Discrete microwave exciter and plasma light source device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a discrete microwave exciter and a plasma light source device, relating to the field of lighting technology. The plasma light source device includes a discrete microwave exciter. The discrete microwave exciter includes a housing, a controller, a signal generator, a power amplifier, an isolation protector, and an output terminal; the housing has a receiving cavity, the controller, the signal generator, the power amplifier, and the isolation protector are all located in the receiving cavity and connected to the inner wall of the housing, the controller, the signal generator, the power amplifier, and the isolation protector are stacked, and the output terminal is connected to the outer wall of the housing; the signal generator, the power amplifier, the isolation protector, and the output terminal are sequentially connected by a flexible wire, and the controller is connected to the signal generator, the power amplifier, and the isolation protector by a flexible wire. The discrete microwave exciter and the plasma light source device can reduce the overall aspect ratio and achieve a higher degree of integration by reasonably arranging each module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of lighting, and more particularly, to a discrete microwave exciter and a plasma light source device. Background Art

[0002] Traditional solid-state radio frequency sources (i.e., discrete microwave exciters) are all designed with a planar structure. That is, modules such as signal generators, signal controllers, power amplifiers, and isolation protectors are all on the same plane and distributed on the same substrate. Each part module of a solid-state radio frequency source with a specific power has a specific size. After being arranged in a plane, its aspect ratio is greater than 2:1, making the length and width dimensions of the solid-state radio frequency source designed with a planar structure quite different. Moreover, each module directly uses a welding connection method, which belongs to a hard connection. The radio frequency output port is also designed on the side end face, making it inconvenient to integrate with front-end and back-end devices.

[0003] Therefore, designing a discrete microwave exciter that can reduce the overall aspect ratio and achieve a higher degree of integration by reasonably arranging each module is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved at present. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention provides a discrete microwave exciter and a plasma light source device, which can reduce the overall aspect ratio and achieve a higher degree of integration by reasonably arranging each module.

[0005] The embodiment of the present invention can be implemented as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a discrete microwave exciter, which includes a housing, a controller, a signal generator, a power amplifier, an isolation protector, and an output terminal;

[0007] The housing has a receiving cavity. The controller, the signal generator, the power amplifier, and the isolation protector are all located in the receiving cavity and connected to the inner wall of the housing. The controller, the signal generator, the power amplifier, and the isolation protector are stacked, and the output terminal is connected to the outer wall of the housing;

[0008] The signal generator, the power amplifier, the isolation protector, and the output terminal are sequentially connected by flexible wires, and the controller is connected to the signal generator, the power amplifier, and the isolation protector by flexible wires.

[0009] In an optional embodiment, the housing is a cuboid structure, and the range of the aspect ratio of the housing is: 1.5 to 1.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, the housing includes a bottom cover and a top cover, and the top cover and the bottom cover are covered with each other to form a receiving cavity.

[0011] In an alternative embodiment, the top cover includes a top wall and a first side wall. The first side wall is connected to the edge of the top wall. The surface of the top wall close to the bottom cover is the first mounting surface, and the isolation protector is mounted on the first mounting surface.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, the surface of the top wall away from the bottom cover is the second mounting surface, and the output terminal is mounted on the second mounting surface.

[0013] In an alternative embodiment, the bottom cover includes a bottom wall and a second side wall. One end of the second side wall is connected to the edge of the bottom wall, and the other end of the second side wall is connected to the first side wall. The surface of the bottom wall close to the top cover is the third mounting surface, and the controller, the signal generator, and the power amplifier are all mounted on the third mounting surface.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment, the bottom wall is rectangular. The signal generator and the controller are respectively mounted at two adjacent corner positions on the bottom wall, and the power amplifier occupies the other two corner positions on the bottom wall.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a plasma light source device, and the plasma light source device includes the discrete microwave exciter according to any one of the foregoing embodiments.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment, the plasma light source device further includes a concentrator, a plasma lamp bead, and an optical reflector. The concentrator is mounted on the output terminal, the plasma lamp bead is mounted on the concentrator, and the optical reflector is mounted on the concentrator and surrounds the plasma lamp bead.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the output terminal has an external thread, and the concentrator has an internal thread, and the external thread and the internal thread cooperate with each other.

[0018] The beneficial effects of the discrete microwave exciter and the plasma light source device provided by the embodiments of the present invention include:

[0019] First, the controller, the signal generator, the power amplifier, and the isolation protector are stacked, and soft connections are adopted between the modules, so that the space utilization rate in the accommodation cavity of the housing is higher, the structure is more compact, the aspect ratio of the discrete microwave exciter is greatly reduced, which is beneficial to matching and integration with other front-end and rear-end components, and expands its scope of use; second, each module inside the discrete microwave exciter has higher independence, which is beneficial to signal isolation between modules without signal interference, and it is easy to achieve centralized heat dissipation for heat-generating components (such as the power amplifier), thereby improving the system energy conversion efficiency; finally, the three-dimensional design of stacking can facilitate flexible distribution and layout of each module according to actual needs to achieve diversified structural design and meet different matching requirements. Description of the Drawings

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the following will briefly introduce the accompanying drawings required for the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other related drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0021] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the discrete microwave exciter provided in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 For Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the upper cover and its connecting devices;

[0023] Figure 3 For Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the bottom cover and its connecting devices;

[0024] Figure 4 For Figure 1 Block diagram of the composition of the discrete microwave exciter;

[0025] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of the plasma light source device provided in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 For Figure 5 Block diagram of the composition of the plasma light source device.

[0027] Icons: 100 - discrete microwave exciter; 110 - housing; 111 - upper cover; 1111 - top wall; 1112 - first mounting surface; 1113 - second mounting surface; 1114 - first side wall; 112 - bottom cover; 1121 - bottom wall; 1122 - third mounting surface; 1123 - second side wall; 120 - controller; 121 - frequency control unit; 122 - power control unit; 123 - standing wave ratio control unit; 130 - signal generator; 140 - power amplifier; 150 - isolation protector; 160 - output terminal; 200 - plasma light source device; 210 - concentrator; 220 - plasma lamp bead; 230 - optical reflector. Detailed implementation manners

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0029] Accordingly, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] It should be noted that: Similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings. Therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent drawings.

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that if terms such as "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", etc. are used to indicate the orientation or positional relationship, it is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the invention product is usually placed during use. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus cannot be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0032] In addition, if terms such as "first", "second", etc. are used only for distinguishing descriptions, they cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] It should be noted that, without conflict, the features in the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0034] First Embodiment

[0035] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 , this embodiment provides a discrete microwave exciter 100. The discrete microwave exciter 100 includes a housing 110, a controller 120, a signal generator 130, a power amplifier 140, an isolation protector 150, and an output terminal 160. Among them, the housing 110 has a receiving cavity. The controller 120, the signal generator 130, the power amplifier 140, and the isolation protector 150 are all located in the receiving cavity and connected to the inner wall of the housing 110. The controller 120, the signal generator 130, the power amplifier 140, and the isolation protector 150 are stacked, and the output terminal 160 is connected to the outer wall of the housing 110. The output terminal 160 is an N-type coaxial output terminal.

[0036] Specifically, please refer to Figure 1 , the housing 110 is a cuboid structure, and the range of the aspect ratio of the length to the width of the housing 110 is: 1.5 to 1. In this embodiment, the aspect ratio of the housing 110 can be taken as 1. The housing 110 includes a bottom cover 112 and a top cover 111. The top cover 111 and the bottom cover 112 are covered with each other to form a receiving cavity.

[0037] Please refer toFigure 2 , the top cover 111 includes a top wall 1111 and a first side wall 1114. The top wall 1111 is rectangular, and the first side wall 1114 is connected to the edge of the top wall 1111. The surface of the top wall 1111 close to the bottom cover 112 is the first mounting surface 1112, and the isolation protector 150 is mounted on the first mounting surface 1112.

[0038] The surface of the top wall 1111 away from the bottom cover 112 is the second mounting surface 1113 (please refer to Figure 1 ), and the output terminal 160 is mounted on the second mounting surface 1113. In this way, in addition to realizing the function of power output, the output terminal 160 can also feed back the operation data of the connected load to the controller 120. A feedback adjustment mechanism can be embedded in the controller 120, and the controller 120 performs matching adjustment according to the fed-back operation data, so that the discrete microwave exciter 100 matches the load better.

[0039] Please refer to Figure 3 , the bottom cover 112 includes a bottom wall 1121 and a second side wall 1123. The bottom wall 1121 is rectangular, one end of the second side wall 1123 is connected to the edge of the bottom wall 1121, and the other end of the second side wall 1123 is connected to the first side wall 1114. The surface of the bottom wall 1121 close to the top cover 111 is the third mounting surface 1122, and the controller 120, the signal generator 130, and the power amplifier 140 are all mounted on the third mounting surface 1122. Specifically, the signal generator 130 and the controller 120 are respectively mounted at two adjacent corner positions on the bottom wall 1121, and the power amplifier 140 occupies the other two corner positions on the bottom wall 1121.

[0040] Please refer to Figure 4 , the signal generator 130, the power amplifier 140, the isolation protector 150, and the output terminal 160 are sequentially connected by flexible wires, and the controller 120 is connected to the signal generator 130, the power amplifier 140, and the isolation protector 150 by flexible wires.

[0041] In this way, the discrete microwave exciter 100 provided in this embodiment adopts a three-dimensional structure design. Different modules are arranged in a layered manner or modularly arranged using the side space, making the discrete microwave exciter 100 more three-dimensional, reducing the size difference in the length and width dimensions, and the aspect ratio is close to 1:1. In addition, the modules are connected by flexible wires, making its overall arrangement more flexible and variable, and achieving a higher front-end and back-end integration matching degree. In addition, a feedback adjustment mechanism is added for the load, avoiding the situation where the traditional radio frequency source and the load are mismatched and cannot be automatically matched and adjusted.

[0042] Among them, the controller 120 may include a frequency control unit 121, a power control unit 122, and a standing wave ratio control unit 123. The frequency control unit 121 is used to read and control the frequency of the microwave generated by the signal generator. The power control unit 122 is used to read and control the power of the microwave amplified by the signal amplifier. The standing wave ratio control unit 123 is used to read and control the standing wave ratio fed back by the isolation protector 150. Here, the standing wave ratio is the standing wave ratio between the output end and the load, and the matching and coupling condition between the RF source and the load is further reflected by the standing wave ratio at the output end. The smaller the standing wave ratio, the better the matching.

[0043] The working principle of the discrete microwave exciter 100 provided in this embodiment:

[0044] The controller 120 is mainly responsible for frequency adjustment, power adjustment, standing wave ratio comparison, and coordinating each unit to work according to a predetermined timing sequence. The signal generator is connected to the controller 120 through a bus and provides the corresponding microwave frequency to the controller 120. The signal amplifier is responsible for pushing the signal to the rated power output. The isolation protector 150 ensures the cascade between the microwave signal output end and the concentrator 210, and ensures that the performance of the signal amplifier is not damaged in the case of excessive output reflection. The controller 120 adjusts the output power in combination with the power signal fed back by the isolation protector 150 to match the working state of the load.

[0045] In addition to the above-mentioned modules, the controller 120 may further include a phase regulator, which is connected between the signal generator 130 and the power amplifier 140, so that the signal generated by the signal generator 130 undergoes phase adjustment and then enters the power amplifier 140 for power amplification.

[0046] The beneficial effects of the discrete microwave exciter 100 provided in this embodiment include:

[0047] First, the controller 120, the signal generator 130, the power amplifier 140, and the isolation protector 150 are stacked, and soft connections are used between the modules, so that the space utilization rate in the accommodation cavity of the housing 110 is higher, the structure is more compact, the aspect ratio of the discrete microwave exciter 100 is greatly reduced, which is beneficial to matching and integration with other front-end and rear-end components, and expands its scope of use; second, each module inside the discrete microwave exciter 100 has higher independence, which is beneficial to signal isolation between modules without signal interference, and it is easy to achieve centralized heat dissipation for heat-generating components (such as the power amplifier 140), thereby improving the system energy conversion efficiency; finally, the three-dimensional design of the stacked setting can facilitate flexible distribution and layout of each module according to actual needs to achieve diversified structural design and meet different matching requirements.

[0048] It is easy to understand that the discrete microwave exciter 100 provided in this embodiment is only a schematic structure. In other embodiments, the discrete microwave exciter 100 can be designed into three or more layers as needed. Except that the power amplifier 140 needs to be placed on the mounting surface of the bottom cover 112, other modules can be distributed on the bottom surface or side surface of any other layer inside the housing 110. There is no need to list them one by one here. Any three-dimensional structure that meets this layout requirement belongs to the scope protected by this embodiment.

[0049] In summary, each module inside the discrete microwave exciter 100, such as the signal generator 130, the power amplifier 140, the isolation protector 150, and the controller 120, etc., can be freely distributed in different areas inside the housing 110. It can be a stacked structure, including a three-dimensional structure of two layers, three layers or more than three layers. It can also adopt a triangular prism structure, and each module can make full use of the side space of the prism to arrange, so as to form a prism-shaped three-dimensional structure. It can also be other forms of three-dimensional structures. All the modules inside the three-dimensional structures are connected by flexible wires. These deformations should all belong to the scope protected by this embodiment.

[0050] Second Embodiment

[0051] Please refer to Figure 5 , this embodiment provides a plasma light source device 200. The plasma light source device 200 includes a concentrator 210, a plasma lamp bead 220, an optical reflector 230, and the discrete microwave exciter 100 provided in the first embodiment.

[0052] The concentrator 210 is installed on the output end 160. The output end 160 has an external thread, and the concentrator 210 has an internal thread, and the external thread and the internal thread cooperate with each other. The plasma lamp bead 220 is installed on the concentrator 210, and the optical reflector 230 is installed on the concentrator 210 and surrounds the plasma lamp bead 220.

[0053] The discrete microwave exciter 100 has a structure and size comparable to that of the concentrator 210. By threadedly connecting the output end 160 of the discrete microwave exciter 100 to the concentrator 210, not only is the coaxial connection between the two saved, but also the volume of the whole machine is reduced, achieving a higher integration degree.

[0054] Please refer to Figure 6 , the signal generator 130, the power amplifier 140, the isolation protector 150, the output end 160, the concentrator 210, and the plasma lamp bead 220 are connected in sequence. The controller 120 is connected to the signal generator 130, the power amplifier 140, and the isolation protector 150.

[0055] The working principle of the plasma light source device 200 provided in this embodiment:

[0056] The signal generator is connected to the controller 120 via a bus and provides the corresponding microwave frequency to the controller 120. The signal amplifier is responsible for pushing the signal to the rated power output. The isolation protector 150 ensures the cascade between the microwave signal output end and the concentrator 210, and ensures that the performance of the signal amplifier is not damaged in the case of excessive output reflection. After absorbing the microwave power, the concentrator 210 generates an electromagnetic field in the focusing area. The plasma lamp bead 220 is used to excite the plasma to emit light in the electromagnetic field generated by the concentrator 210. In addition, a feedback adjustment mechanism is added to the controller 120 for the plasma lamp bead 220, avoiding the situation where the traditional radio frequency source and the load are mismatched and cannot be automatically matched and adjusted.

[0057] The beneficial effects of the plasma light source device 200 provided in this embodiment include:

[0058] Each module inside the discrete microwave exciter 100 is stacked and is connected by a flexible connection, making the discrete microwave exciter 100 have a compact structure and a small aspect ratio. Moreover, the concentrator 210 is directly connected to the output end 160 of the discrete microwave exciter 100, not only eliminating the coaxial cable connection between the two, but also reducing the volume of the whole machine and achieving a higher integration level.

[0059] The above is only the specific implementation manner of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily thought of by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A discrete microwave exciter, characterized in that, The discrete microwave exciter includes a housing (110), a controller (120), a signal generator (130), a power amplifier (140), an isolation protector (150), and an output terminal (160); The housing (110) has a cuboid structure, and the aspect ratio of the length to the width of the housing (110) ranges from 1.5 to 1; the housing (110) has a receiving cavity, and the controller (120), the signal generator (130), the power amplifier (140), and the isolation protector (150) are all located in the receiving cavity and connected to the inner wall of the housing (110). The controller (120), the signal generator (130), the power amplifier (140), and the isolation protector (150) are stacked. The output terminal (160) is connected to the outer wall of the housing (110). The housing (110) includes a bottom cover (112) and a top cover (111). The top cover (111) and the bottom cover (112) are covered with each other to form the receiving cavity. The top cover (111) includes a top wall (1111) and a first side wall (1114). The first side wall (1114) is connected to the edge of the top wall (1111). The surface of the top wall (1111) close to the bottom cover (112) is a first mounting surface (1112), and the isolation protector (150) is mounted on the first mounting surface (1112). The bottom cover (112) includes a bottom wall (1121) and a second side wall (1123). One end of the second side wall (1123) is connected to the edge of the bottom wall (1121), and the other end of the second side wall (1123) is connected to the first side wall (1114). The surface of the bottom wall (1121) close to the top cover (111) is a third mounting surface (1122), and the controller (120), the signal generator (130), and the power amplifier (140) are all mounted on the third mounting surface (1122); The signal generator (130), the power amplifier (140), the isolation protector (150), and the output terminal (160) are sequentially connected by flexible wires, and the controller (120) is connected to the signal generator (130), the power amplifier (140), and the isolation protector (150) by flexible wires.

2. The discrete microwave exciter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the top wall (1111) away from the bottom cover (112) is a second mounting surface (1113), and the output terminal (160) is mounted on the second mounting surface (1113).

3. The discrete microwave exciter according to claim 1, wherein The bottom wall (1121) is rectangular. The signal generator (130) and the controller (120) are respectively mounted at two adjacent corner positions on the bottom wall (1121), and the power amplifier (140) occupies the other two corner positions on the bottom wall (1121).

4. A plasma light source device, characterized in that, The plasma light source device includes the discrete microwave exciter according to any one of claims 1-3.

5. The plasma light source device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The plasma light source device further includes a concentrator (210), a plasma lamp bead (220), and an optical reflector (230). The concentrator (210) is installed on the output end (160), the plasma lamp bead (220) is installed on the concentrator (210), and the optical reflector (230) is installed on the concentrator (210) and surrounds the plasma lamp bead (220).

6. The plasma light source device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The output end (160) has an external thread, and the concentrator (210) has an internal thread, and the external thread cooperates with the internal thread.

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