Patent US4809284A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4809284A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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RF transformer and diagnostic technique therefor
Assignee: QSource Inc
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Filing: 1988-03-22
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Granted: 1989-02-28
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Expires: 2008-03-22
Abstract
Abstract An RF transformer employs at least three elongated conductive elements in generally parallel spaced relationship. At least a first inductive element is connected between a pair of the conductive elements to provide a desired field distribution. A diagnostic technique for determining the frequency shift of the transformer employs a perturbing object which is selectively longitudinally positioned within the transformer. The transformer has particular utility as an RF excited gas laser.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter P. Chenausky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:39
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01F; H01F19/00; H01F19/04; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0975
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A transformer for use at frequencies in the RF range comprising: first conductor means, said first conductor means having a planar electrically conductive surface portion and being electrically grounded; second conductor means, said second conductor means having a planar electrically conductive surface portion, said second conductor means planar portion being spacially displaced from said first conductor means planar portion, said first and second conductor means planar surface portions cooperating to define therebetween an interior capacitance C x , said second conductor means also at least in part defining an exterior capacitance C L to ground; third conductor means, said third conductor means having a planar electrically conductive surface portion; means supporting said third conductor means such that the planar surface portion thereof is intermediate the planar surface portions of said first and second conductor means whereby said third conductor means divides said capacitance C x into a pair of capacitances C A and C B ; at least a first inductive element connected between a pair of said conductor means; means for applying a RF voltage between said first and third conductor means, the frequency of said RF voltage being chosen to provide a minimum voltage standing wave ratio; and means for coupling a load to said transformer means, said coupling means being connected between said second conductor means and ground.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A transformer for use at frequencies in the RF range comprising: first conductor means, said first conductor means having a planar electrically conductive surface portion and being electrically grounded; second conductor means, said second conductor means having a planar electrically conductive surface portion, said second conductor means planar portion being spacially displaced from said first conductor means planar portion, said first and second conductor means planar surface portions cooperating to define therebetween an interior capacitance C x , said second conductor means also at least in part defining an exterior capacitance C L to ground; third conductor means, said third conductor means having a planar electrically conductive surface portion; means supporting said third conductor means such that the planar surface portion thereof is intermediate the planar surface portions of said first and second conductor means whereby said third conductor means divides said capacitance C x into a pair of capacitances C A and C B ; at least a first inductive element connected between a pair of said conductor means; means for applying a RF voltage between said first and third conductor means, the frequency of said RF voltage being chosen to provide a minimum voltage standing wave ratio; and means for coupling a load to said transformer means, said coupling means being connected between said second conductor means and ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transformer of claim 1 wherein said inductive element is connected between the planar surface portions of said second and third conductor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transformer of claim 1 wherein said inductive element is connected between the planar surface portions of said first and second conductor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transformer of claim 1 wherein said inductive element is connected between the planar surface portion of said third conductor means and ground.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The transformer of claim 1 further comprising: fourth conductor means having a planar electrically conductive surface portion and being electrically grounded, said fourth conductor means being positioned with the planar surface portion thereof spaced from the planar surface portion of said second conductor means and on the side of said second conductor means opposite to said third conductor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transformer of claim 5 wherein said conductor means planar surface portions are parallel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transformer of claim 6 wherein said inductive element is connected between the planar surface portions of said second and third conductor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transformer of claim 6 wherein said inductive element is connected between the planar surface portions of said first and second conductor means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The transformer of claim 6 wherein said inductive element is connected between the planar surface portion of said third conductor means and said fourth conductor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transformer of claim 1 wherein said conductor means planar surface portions are parallel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
A diagnostic technique for determining the field distribution in a transformer designed for use at frequencies in the RF range comprising the steps of: connecting a source of RF energy to the input terminals of the transformer; introducing a field perturbing object into the space which in part defines the dielectric of the capacitance into which the transformer is to be loaded; and moving the perturbing object through the said space while measuring the shift in frequency of the voltage standing wave ratio minimum produced with the RF energy source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
A diagnostic technique for determining the field distribution in a transformer designed for use at frequencies in the RF range comprising the steps of: connecting a source of RF energy to the input terminals of the transformer; introducing a field perturbing object into the space which in part defines the dielectric of the capacitance into which the transformer is to be loaded; and moving the perturbing object through the said space while measuring the shift in frequency of the voltage standing wave ratio minimum produced with the RF energy source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the space through which the perturbing object is moved is elongated and the transformer includes at least a first inductive element, said method further comprising the step of: performing a physical alteration with respect to a component of the circuit comprising the transformer which has a reactive impedance inductive element if the measured frequency shift exceeds a pre-selected degree; and repeating the step of moving the perturbing object while measuring frequency shift.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the altered component is the first inductive element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
95 words
A diagnostic technique for determining the field distribution in a gas laser designed for excitation at frequencies in the RF range, the laser having input terminals connecting to electrodes, the technique comprising the steps of: connecting a source of RF energy to the input terminals of the laser; introducing a field perturbing object into the space which in part defines the gas discharge region of the laser; and moving the perturbing object through the said space while measuring the shift in frequency of the voltage standing wave ratio minimum produced with the RF energy source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
A diagnostic technique for determining the field distribution in a gas laser designed for excitation at frequencies in the RF range, the laser having input terminals connecting to electrodes, the technique comprising the steps of: connecting a source of RF energy to the input terminals of the laser; introducing a field perturbing object into the space which in part defines the gas discharge region of the laser; and moving the perturbing object through the said space while measuring the shift in frequency of the voltage standing wave ratio minimum produced with the RF energy source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
A diagnostic technique for gas lasers wherein an RF signal source is connected to the laser electrodes and a field perturbing object is introduced between the laser electrodes, the object is moved along a surface of one of the electrodes, and the resulting frequency shift in a resonant circuit which includes the capacitance defined by the laser electrodes is used to infer the relative uniformity of the electrode spacing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
A diagnostic technique for gas lasers wherein an RF signal source is connected to the laser electrodes and a field perturbing object is introduced between the laser electrodes, the object is moved along a surface of one of the electrodes, and the resulting frequency shift in a resonant circuit which includes the capacitance defined by the laser electrodes is used to infer the relative uniformity of the electrode spacing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
222 words
A transformer for use in transfer of energy to a medium comprising: first conductor means, said first conductor means having an electrically conductive surface portion; second conductor means, said second conductor means having an electrically conductive surface portion, said second conductor means surface portion being spacially displaced from said first conductor means planar portion, said first and second conductor means surface portions cooperating to define therebetween an interior capacitance C x , said second conductor means also at least in part defining an exterior capacitance C L to ground; third conductor means, said third conductor means having an electrically conductive surface portion, said second conductor means in part an active region whereby RF energy applied between said first and third conductor means is transferred to a medium in said region; means supporting said third conductor means such that the conductive surface portion thereof is intermediate the surface portions of said first and second conductor means whereby said third conductor means divides said capacitance C x into a pair of capacitances C A and C B ; at least a first inductive element connected between a pair of said conductor means; and means for applying a RF voltage between said first and another of said conductor means, the frequency of said RF voltage being chosen to provide a minimum voltage standing wave ratio.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
222 words
A transformer for use in transfer of energy to a medium comprising: first conductor means, said first conductor means having an electrically conductive surface portion; second conductor means, said second conductor means having an electrically conductive surface portion, said second conductor means surface portion being spacially displaced from said first conductor means planar portion, said first and second conductor means surface portions cooperating to define therebetween an interior capacitance C x , said second conductor means also at least in part defining an exterior capacitance C L to ground; third conductor means, said third conductor means having an electrically conductive surface portion, said second conductor means in part an active region whereby RF energy applied between said first and third conductor means is transferred to a medium in said region; means supporting said third conductor means such that the conductive surface portion thereof is intermediate the surface portions of said first and second conductor means whereby said third conductor means divides said capacitance C x into a pair of capacitances C A and C B ; at least a first inductive element connected between a pair of said conductor means; and means for applying a RF voltage between said first and another of said conductor means, the frequency of said RF voltage being chosen to provide a minimum voltage standing wave ratio.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The transformer of claim 16 wherein the second and third conductor means each comprise a plurality of axially spaced transversely extending plates.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transformer of claim 16 wherein the plates terminate in concave shaped end portions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The transformer of claim 16 further comprising a non-conductive gas discharge tube clamped to said second conductor means in C L .
Claim 25
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for modulating coherent light comprising the steps of: (a) directing the coherent light through a transformer; and (b) exciting the transformer with RF energy to modulate the light passing through the load capacitance of the transformer.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for modulating coherent light comprising the steps of: (a) directing the coherent light through a transformer; and (b) exciting the transformer with RF energy to modulate the light passing through the load capacitance of the transformer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of: (c) comparing the phase shift of the modulated light traversing the transformer with the phase of the RF excitation and generating a signal commensurate with the results of such comparison; and (d) employing said comparison signal to control the frequency of said coherent light.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-28 | 1992-08-29 | 1993-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-28 | 1996-08-29 | 1997-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-28 | 2000-08-29 | 2001-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |