data connection connecting all the current supply modules of the current supply unit to the control unit such that the control unit is able to control all of the current supply modules of the current supply unit through connection to any one control receptacle of the current supply modules of the current supply unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A current supply system for a plasma gas discharge application, the current supply system comprising one or more current supply units each comprising:
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a plurality of current supply modules each having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control receptacle, the current supply modules connected such that each current supply unit has a maximum output power that is greater than the maximum output power of its individual current supply modules; a control unit connected to one of the control receptacles and movable to any of the control receptacles of the other current supply modules of the current supply unit; and a data connection connecting all the current supply modules of the current supply unit to the control unit such that the control unit is able to control all of the current supply modules of the current supply unit through connection to any one control receptacle of the current supply modules of the current supply unit, wherein each current supply module includes a measuring device for measuring a current supply module output quantity and wherein measuring signals of the current supply modules are supplied to the control unit of the current supply unit in parallel via the data connection.
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23. A current supply system for a plasma gas discharge application, the current supply system comprising one or more current supply units each comprising:
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a plurality of current supply modules each having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control receptacle, the current supply modules connected such that each current supply unit has a maximum output power that is greater than the maximum output power of its individual current supply modules; a control unit connected to one of the control receptacles and movable to any of the control receptacles of the other current supply modules of the current supply unit; a data connection connecting all the current supply modules of the current supply unit to the control unit such that the control unit is able to control all of the current supply modules of the current supply unit through connection to any one control receptacle of the current supply modules of the current supply unit; and an output electrical conductor for electrically connecting the current supply modules of the current supply unit at an output side, wherein the output electrical conductor electrically connects the output terminals of two neighboring current supply modules and wherein the input terminal includes a plurality of connectors that correspond to a number of phases of a power line connection, and the output terminal includes two connectors, which are disposed in different conductor planes, and through which the conductors may be connected to corresponding connectors of neighboring current supply modules.
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24. A current supply system for a plasma gas discharge application, the current supply system comprising one or more current supply units each comprising:
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a plurality of current supply modules each having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control receptacle, the current supply modules connected such that each current supply unit has a maximum output power that is greater than the maximum output power of its individual current supply modules; a control unit connected to one of the control receptacles and movable to any of the control receptacles of the other current supply modules of the current supply unit; a data connection connecting all the current supply modules of the current supply unit to the control unit such that the control unit is able to control all of the current supply modules of the current supply unit through connection to any one control receptacle of the current supply modules of the current supply unit; an output electrical conductor for electrically connecting the current supply modules of the current supply unit at an output side;
wherein the output electrical conductor electrically connects the output terminals of two neighboring current supply modules; andinsulative distribution elements for connecting the conductors with the terminals, wherein the distribution elements each comprise receptacles for receiving ends of the conductors.
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25. A current supply system for a plasma gas discharge application, the current supply system comprising one or more current supply units each comprising:
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a plurality of substantially similar, separate, and distinct power converter modules having an input terminal, an output terminal, and its own control receptacle, the power converter modules connected such that each current supply unit has a single output connection that provides a maximum output power that is greater than the maximum output power of its individual power converter modules; a control unit plugged into the control receptacle of a first of the current supply modules, and movable to any of the control receptacles of the other current supply modules of the current supply unit; and a data connection connecting all the power converter modules of the current supply unit to the control unit such that the control unit is able to control all of the power converter modules of the current supply unit through connection to any one control receptacle of the power converter modules of the current supply unit; and an output electrical conductor for electrically connecting the power converter modules of the current supply unit at an output side, wherein the output electrical conductor electrically connects the output terminals of two neighboring power converter modules. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A current supply system for a plasma gas discharge application, the current supply system comprising one or more current supply units each comprising:
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a plurality of substantially similar power converter modules having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control receptacle, the power converter modules connected such that each current supply unit has a maximum output power that is greater than the maximum output power of its individual power converter modules; a control unit connected to one of the control receptacles and movable to any of the control receptacles of the other power converter modules of the current supply unit; a data connection connecting all the power converter modules of the current supply unit to the control unit such that the control unit is able to control all of the power converter modules of the current supply unit through connection to any one control receptacle of the power converter modules of the current supply unit; and an output electrical conductor for electrically connecting the power converter modules of the current supply unit at an output side; wherein the output electrical conductor electrically connects the output terminals of two neighboring power converter modules, wherein each power converter module includes a measuring device for measuring a power converter module output quantity and wherein the measuring signals of the power converter modules are supplied to the control unit of the current supply unit in parallel via the data connection.
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42. A current supply system for a plasma gas discharge application, the current supply system comprising one or more current supply units each comprising:
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a plurality of substantially similar power converter modules having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control receptacle, the power converter modules connected such that each current supply unit has a maximum output power that is greater than the maximum output power of its individual power converter modules; a control unit connected to one of the control receptacles and movable to any of the control receptacles of the other power converter modules of the current supply unit; a data connection connecting all the power converter modules of the current supply unit to the control unit such that the control unit is able to control all of the power converter modules of the current supply unit through connection to any one control receptacle of the power converter modules of the current supply unit; and an output electrical conductor for electrically connecting the power converter modules of the current supply unit at an output side, wherein the output electrical conductor electrically connects the output terminals of two neighboring power converter modules and wherein the input terminal includes a plurality of connectors that correspond to a number of phases of a power line connection, and the output terminal includes two connectors, which are disposed in different conductor planes, and through which the conductors may be connected to corresponding connectors of neighboring power converter modules.
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43. A current supply system for a plasma gas discharge application, the current supply system comprising one or more current supply units each comprising:
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a plurality of substantially similar power converter modules having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control receptacle, the power converter modules connected such that each current supply unit has a maximum output power that is greater than the maximum output power of its individual power converter modules; a control unit connected to one of the control receptacles and movable to any of the control receptacles of the other power converter modules of the current supply unit; a data connection connecting all the power converter modules of the current supply unit to the control unit such that the control unit is able to control all of the power converter modules of the current supply unit through connection to any one control receptacle of the power converter modules of the current supply unit; an output electrical conductor for electrically connecting the power converter modules of the current supply unit at an output side;
wherein the output electrical conductor electrically connects the output terminals of two neighboring power converter modules; andinsulative distribution elements for connecting the conductors with the terminals, wherein the distribution elements each comprise receptacles for receiving ends of the conductors.
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44. A method of providing an electrical current to a plasma gas discharge application, the method comprising:
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providing one or more separate and distinct current supply units each comprising a plurality of current supply modules each having an input terminal, an output terminal, and its own control receptacle, each current supply module has a maximum output power; establishing an electrical connection between the current supply modules of the current supply unit such that each current supply unit has a single output connection that provides a maximum output power that is greater than the maximum output power of its individual current supply modules; plugging a control unit into the control receptacle of a first of the current supply modules, wherein the control unit is movable to any of the control receptacles of the other current supply modules of the current supply unit; controlling the current supply unit with the control unit; connecting all of the current supply modules of the current supply unit to the control unit such that the control unit is able to control all of the current supply modules of the current supply unit through connection to any one control receptacle of the current supply modules of the current supply unit; and outputting the output power of the current supply unit. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification