Thyristor turn-on circuit

Claim 2

A trigger circuit for providing gate signals to the gate of a high voltage controlled rectifier comprising: a. a controllable pulse train generator adapted for providing, on command, a burst of energy pulses; b. a transmitting antenna connected to said pulse train generator and adapted for transmitting said pulses; c. a receiving antenna coupled to The gate of said controlled rectifier and adapted for receiving said pulses, said receiving antenna being spaced from said transmitting antenna and being electromagnetically coupled thereto via a dielectric medium, whereby said gate is energized by said received pulses, which render said controlled rectifier conductive.

Claim 3

A trigger circuit as specified in claim 1 wherein said controlled rectifier comprises a semiconductor wafer disposed within a sealed housing and wherein said receiving antenna is disposed within said sealed housing.

Claim 4

A trigger circuit as specified in claim 1 wherein said pulses alternate in polarity and wherein said controlled rectifier is capable of being rendered conductive by either positive or negative gate signals.

Claim 5

A trigger circuit as specified in claim 1 wherein said antennae are loop antennae and wherein said pulse train generator comprises: i. energy storage means adapted for connection to a voltage source; and ii. switch means connected between said energy storage means and said transmitting loop antennae; said energy storage means and said transmitting loop antenna forming an oscillatory circuit which upon closure of said switch means produces a burst of oscillatory pulses.

Claim 6

A trigger circuit as specified in claim 4 wherein said oscillatory pulses alternate in polarity and wherein said controlled rectifier is capable of being rendered conductive by either positive or negative gate signals.

Claim 7

A trigger circuit as specified in claim 1 wherein a toroidal magnetizable core is disposed about a main electrode of said controlled rectifier and wherein a winding is provided about said core and connected in parallel with said transmitting antenna.

Claim 8

A trigger circuit for providing gate signals to the gates of at least two serially connected high voltage controlled rectifiers comprising: a. a controllable pulse train generator adapted for providing, on command, a burst of energy pulses; b. a first transmitting antenna connected to said pulse train generator and adapted for transmitting said pulses; c. a second transmitting antenna connected in parallel with said first antenna; d. a first receiving antenna, coupled to the gate of a first controlled rectifier and electromagnetically coupled via a dielectric medium to said first transmitting antenna; e. a second receiving antenna coupled to the gate of a second controlled rectifier and electromagnetically coupled via dielectric medium to said second transmitting antenna; said receiving antennae being adapted for receiving said pulses, whereby said gates are energized by said received pulses, which render said controlled rectifiers conductive.

Claim 9

A trigger circuit for providing gate signals to the gates of at least two serially connected high voltage controlled rectifiers comprising: a. a controllable pulse train generator adapted for providing, on command, a burst of energy pulses; b. a first transmitting antenna connected to said pulse train generator and adapted for transmitting said pulses; c. a second transmitting antenna connected in parallel with said first antenna; d. a first receiving antenna, coupled to the gate of a first controlled rectifier and electromagnetically coupled via a dielectric medium to said first transmitting antenna; e. a second receiving antenna coupled to the gate of a second controlled rectifier and electromagnetically coupled via dielectric medium to said second transmitting antenna; said receiving antennae being adapted for receiving said pulses, whereby said gates are energized by said received pulses, which render said controlled rectifiers conductive.

Claim 10

A trigger circuit as specified in claim 7 additionally comprising: f. a first toroidal magnetizable core disposed about a main electrode of said first controlled rectifier; g. a second toroidal magnetizable core disposed about a main electrode of said second controlled rectifier; h. a first winding provided about said first core and connected in parallel with said first transmitting antenna; and i. a second winding provided about said second core and connected in parallel with said second transmitting antenna.