Impulse generator circuit for the control of rectifiers

Claim 1

An impulse generator for periodically generating at a low frequency an impulse having a steep wavefront which maintains a predetermined polarity for a minimum time interval much smaller than the period at said frequency, comprising: a capacitor; a charging circuit connected to said capacitor including a direct current source for charging said capacitor from said source through a resistor; a series circuit made up of an inductance which forms the primary winding of a transformer whose secondary winding provides the output of said generator and a voltage controlled rectifier having an anode, a cathode, and an energizing electrode, said series circuit being connected in parallel with said capacitor; a diode connected in parallel with said voltage controlled rectifier between the anode and cathode thereof, and being poled oppositely to said rectifier; means for applying to said energizing electrode short duration control pulses at said low frequency; and said impulse generator being characterized in that the product of the resistance of said resistor by the capacity of said capacitor is much higher than said period and that said inductance and capacitor are so dimensioned that one-fourth of the free oscillation period of the resonant circuit formed thereby is substantially equal to said minimum time interval.