Precision variable delay using saturable inductors

Claim 2

An energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy to a laser system, comprising: a power supply; a capacitor capable of storing energy from the power supply; a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch; a switch operable to cause the transfer of energy from the capacitor to the first branch and the second branch; and wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core, and a first biasing circuit for controllably biasing the first saturable core, wherein biasing the saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a first output at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a second output at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.

Claim 3

The energizing apparatus of claim 1, further including: a first current source; wherein the first biasing circuit includes the first current source which supplies current to bias the first inductor by applying a magnetic field to the first saturable core of the first inductor, wherein the magnitude of the magnetic field applied to the first saturable core of the first inductor can be changed by changing the magnitude of the current supplied by the first current source; and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time can be varied by varying the current output by the first current source.

Claim 4

The energizing apparatus of claim 1, further including: a second biasing circuit; wherein the second branch includes a second inductor having a second saturable core; and wherein the second biasing circuit is operable to controllably bias the second saturable core, wherein biasing the second saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the second saturable core.

Claim 5

The energizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transfer circuit includes the capacitor, further comprising: a transformer which steps up a voltage from the power supply which is applied to an input of the transfer circuit.

Claim 6

The energizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second branch includes multiple loops, wherein each loop has a capacitor which transfers energy to either an intermediate storage capacitor or into a discharge load.

Claim 7

The energizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first branch includes multiple loops, wherein each loop has a capacitor which transfers energy to either an intermediate storage capacitor or into a discharge load.

Claim 8

The energizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first branch and the second branch share a common loop in which a capacitor transfers energy to either an intermediate storage capacitor or into a discharge load through an inductor.

Claim 9

The energizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy output by the first branch is applied to a preionization excitation circuit of the laser system, and the energy output by the second branch is applied to a main discharge stage of the laser system.

Claim 10

The energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy as in claim 1, wherein the laser system includes an oscillator and a power amplifier, and wherein the energy output by the first branch is applied to the oscillator and the energy output by the second branch is applied to the power amplifier.

Claim 13

The energizing apparatus of claim 10, further including: a first current source; wherein the first biasing circuit includes the first current source which supplies current to bias the first inductor by applying a magnetic field to the first saturable core of the first inductor, wherein the magnitude of the magnetic field applied to the first saturable core of the first inductor can be changed by changing the magnitude of the current supplied by the first current source; and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time can be varied by varying the current output by the first current source.

Claim 14

The energizing apparatus of claim 10, further including: a second biasing circuit; wherein the second branch includes a second inductor having a second saturable core; and wherein the second biasing circuit is operable to controllably bias the second saturable core, wherein biasing the second saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the second saturable core.

Claim 15

The energizing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transfer circuit includes the capacitor, further comprising: a transformer which steps up a voltage from the power supply which is applied to an input of the transfer circuit.

Claim 16

The energizing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second branch includes multiple loops, wherein each loop has a capacitor which transfers energy to either an intermediate storage capacitor or into a discharge load.

Claim 17

The energizing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first branch includes multiple loops, wherein each loop has a capacitor which transfers energy to either an intermediate storage capacitor or into a discharge load.

Claim 18

The energizing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first branch and the second branch share a common loop in which a capacitor transfers energy to either an intermediate storage capacitor or to a discharge load through an inductor.

Claim 19

The energizing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the energy output by the first branch is applied to a preionization excitation circuit of the laser system, and the energy output by the second branch is applied to a main discharge stage of the laser system.

Claim 20

The energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy as in claim 10, wherein the laser system includes an oscillator and a power amplifier, and wherein the energy output by the first branch is applied to the oscillator and the energy output by the second branch is applied to the power amplifier.

Claim 21

An energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy from a power supply to a laser system, comprising: a capacitor capable of storing energy from the power supply; a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch; a switch operable to cause the transfer of energy from the capacitor to the first branch and the second branch; and wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core, and a first biasing circuit for controllably biasing the first saturable core, wherein biasing the saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a first output at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a second output at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.

Claim 22

An energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy from a power supply to a laser system, comprising: a capacitor capable of storing energy from the power supply; a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch; a switch operable to cause the transfer of energy from the capacitor to the first branch and the second branch; and wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core, and a first biasing circuit for controllably biasing the first saturable core, wherein biasing the saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a first output at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a second output at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.

Claim 23

The energizing apparatus of claim 19, further including: a first current source; wherein the first biasing circuit includes the first current source which supplies current to bias the first inductor by applying a magnetic field to the first saturable core of the first inductor, wherein the magnitude of the magnetic field applied to the first saturable core of the first inductor can be changed by changing the magnitude of the current supplied by the first current source; and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time can be varied by varying the current output by the first current source.

Claim 24

The energizing apparatus of claim 19, further including: a second biasing circuit; wherein the second branch includes a second inductor having a second saturable core; and wherein the second biasing circuit is operable to controllably bias the second saturable core, wherein biasing the second saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the second saturable core.

Claim 25

The energizing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the transfer circuit includes the capacitor, further comprising: a transformer which steps up a voltage from the power supply which is applied to an input of the transfer circuit.

Claim 26

The energizing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second branch includes multiple loops, wherein each loop has a capacitor which transfers energy to either an intermediate storage capacitor or into a discharge load.

Claim 27

The energizing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first branch includes multiple loops, wherein each loop has a capacitor which transfers energy to either an intermediate storage capacitor or into a discharge load.

Claim 28

The energizing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first branch and the second branch share a common loop in which a capacitor transfers energy to either an intermediate storage capacitor or to a discharge load through an inductor.

Claim 29

The energizing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the energy output by the first branch is applied to a preionization excitation circuit of the laser system, and the energy output by the second branch is applied to a main discharge stage of the laser system.

Claim 30

The energizing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the laser system includes an oscillator and a power amplifier, and wherein the energy output by the first branch is applied to the oscillator and the energy output by the second branch is applied to the power amplifier.

Claim 33

The method for supplying electrical energy of claim 28 further including the steps of: storing electrical energy from a power supply in a capacitor; transferring electrical energy from the capacitor in response to the closing of a switch; transferring a first part of the energy transferred from the capacitor through the first branch; transferring a second part of the energy transferred from the capacitor through the second branch; biasing the first saturable core by applying a biasing magnetic field to the first saturable core; and outputting a first voltage from the first branch to the laser system at the first time and outputting a second voltage from the second branch to the laser system at the second time.

Claim 34

The method for supplying electrical energy of claim 29, further including the steps of: applying the first voltage to a preionization excitation circuit of the laser system, and the second voltage to a main discharge stage of the laser system.

Claim 35

The method for supplying electrical energy of claim 29, wherein the laser system includes an oscillator and a power amplifier, further including the steps of: applying the first voltage to the oscillator, and applying the second voltage to the power amplifier.

Claim 36

The method for supplying electrical energy of claim 28 further including the step of transforming a voltage from the power supply.

Claim 37

The method for supplying electrical energy of claim 28, wherein the second branch includes a second inductor having second saturable core, further including the step of: biasing the second saturable core by applying a biasing magnetic field to the second saturable core.

Claim 38

An energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy from a power supply to a laser system, comprising: a first capacitor capable of storing electrical energy from the power supply, and a second capacitor capable of storing electrical energy from the power supply; a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch; a switch operable to cause the transfer energy from the first capacitor to the first branch and from the second capacitor to the second branch; and wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core and a first biasing circuit for controllably biasing the first saturable core, wherein biasing the first saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to the laser system at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to the laser system at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.

Claim 39

An energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy from a power supply to a laser system, comprising: a first capacitor capable of storing electrical energy from the power supply, and a second capacitor capable of storing electrical energy from the power supply; a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch; a switch operable to cause the transfer energy from the first capacitor to the first branch and from the second capacitor to the second branch; and wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core and a first biasing circuit for controllably biasing the first saturable core, wherein biasing the first saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to the laser system at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to the laser system at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.

Claim 40

The energizing apparatus of claim 34, further including: a first current source; wherein the first biasing circuit includes the first current source which supplies current to bias the first inductor by applying a magnetic field to the first saturable core of the first inductor, wherein the magnitude of the magnetic field applied to the first saturable core of the first inductor can be changed by changing the magnitude of the current supplied by the first current source; and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time can be varied by varying the current output by the first current source.

Claim 41

The energizing apparatus of claim 34, further including: a second biasing circuit; wherein the second branch includes a second inductor having a second saturable core; and wherein the second biasing circuit is operable to controllably bias the second saturable core, wherein biasing the second saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the second saturable core.

Claim 42

The energizing apparatus of claim 34, wherein the transfer circuit includes the first capacitor and the second capacitor, further comprising: a transformer which steps up a voltage from the power supply which is applied to an input of the transfer circuit.

Claim 43

The energizing apparatus of claim 34, wherein the second branch includes multiple loops, wherein each loop has a capacitor which transfers energy to either an intermediate storage capacitor or into a discharge load.

Claim 44

The energizing apparatus of claim 34, wherein the first branch includes multiple loops, wherein each loop has a capacitor which transfers energy to either an intermediate storage capacitor or into a discharge load.

Claim 45

The energizing apparatus of claim 34, wherein the energy output by the first branch is applied to a preionization excitation circuit of the laser system, and the energy output by the second branch is applied to a main discharge stage of the laser system.

Claim 46

The energizing apparatus of claim 34, wherein the laser system includes an oscillator and a power amplifier, and wherein the energy output by the first is applied to the oscillator and the energy output by the second branch is applied to the power amplifier.

Claim 47

An energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy to a laser system, comprising: a power supply; a capacitor capable of storing energy from the power supply; a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch; a switch operable to cause the transfer of energy from the capacitor to the first branch and the second branch; and wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core, and a terminal for receiving a biasing current, wherein biasing the saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a first output at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a second output at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.

Claim 48

An energizing apparatus that supplies electrical energy to a laser system, comprising: a power supply; a capacitor capable of storing energy from the power supply; a transfer circuit having a first branch and a second branch; a switch operable to cause the transfer of energy from the capacitor to the first branch and the second branch; and wherein the first branch includes a delay stage, said delay stage including a first inductor having a first saturable core, and a terminal for receiving a biasing current, wherein biasing the saturable core alters the magnetic flux density of the first saturable core, wherein the first branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a first output at a first time, and the second branch is operable to transfer energy from the power supply to a second output at a second time, and wherein the amount of time between the first time and the second time is a function of the biasing of the first saturable core.