High pulse rate, high duty factor line modulator type pulse generators

Claim 2

A line modulator type pulse generator for applying pulses of electrical energy to a load circuit, said generator comprising: a pulse forming network adapted for storing electrical energy and having a plurality of capacitance elements intercoupled by a plurality of inductance elements such that first terminals of each of said capacitance elements are interconnected, and second terminals of said capacitance elements are intercoupled through said inductance elements so as to form a plurality of energy storage stages with each energy storage stage comprising one of said capacitance elements; voltage supply means for resonant charging said pulse forming network, said voltage supply means including a pair of output terminals with one of said output terminals connected to said first terminals of said capacitance elements; switching means coupled across one of said energy storage stages for periodically applying energy from said pulse forming network to the load circuit; and wherein the improvement comprises a plurality of unidirectional current conducting devices coupled between said pulse forming network and said voltage supply means such that the second terminal of each one of a preselected plurality of said capacitance elements is coupled through an associated unidirectional current conducting device to the other output terminal of said voltage supply means.

Claim 3

The pulse generator of claim 1 wherein each of said unidirectional current conducting devices comprises at least one diode.

Claim 4

The pulse generator of claim 1 wherein each of said unidirectional current conducting devices comprises at least one silicon controlled rectifier.

Claim 5

The pulse generator of claim 1 wherein said voltage supply means includes a direct current potential source series coupled with a charging choke.

Claim 6

The pulse generator of claim 1 wherein said voltage supply means includes a series coupled arrangement of a direct current potential source, a charging choke, a primary winding of a transformer and a switching device; and a secondary winding of said transformer coupled to said output terminals of said voltage supply means.

Claim 7

A line modulator type pulse generator for applying pulses of electrical energy to a load circuit, said generator comprising: a pulse forming network adapted for storing electrical energy and having a plurality of capacitance elements interconnected by a plurality of inductance elements; voltage supply means for resonant charging said pulse forming network, said voltage supply means including a pair of output terminals with one of said output terminals coupled to one terminal of each of said capacitance elements; switching means for periodically applying energy from said pulse forming network to the load circuit; and wherein the improvement comprises a plurality of unidirectional current conducting devices coupled between said pulse forming network and said voltage supply means such that the other terminal of each one of a preselected plurality of said capacitance elements is coupled through an associated unidirectional current conducting device to the other output terminal of said voltage supply means; and wherein said unidirectional current conducting devices comprise at least two silicon controlled rectifiers; and said pulse generator comprises means for sequentially applying trigger pulses to the gate terminals of said silicon controlled rectifiers so as to cause various ones of said silicon controlled rectifiers to be conductive during different tiMe periods.

Claim 8

A line modulator type pulse generator for applying pulses of electrical energy to a load circuit, said generator comprising: a pulse forming network adapted for storing electrical energy and having a plurality of capacitance elements interconnected by a plurality of inductance elements; voltage supply means for resonant charging said pulse forming network, said voltage supply means including a pair of output terminals with one of said output terminals coupled to one terminal of each of said capacitance elements; switching means for periodically applying energy from said pulse forming network to the load circuit; and wherein the improvement comprises a plurality of unidirectional current conducting devices coupled between said pulse forming network and said voltage supply means such that the other terminal of each one of a preselected plurality of said capacitance elements is coupled through an associated unidirectional current conducting device to the other output terminal of said voltage supply means; and wherein said unidirectional current conducting devices comprise at least two silicon controlled rectifiers; and said pulse generator comprises means for sequentially applying trigger pulses to the gate terminals of said silicon controlled rectifiers so as to cause various ones of said silicon controlled rectifiers to be conductive during different tiMe periods.