Nanosecond pulse generator
First Claim
1. A pulse generator circuit for delivering a short high current pulse to a load comprising:
- a diode configured to store charges in its depletion layer when there is a forward flow of a current and to rapidly switch open after the depletion layer is substantially discharged by a reverse flow of a current;
a switch configured to allow storage of energy from a source when it is opened and to allow the forward current flow after it is closed;
a first resonant circuit configured to store energy from the source when the switch is opened and to provide the forward current flow through the diode after the switch is closed, thereby charging the depletion layer of the diode; and
a second resonant circuit configured to store the energy transferred from the first resonant circuit after the switch is closed and, solely due to the closure of the switch, to provide the reverse current flow through the diode until the depletion layer of the diode is substantially discharged, thereby causing the diode to rapidly switch open, and thereafter to provide a reverse current to the load.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a pulse generator circuit for delivering a short high current pulse to a load. This pulse generator comprises a junction recovery diode, a switch, a first resonant circuit and a second resonant circuit. The diode may be configured to store charges in its depletion layer when there is a forward flow of a current and to rapidly switch open after the depletion layer is discharged by a reverse flow of a current. After the diode rapidly switch opens, the pulse generator may provide a reverse current to the load. This pulse generator may be configured to generate at least one pulse that is having a length of no more than 100 nanoseconds at the full-width-at-half-maximum and an amplitude of at least 1 kilovolt. Electrodes may be connected to the pulse generator to deliver one pulse or plurality of pulses to biological cells such as tumor cells.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A pulse generator circuit for delivering a short high current pulse to a load comprising:
-
a diode configured to store charges in its depletion layer when there is a forward flow of a current and to rapidly switch open after the depletion layer is substantially discharged by a reverse flow of a current; a switch configured to allow storage of energy from a source when it is opened and to allow the forward current flow after it is closed; a first resonant circuit configured to store energy from the source when the switch is opened and to provide the forward current flow through the diode after the switch is closed, thereby charging the depletion layer of the diode; and a second resonant circuit configured to store the energy transferred from the first resonant circuit after the switch is closed and, solely due to the closure of the switch, to provide the reverse current flow through the diode until the depletion layer of the diode is substantially discharged, thereby causing the diode to rapidly switch open, and thereafter to provide a reverse current to the load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification