Transistor circuit operated in second breakdown mode driving a capacitive impedance

Claim 5

A circuit for driving an impedance having a substantial capacitive component and including a pair of leads, said circuit comprising: a. a transistor having an emitter electrode, a collector electrode and a base; b. means connecting one of said emitter electrode and said collector electrode to one of said leads of said impedance; c. means for connecting a source of voltage adapted to cause said transistor to conduct in its second breakdown mode between the other of said emitter and collector electrodes and the other of said leads of said impedance; d. means connected to said base of said transistor biasing said transistor into its non-conducting mode; e. means for applying a triggering voltage to said transistor to trigger said transistor into conduction in its second breakdown mode; f. a diode connected between said transistor and said source of voltage, the diode being connected to conduct forward current in the same direction as the base-emitter junction of the transistor; g. a capacitor connected from the junction between said diode and said transistor to said other of said leads of said impedance; and h. means biasing said diode into its non-conducting state when said transistor is triggered into its second breakdown mode of conduction.

Claim 6

A circuit for driving an impedance having a substantial capacitive component and including a pair of leads, said circuit comprising: a. a transistor having an emitter electrode, a collector electrode and a base; b. means connecting one of said emitter electrode and said collector electrode to one of said leads of said impedance; c. means for connecting a source of voltage adapted to cause said transistor to conduct in its second breakdown mode between the other of said emitter and collector electrodes and the other of said leads of said impedance; d. means connected to said base of said transistor biasing said transistor into its non-conducting mode; e. means for applying a triggering voltage to said transistor to trigger said transistor into conduction in its second breakdown mode; f. a diode connected between said transistor and said source of voltage, the diode being connected to conduct forward current in the same direction as the base-emitter junction of the transistor; g. a capacitor connected from the junction between said diode and said transistor to said other of said leads of said impedance; and h. means biasing said diode into its non-conducting state when said transistor is triggered into its second breakdown mode of conduction.

Claim 7

A circuit for driving an impedance as claimed in claim 3 comprising a. a further transistor having an emitter electrode, a collector electrode and a base, said further transistor being connected across said impedance with emitter and collector electrodes opposite to that of the first-mentioned transistor for conduction of current in the opposite direction; b. means connected to said base of said further transistor biasing said further transistor into its non-conducting mode; and c. means for applying a triggering voltage to said further transistor to trigger said further transistor into conduction in its second breakdown mode.

Claim 8

A circuit for driving an impedance as claimed in claim 4 further comprising

Claim 9

A circuit as claimed in claim 5 comprising a further source of voltage of opposite polarity from said source of voltage and connected between said further transistor and said other of said leads of said impedance.

Claim 10

A circuit for driving impedance as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means connected to said base of said transistor biasing said transistor to its non-conducting mode includes a resistor connected between said base and said source of voltage and wherein said means biasing said further transistor into its non-conducting mode includes a resistor connected between said base of said further transistor and said source of voltage.

Claim 11

A circuit for driving an impedance as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means for applying a trigger voltage to said transistor includes a capacitor connected to said base of said transistor and said means for applying a triggering voltage to said further transistor includes a capacitor connected to said base of said further transistor.

Claim 12

A circuit as claimed in claim 7 further comprising input means for a triggering voltage pulse including an RC discriminator network connected to said triggering voltage means; and wherein said means for applying a triggering voltage to said transistor comprises a capacitor connected between said RC discriminator and said base of said transistor and said means for applying a triggering voLtage to said further transistor comprises a capacitor connected between said RC discriminator and one of said emitter and collector electrodes of said further transistor.

Claim 13

A circuit for driving an impedance as claimed in claim 9 wherein a diode is interposed between said source of voltage and said resistor connected to said base of said further transistor.

Claim 14

A circuit for driving an impedance having a substantial capacitive component and including a pair of leads, said circuit comprising: a. a transistor having an emitter electrode, a collector electrode and a base; b. means connecting one of said emitter electrode and said collector electrode to one of said leads of said impedance; c. means for connecting a source of voltage adapted to cause said transistor to conduct in its second breakdown mode between the other of said emitter and collector electrodes and the other of said leads of said impedance; d. means connected to said base of said transistor biasing said transistor into its non-conducting mode; e. means for applying a triggering voltage to said transistor to trigger said transistor into conduction in its second breakdown mode; f. limiting means connected in circuit with said impedance, said other of said emitter and collector electrodes and said source of voltage, for limiting the energy through the transistor in said second breakdown mode of conduction to a level less than that which is distructive to the transistor, the limiting means being inoperative during non-conduction of the transistor; g. said means for applying a triggering voltage to said transistor, also applying an enabling signal to the limiting means to cause it to be operative upon triggering of the transistor.

Claim 15

A circuit for driving an impedance having a substantial capacitive component and including a pair of leads, said circuit comprising: a. a transistor having an emitter electrode, a collector electrode and a base; b. means connecting one of said emitter electrode and said collector electrode to one of said leads of said impedance; c. means for connecting a source of voltage adapted to cause said transistor to conduct in its second breakdown mode between the other of said emitter and collector electrodes and the other of said leads of said impedance; d. means connected to said base of said transistor biasing said transistor into its non-conducting mode; e. means for applying a triggering voltage to said transistor to trigger said transistor into conduction in its second breakdown mode; f. limiting means connected in circuit with said impedance, said other of said emitter and collector electrodes and said source of voltage, for limiting the energy through the transistor in said second breakdown mode of conduction to a level less than that which is distructive to the transistor, the limiting means being inoperative during non-conduction of the transistor; g. said means for applying a triggering voltage to said transistor, also applying an enabling signal to the limiting means to cause it to be operative upon triggering of the transistor.

Claim 16

A circuit according to claim 11 wherein the limiting means comprises a diode connected in series with the emitter and collector of the transistor poled for conduction in the same direction as the base-emitter junction, along with a capacitor connected between said other of the emitter and collector electrodes and said other of said leads.