Flashlamp discharge circuit

Claim 2

Appraratus for operating a gas filled flashlamp discharge device having a pair of opposed electrodes comprising: a. main discharge circuit means including a high current flow path and first fast-acting electrically actuated switching means, said switching means having a delay time not greater than about a microsecond, said discharge circuit means being coupled to said electrodes for supplying to said electrodes through said high current flow path pulses of high current flow sufficient to operate said flashlamp device at a predetermined level of optical radiation, the said flow path for said high current flow including electrically conductive metallic means disposed immediately adjacent and extending substantially the length of said flashlamp device, a main discharge capacitor, and said first switching means, said flow path comprising a forward current flow path to one of said electrodes of said flashlamp device and a return flow path from the other of said electrodes, said return flow path being in close proximity, equal and opposite to said forward flow path to provide substantially minimum inductance in said flow path; b. ionizing circuit means including second fast-acting electrically actuated switching means, said ionizing circuit means being coupled to said electrodes for supplying to said electrodes pulses of high voltage low current flow sufficient to at least substantially ionize said gas within about the delay time of said first switching means with a level of optical radiation substantially less than said predetermined level; and c. trigger circuit means actuated by said ionizing circuit means for supplying a trigger pulse to and triggering said first switching means and couple said pulses of high current flow to said said electrodes afTer said gas has been ionized whereby a pulse of said high current flow from said main discharge circuit is coupled to said electrodes only at about the end of each pulse of said high voltage low current flow from said ionizing circuit.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said ionizing circuit means includes transformer means having a first high voltage secondary winding coupled to said flashlamp device and a second secondary winding forming part of said trigger circuit means coupled to said first switching means.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said flow path further includes electrically conductive means surrounding said first switching means and said main discharge capacitor.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said electrically conductive means is an optical reflector for conducting said high current flow and directing optical radiation produced by said flashlamp device.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said low current flow supplied to said flashlamp device by said ionizing circuit means is negative with respect to said high current flow.

Claim 7

Apparatus for operating a gas filled flashlamp discharge device having a pair of opposed electrodes comprising: a. main discharge circuit means including first thyratron switching means having a delay time of not greater than about a microsecond for repetitively supplying to said electrodes pulses of high current flow sufficient to operate said flashlamp device at a predetermined level of optical radiation, said main discharge circuit means further including electrically conductive optical reflector means disposed adjacent and extending substantially the length of said flashlamp device for conducting said high current flow and directing optical radiation produced by said flashlamp device; a main discharge capacitor connected to said first switching means, one end of said reflector means being connected to one of said flashlamp device electrodes; and electrically conductive means surrounding said first switching means and said capacitor, said conductive means being electrically interconnected and connected to ground, said reflector means, capacitor, first switching means, and electrically conductive means defining a current flow path comprising a forward current flow path to one of said electrodes of said flashlamp device and a return flow path from the other of said electrodes, said return flow path being in close proximity, equal and opposite to said forward flow path to provide substantially minimum inductance in said flow path; b. ionizing circuit means including second switching means coupled to said electrodes for repetitively supplying to said electrodes pulses of high voltage low current flow sufficient to at least substantially ionize said gas within about the delay time of said first switching means with a level of optical radiation substantially less than said predetermined level, said ionizing circuit means further including transformer means having a high voltage secondary winding coupled to said flashlamp device; and c. trigger circuit means actuated by said ionizing circuit means for supplying a trigger pulse to and triggering said first switching means and thereby coupling said high current flow to said electrodes after said gas has been ionized, said trigger circuit means further including a low voltage secondary winding forming part of said transformer means whereby a pulse of said high current flow from said main discharge circuit is coupled to said electrodes only at about the end of each pulse of said high voltage low current flow from said ionizing circuit and within about a microsecond after a pulse of said high voltage low current flow from said ionizing circuit means is coupled to said electrodes.

Claim 8

Apparatus for operating a gas filled flashlamp discharge device having a pair of opposed electrodes comprising: a. main discharge circuit means including first thyratron switching means having a delay time of not greater than about a microsecond for repetitively supplying to said electrodes pulses of high current flow sufficient to operate said flashlamp device at a predetermined level of optical radiation, said main discharge circuit means further including electrically conductive optical reflector means disposed adjacent and extending substantially the length of said flashlamp device for conducting said high current flow and directing optical radiation produced by said flashlamp device; a main discharge capacitor connected to said first switching means, one end of said reflector means being connected to one of said flashlamp device electrodes; and electrically conductive means surrounding said first switching means and said capacitor, said conductive means being electrically interconnected and connected to ground, said reflector means, capacitor, first switching means, and electrically conductive means defining a current flow path comprising a forward current flow path to one of said electrodes of said flashlamp device and a return flow path from the other of said electrodes, said return flow path being in close proximity, equal and opposite to said forward flow path to provide substantially minimum inductance in said flow path; b. ionizing circuit means including second switching means coupled to said electrodes for repetitively supplying to said electrodes pulses of high voltage low current flow sufficient to at least substantially ionize said gas within about the delay time of said first switching means with a level of optical radiation substantially less than said predetermined level, said ionizing circuit means further including transformer means having a high voltage secondary winding coupled to said flashlamp device; and c. trigger circuit means actuated by said ionizing circuit means for supplying a trigger pulse to and triggering said first switching means and thereby coupling said high current flow to said electrodes after said gas has been ionized, said trigger circuit means further including a low voltage secondary winding forming part of said transformer means whereby a pulse of said high current flow from said main discharge circuit is coupled to said electrodes only at about the end of each pulse of said high voltage low current flow from said ionizing circuit and within about a microsecond after a pulse of said high voltage low current flow from said ionizing circuit means is coupled to said electrodes.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said main discharge capacitor is connected between said first switching means and the other end of said reflector means, and the other of said flashlamp device electrodeS is connected to said electrically conductive means remote from said ground connection whereby said high flow flows from said other electrode through said electrically conductive means to ground.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said main discharge capacitor is connected between said first switching means and the other of said flashlamp device electrodes, and the other end of said reflector means is connected to said electrically conductive means remote from said ground connection whereby said high current flow flows from said other end of said reflector means through said electrically conductive means to ground.