Simultaneous light triggering of thyristor arrays

Claim 2

An array of solid-state switches connected between a pair of terminals in which appears an electric potential, and light controlled gating circuit means for substantially simultaneously triggering all of said solid-state switches from the nonconducting to thE conducting state characterized by an individual gating circuit coupled to each solid-state switch including a light activated semiconductor device and a continuously available source of gating signal energy deriving power from an individual power supply, wherein each gating circuit power supply comprises a resonant circuit including an inductive component and a capacitive component tuned to a preselected high frequency, said inductive components being magnetically coupled to one another and to a power coil driven at the preselected frequency, and a single light source emitting light that is optically coupled to each light activated semiconductor device to render conductive said light activated devices simultaneously and thereby generate a gating signal in each individual gating circuit.

Claim 3

A circuit according to claim 1 wherein said solid-state switches are connected in series circuit relationship between said terminals.

Claim 4

A circuit according to claim 1 wherein said solid-state switches are connected in parallel circuit relationship between said terminals.

Claim 5

A circuit according to claim 1 wherein said source of gating signal energy in each individual gating circuit is a charged capacitor effectively coupled in series with its respective light activated semiconductor device.

Claim 6

A circuit according to claim 4 wherein each individual gating circuit power supply includes a rectifier coupled to its respective resonant circuit for supplying a unidirectional voltage to charge its respective capacitor.

Claim 7

A circuit according to claim 5 wherein said inductive component in each individual gating circuit power supply and said power coil are all toroids with magnetic cores, said toroids being stacked flat one upon the other separated by insulation.

Claim 8

A circuit according to claim 6 wherein each rectifier includes an output coil wound on its respective power supply toroid.

Claim 9

An array of gate controlled power thyristors connected between a pair of supply terminals in which appears an electric potential, and light controlled gating circuit means for substantially simultaneously triggering all of said power thyristors from the non-conducting to the conducting state characterized by an individual gating circuit coupled between the gate and one load terminal of each power thyristor including a light activated semiconductor device and a source of gating signal energy that derives power from an individual low voltage power supply and is in an energized condition as the voltage at said load terminal passes through zero, said individual gating circuit power supplies being magnetically coupled and in turn powered by a high frequency coil driven at a preselected frequency, and a common light emitting diode for emitting a light pulse that is optically coupled to each light activated semiconductor device to render conductive said light activated devices simultaneously and thereby generate a gating signal in each individual gating circuit.

Claim 10

An array of gate controlled power thyristors connected between a pair of supply terminals in which appears an electric potential, and light controlled gating circuit means for substantially simultaneously triggering all of said power thyristors from the non-conducting to the conducting state characterized by an individual gating circuit coupled between the gate and one load terminal of each power thyristor including a light activated semiconductor device and a source of gating signal energy that derives power from an individual low voltage power supply and is in an energized condition as the voltage at said load terminal passes through zero, said individual gating circuit power supplies being magnetically coupled and in turn powered by a high frequency coil driven at a preselected frequency, and a common light emitting diode for emitting a light pulse that is optically coupled to each light activated semiconductor device to render conductive said light activated devices simultaneously and thereby generate a gating signal in each individual gating circuit.

Claim 11

A circuit according to claim 8 wherein each individual gating circuit power supply comprises a parallel resonant circuit including an inductive coil and a high frequency capacitor turned to the preselected frequency, and said gating circuit inductive coil and said power coil are magnetically coupled together.

Claim 12

A circuit according to claim 9 wherein said source of gating signal energy in each individual gating circuit is a charged capacitor, and each gating circuit power supply further includes an output coil coupled to its respective resonant circuit coil and other rectifier components for deriving a unidirectional voltage to charge its respective charged capacitor.

Claim 13

A circuit according to claim 10 wherein said power thyristors are connected in series circuit relationship between said supply terminals.