Adjustable spark aerosol circuit, method, equipment and medium

Abstract

The invention provides an adjustable spark aerosol circuit, method, device and medium, the circuit comprises a direct current power supply connected with a first loop, a second loop, a third loop and a control unit, and the direct current is stored as a first direct current voltage in response to a first PWM pulse of the control unit; the second loop receives a second PWM pulse of the control unit, converts the first direct-current voltage into a first high-voltage pulse and applies the first high-voltage pulse to the electrode gap; the third loop receives a third PWM pulse of the control unit, releases the first direct-current voltage to the broken-down electrode gap in the form of a first current pulse, and generates sparks to ablate the electrode to generate metal aerosol; the impedance detection unit detects the real-time impedance of the electrode gap and feeds back the real-time impedance to the control unit, so that the control unit adjusts the PWM pulse according to the real-time impedance. Through the circuit, the problems of unstable aerosol yield, large particle size and signal fluctuation are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of trace element analysis and nanomaterial preparation technology, and more specifically, to an adjustable spark aerosol circuit, method, apparatus and medium. Background Technology

[0002] Direct sample introduction techniques for solid samples, especially spark ablation, have attracted much attention because they can directly convert conductive samples into aerosols and introduce them into detection instruments such as inductively coupled plasma (ICP). This technique avoids the complex wet digestion process and has significant advantages such as fast analysis speed, avoidance of reagent contamination, and applicability to poorly soluble samples.

[0003] However, through in-depth research and practice, the inventors discovered that existing spark ablation techniques still face inherent technical bottlenecks in achieving stable and efficient generation of ideal nano-aerosols. Specifically, the spark discharge process itself is a dynamic and complex process involving multiple coupled parameters, and its stability and efficiency are significantly affected by various factors such as electrode material, gap distance, and environmental conditions. Existing solutions often exhibit insufficient adaptability when facing these dynamic changes, resulting in aerosols that fail to meet the requirements of high-precision trace analysis in terms of particle size distribution, yield, and stability.

[0004] Therefore, a solution is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide an adjustable spark aerosol circuit, method, device, and medium to solve the problem of unstable aerosol production, large particle size, and signal fluctuation caused by the time-varying state of the electrode gap in existing spark ablation technology.

[0006] In a first aspect, an adjustable spark aerosol circuit includes: a control unit, a first circuit, a second circuit, a third circuit, an electrode gap between two metal electrodes, and an impedance detection unit. The input terminal of the first circuit is connected to a DC power supply, and the output terminal is connected to the input terminals of the second and third circuits respectively. The control terminal receives the first PWM pulse from the control unit and is used to convert and store the DC power output by the DC power supply as a first DC voltage in response to the first PWM pulse. The control terminal of the second circuit receives the second PWM pulse from the control unit, and the energy terminal is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit. It is used to convert the first DC voltage into a first high voltage pulse and apply it to the electrode gap to break down the electrode gap and form an ionization channel. The voltage value of the first high voltage pulse is higher than the breakdown voltage of the electrode gap. The control terminal of the third circuit receives the third PWM pulse from the control unit, and the energy terminal is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit. It is used to release the first DC voltage in the form of a first current pulse to the broken electrode gap to generate a spark to ablate the electrode and generate metal aerosol; the current value of the first current pulse reaches the intensity of vaporizing the metal electrode. The impedance detection unit is connected to both ends of the electrode gap and is used to collect the voltage and current signals applied when the third circuit is working, obtain the real-time impedance, and feed the real-time impedance back to the control unit; The control unit is used to adjust the parameters of the first PWM pulse and / or the third PWM pulse based on the real-time impedance, so as to adapt different spark energies and durations for different discharge states based on the real-time impedance.

[0007] In an optional implementation, the first circuit includes a push-pull boost circuit and a rectifier circuit connected in sequence. The push-pull boost circuit includes two switching transistors and a transformer, the transformer including two primary windings and one secondary winding; The first ends of the two primary windings are respectively connected to the two switching transistors; the second ends of the two primary windings are connected to a DC power supply. The two switching transistors are used to alternately turn on in response to the first PWM pulse, so that the current of the DC power supply alternately flows through one of the primary windings, thereby inducing a first AC voltage on the secondary winding. The rectifier circuit is connected to the secondary winding and is used to convert the first AC voltage into the first DC voltage and charge the energy storage capacitor.

[0008] In an optional implementation, the second circuit includes: a switching transistor and a high-frequency transformer; The switching transistor is connected to the control unit; The primary winding of the high-frequency transformer is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit via the switching transistor, and the secondary winding of the high-frequency transformer is connected to the electrode gap. The switching transistor is used to turn on and / or turn off in response to the second PWM pulse output by the control unit, chopping the first DC voltage into a pulse and applying it to the primary winding of the high-frequency transformer, thereby forming the first high-voltage pulse on the electrode gap.

[0009] In an optional implementation, the third circuit includes a switching transistor and a high-frequency transformer; The switching transistor is connected to the control unit; The primary winding of the high-frequency transformer is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit via the switching transistor, and the secondary winding of the high-frequency transformer is connected to the electrode gap. The switching transistor is turned on in response to the third PWM pulse output by the control unit, so that the first DC voltage is applied to the primary winding of the high-frequency transformer, thereby generating the first current pulse on the electrode gap.

[0010] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide an adjustable spark aerosol method, applied to a control unit of an adjustable spark aerosol circuit as described in any of the first aspects, the method including cyclically executed charging operation, breakdown operation, ablation operation and adjustment operation; The charging operation includes: outputting a first PWM pulse to drive the first circuit to convert the DC power from the DC power supply into a first DC voltage; The breakdown operation includes: outputting a second PWM pulse to drive the second circuit to convert the first DC voltage into a first high voltage pulse and apply it to the electrode gap to break down the electrode gap and form an ionization channel; The ablation operation includes: outputting a third PWM pulse to drive a third circuit to release the first DC voltage to the broken electrode gap in the form of a first current pulse, thereby ablating the electrode to generate metal aerosol; The adjustment operation involves: acquiring the real-time impedance detected by the impedance detection unit during the ablation stage; and adjusting the parameters of the first PWM pulse required for the charging operation and / or the third PWM pulse required for the ablation operation in subsequent cycles based on the real-time impedance.

[0011] In one feasible implementation, based on the real-time impedance, adjusting the parameters of the first PWM pulse required for the charging operation and / or the third PWM pulse required for the ablation operation in subsequent cycles includes: In response to the real-time impedance being higher than the target threshold, the duty cycle of the first PWM pulse is increased to improve the first DC voltage; In response to the real-time impedance being lower than the target threshold, the duty cycle of the first PWM pulse is reduced to lower the first DC voltage.

[0012] In one feasible implementation, based on the real-time impedance, adjusting the parameters of the first PWM pulse required for the charging operation and / or the third PWM pulse required for the ablation operation in subsequent cycles includes: The width of the third PWM pulse is adjusted to adjust the discharge duration of the first current pulse on the electrode gap.

[0013] In one feasible implementation, before starting the loop, the method further includes the following initialization operation: Based on the material of the metal electrode, the corresponding initial first PWM pulse parameters and initial third PWM pulse parameters are retrieved from the pre-stored parameter database to execute the charging operation and ablation operation in the first cycle.

[0014] Thirdly, embodiments of this application also provide an electronic device, including: a processor, a storage medium, and a bus, wherein the storage medium stores machine-readable instructions executable by the processor, and when the electronic device is running, the processor communicates with the storage medium via the bus, and the processor executes the machine-readable instructions to perform the steps of the method as described in any one of the second aspects.

[0015] Fourthly, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of the method as described in any one of the second aspects.

[0016] This application provides an adjustable spark aerosol circuit, method, device, and medium. Employing a closed-loop control architecture based on time-varying impedance feedback, it achieves a technological leap from "blind discharge" to "visually guided discharge" by dynamically adjusting discharge energy and time through real-time sensing of impedance changes in the electrode gap and adjusting the impedance changes accordingly. Specifically, this solution uses an impedance detection unit to collect core electrical parameters reflecting the gap state in real time, and the control unit dynamically adjusts the charging energy of the first circuit and the discharge duration of the third circuit based on these parameters. This solves the energy mismatch problem caused by gap state changes due to electrode ablation, material differences, and other factors in traditional solutions. Compared to existing technologies, this solution significantly improves the stability of spark discharge, ensuring the production of nanoscale metal aerosols with uniform particle size and stable yield, thereby effectively improving the accuracy and repeatability of subsequent trace element analysis.

[0017] This application presents an adaptive spark energy control hardware system by constructing a closed-loop circuit architecture centered on a control unit and integrating an impedance detection unit and multi-loop PWM control. This circuit can automatically respond to impedance fluctuations caused by electrode ablation and material changes, and adjust the energy storage voltage of the first loop and / or the discharge parameters of the third loop in real time. This overcomes the problems of unstable aerosol production, coarse particle size, and signal drift caused by fixed parameters in existing open-loop circuits at the hardware level. This circuit structure provides a stable and reliable hardware foundation for achieving high-quality, repeatable direct injection analysis of solid samples.

[0018] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an adjustable spark aerosol circuit provided in an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0021] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of another adjustable spark aerosol circuit provided in an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0022] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of another adjustable spark aerosol circuit provided in an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0023] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of another adjustable spark aerosol circuit provided in an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0024] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of another adjustable spark aerosol circuit provided in an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0025] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of another adjustable spark aerosol circuit provided in an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0026] Figure 7 A flowchart of an adjustable spark aerosol method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0027] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but merely represents selected embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0029] In the field of trace element analysis, direct sample introduction technology for solid samples is a cutting-edge development. Among them, spark ablation generates a spark by applying high voltage between two electrodes, instantly vaporizing the electrode material to form an aerosol, providing an ideal sample introduction source for instruments such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This method eliminates the cumbersome and contaminated wet digestion process, demonstrating great application potential.

[0030] However, the core limitation of traditional spark ablation devices lies in their open-loop operation. A typical system usually includes an energy storage unit (such as a capacitor) to provide energy for the spark discharge, and a high-voltage generation unit for breaking down the electrode gap. In actual operation, the physical state of the electrode gap is a key time-varying parameter: as the spark continues to ablate the electrodes, the gap distance increases, and the electrode surface morphology becomes rougher. These changes directly lead to an increase in the equivalent impedance of the gap. At a fixed discharge energy, the increased impedance reduces the actual current used for ablation, weakens the spark intensity, and ultimately leads to a decrease in aerosol production, an increase in particle size, and even arc extinction, resulting in severe fluctuations in the analysis signal.

[0031] While existing technologies attempt to optimize spark discharge energy through coarse-grained adjustments to hardware parameters or open-loop control, none have fundamentally achieved real-time, closed-loop, and adaptive control. This deep-seated technical challenge has long constrained the further application and promotion of spark aerosol technology in high-end analytical fields.

[0032] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for a spark aerosol generation scheme that can overcome the limitations of traditional open-loop modes. This scheme should be able to construct a real-time feedback control closed loop, adaptively adjusting the output energy by monitoring the discharge state, thereby maintaining the stability and efficiency of the spark under various time-varying operating conditions and ensuring the generation of high-quality aerosols.

[0033] Based on this, embodiments of this application provide an adjustable spark aerosol circuit, method, apparatus, and medium, which are described below through embodiments.

[0034] To facilitate understanding of this embodiment, a detailed description of an adjustable spark aerosol circuit disclosed in this application will be provided first. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the adjustable spark aerosol circuit includes: a control unit 100, a first circuit 101, a second circuit 102, a third circuit 103, an electrode gap between two metal electrodes 104, and an impedance detection unit 105.

[0035] The input terminal of the first circuit 101 is connected to a DC power supply, and the output terminal is connected to the input terminals of the second circuit 102 and the third circuit 103 respectively. The control terminal receives the first PWM pulse from the control unit 100 and is used to convert and store the DC power output by the DC power supply as a first DC voltage in response to the first PWM pulse.

[0036] The control terminal of the second circuit 102 receives the second PWM pulse from the control unit 100, and the energy terminal is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit 101. It is used to convert the first DC voltage into a first high voltage pulse and apply it to the electrode gap to break down the electrode gap and form an ionization channel. The voltage value of the first high voltage pulse is higher than the breakdown voltage of the electrode gap.

[0037] The control terminal of the third circuit 103 receives the third PWM pulse from the control unit 100, and the energy terminal is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit 101. It is used to release the first DC voltage in the form of a first current pulse to the broken electrode gap to generate a spark to ablate the electrode and generate metal aerosol; the current value of the first current pulse reaches the intensity of vaporizing the metal electrode 104.

[0038] The impedance detection unit 105 is connected to both ends of the electrode gap and is used to collect the voltage and current signals applied when the third circuit 103 is working, obtain the real-time impedance, and feed the real-time impedance back to the control unit 100.

[0039] The control unit 100 is used to adjust the parameters of the first PWM pulse and / or the third PWM pulse based on the real-time impedance, so as to adapt different spark energy and duration for different discharge states based on the real-time impedance.

[0040] The core of this application's embodiment lies in constructing a closed-loop control circuit structure based on real-time impedance feedback. The control unit 100, as the control core of the circuit, is responsible for generating and coordinating multiple PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signals. Its output provides PWM drive signals to the first, second, and third loops, respectively.

[0041] The primary function of the first circuit 101 is to convert and store DC power. Its input is connected to a DC power supply with a voltage range of 12V to 24V. The control unit 100 sends a first PWM pulse to the first circuit 101. Upon receiving this first PWM pulse, the first circuit 101 begins operation, using internally integrated components to boost the input low-voltage DC power, rectify it, and ultimately establish and maintain a stable DC voltage across an energy storage capacitor. This voltage is typically controlled between 300V and 500V and can be referred to as the first DC voltage. This first DC voltage serves as a common energy source, simultaneously supplying power to the second circuit 102 and the third circuit 103.

[0042] The primary task of the second circuit 102 is to generate a high voltage to break down the electrode gap. Its control terminal receives a second PWM pulse from the control unit 100. When this second PWM pulse arrives, the second circuit 102 activates, processing the 300V to 500V DC voltage obtained from the first circuit 101 and boosting it again through an internal high-frequency transformer to generate a high-voltage pulse with an extremely high peak voltage (e.g., exceeding 10kV). This high-voltage pulse is directly applied to the electrode gap between the two metal electrodes 104. Its voltage value is designed to be higher than the breakdown voltage threshold of the electrode gap in the working gas (e.g., argon) environment, thereby reliably ionizing the gas in the gap to form a momentarily conductive plasma channel, i.e., an ionization channel.

[0043] The third circuit 103 is the key component for performing metal ablation and generating aerosol. Its control terminal receives a third PWM pulse from the control unit 100. After the second circuit 102 successfully breaks down the gap to form an ionization channel, the third circuit 103 responds to the third PWM pulse and immediately turns on a high-power switching device (such as an IGBT) inside it. Thus, the first DC voltage, as high as 300V to 500V, stored in the first circuit 101, is instantly released in the form of a very large current pulse (peak current can reach over 100 amperes) through this already conducting ionization channel. This powerful current pulse generates a strong spark at the gap and releases extremely high energy, sufficient to instantly vaporize the material on the surface of the metal electrode 104, thereby generating the desired metal aerosol.

[0044] Impedance detection unit 105 is responsible for real-time monitoring of key electrical parameters during the discharge process. It measures voltage by connecting in parallel across the electrode gap and current by connecting in series in the main discharge circuit. When the third circuit 103 is operational, i.e., during the main discharge, impedance detection unit 105 synchronously acquires instantaneous voltage and current signals at a very high sampling rate (e.g., above 1 MHz). By calculating these signals, it can obtain an impedance value reflecting the current spark state and electrode condition in real time. This calculated real-time impedance value is immediately fed back to control unit 100.

[0045] After receiving real-time impedance feedback from the impedance detection unit 105, the control unit 100 executes an intelligent adjustment algorithm. Specifically, the control unit 100 dynamically adjusts the parameters of its first PWM pulse and / or third PWM pulse based on changes in real-time impedance. For example, when an increase in real-time impedance is detected (which may mean that the electrode gap has increased due to ablation), the control unit 100 may take one or more of the following measures: first, increase the duty cycle of the first PWM pulse, thereby increasing the first DC voltage output by the first circuit 101 from 350V to 380V to increase the energy intensity of the spark; second, increase the width of the third PWM pulse, thereby extending the duration of the main discharge from 50 microseconds to 80 microseconds to inject more energy into the electrode gap. Through this real-time, closed-loop feedback control mechanism, the circuit can automatically adapt to different operating conditions, ensuring the generation of a stable and uniform metal aerosol.

[0046] This application provides an adjustable spark aerosol circuit, method, device, and medium. Employing a closed-loop control architecture based on time-varying impedance feedback, it achieves a technological leap from "blind discharge" to "visually guided discharge" by dynamically adjusting discharge energy and time through real-time sensing of impedance changes in the electrode gap and adjusting the impedance changes accordingly. Specifically, this solution uses an impedance detection unit to collect core electrical parameters reflecting the gap state in real time, and the control unit dynamically adjusts the charging energy of the first circuit and the discharge duration of the third circuit based on these parameters. This solves the energy mismatch problem caused by gap state changes due to electrode ablation, material differences, and other factors in traditional solutions. Compared to existing technologies, this solution significantly improves the stability of spark discharge, ensuring the production of nanoscale metal aerosols with uniform particle size and stable yield, thereby effectively improving the accuracy and repeatability of subsequent trace element analysis.

[0047] This application presents an adaptive spark energy control hardware system by constructing a closed-loop circuit architecture centered on a control unit and integrating an impedance detection unit and multi-loop PWM control. This circuit can automatically respond to impedance fluctuations caused by electrode ablation and material changes, and adjust the energy storage voltage of the first loop and / or the discharge parameters of the third loop in real time. This overcomes the problems of unstable aerosol production, coarse particle size, and signal drift caused by fixed parameters in existing open-loop circuits at the hardware level. This circuit structure provides a stable and reliable hardware foundation for achieving high-quality, repeatable direct injection analysis of solid samples.

[0048] In a feasible implementation plan, such as Figure 2 As shown, the first circuit 101 includes a push-pull boost circuit 200 and a rectifier circuit 204 connected in sequence.

[0049] The push-pull boost circuit 200 includes two switching transistors (201, 202) and a transformer 203, which includes two primary windings and one secondary winding.

[0050] The first ends of the two primary windings are respectively connected to the two switching transistors (201, 202); the second ends of the two primary windings are connected to a DC power supply.

[0051] The two switching transistors are used to alternately turn on in response to the first PWM pulse, so that the current of the DC power supply alternately flows through one of the primary windings, thereby inducing a first AC voltage on the secondary winding.

[0052] The rectifier circuit 204 is connected to the secondary winding and is used to convert the first AC voltage into the first DC voltage and charge the energy storage capacitor.

[0053] The core function of the push-pull boost circuit 200 is to efficiently convert low-voltage DC power into high-voltage AC power. It mainly consists of two switching transistors (201, 202) and a transformer 203. The transformer 203 adopts a special structure, which contains two independent primary windings and a common secondary winding.

[0054] In this embodiment, one end of each of the two primary windings (defined as the first end) is connected to two switching transistors 201 and 202, respectively. That is, one end of the first primary winding is connected to switching transistor 201, and one end of the second primary winding is connected to switching transistor 202. The other ends of the two primary windings (defined as the second ends) are connected to a DC power supply, thereby providing the energy source for the entire boost process. The second ends of the two primary windings can be connected to the same DC power supply or to different DC power supplies.

[0055] The push-pull boost circuit 200 works as follows: the control unit 100100 generates two staggered, non-overlapping first PWM pulses, which drive switching transistors 201 and 202 respectively. When switching transistor 201 is turned on, DC current flows through the first primary winding; when switching transistor 202 is turned on, DC current flows through the second primary winding. This alternating conduction of the two transistors is equivalent to exciting an alternating magnetic field in the transformer core. According to the principle of electromagnetic induction, this induces a high-frequency, high-voltage alternating current, i.e., the first AC voltage, in the secondary winding of the transformer.

[0056] Subsequently, this first AC voltage is fed into the rectifier circuit 204. The rectifier circuit 204 is typically composed of components such as a diode bridge or equivalent semiconductor devices. Its function is to rectify the AC voltage from the secondary winding of the transformer 203, convert it into a smooth first DC voltage, and ultimately charge the subsequent energy storage capacitor, storing energy for the operation of the second circuit 102102 and the third circuit 103103.

[0057] This embodiment employs a push-pull boost circuit with a dual primary winding transformer, combined with an alternating conduction strategy of two switching transistors, to achieve efficient and stable conversion and enhancement of DC power supply energy. This circuit structure not only efficiently converts low-voltage DC power into high-voltage AC power, providing ample energy reserves for subsequent circuits, but its symmetrical topology and alternating operating mode also effectively optimize the utilization rate of the transformer core and reduce the stress on power devices, thereby significantly improving the efficiency and reliability of the entire energy conversion process and laying a solid energy foundation for generating stable spark discharge.

[0058] In an alternative implementation, such as Figure 3 As shown, the second circuit 102 includes a switching transistor 301 and a high-frequency transformer 302.

[0059] The switching transistor 301 is connected to the control unit 100.

[0060] The primary winding of the high-frequency transformer 302 is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit 101 via the switching tube 301, and the secondary winding of the high-frequency transformer 302 is connected to the electrode gap.

[0061] The switching transistor 301 is used to turn on and / or turn off in response to the second PWM pulse output by the control unit 100, chop the first DC voltage into a pulse, and apply it to the primary winding of the high-frequency transformer 302, thereby forming the first high-voltage pulse on the electrode gap.

[0062] In this embodiment, the switching transistor 301 acts as a fast electronic switch, with its gate connected to the control unit 100100 to receive the second PWM pulse. When the second PWM pulse is high, the switching transistor 301 is turned on, allowing the first DC voltage to pass; when the second PWM pulse is low, the switching transistor 301 is turned off, cutting off the current. Through this high-speed "on" and "off" switching, the switching transistor 301 chops the continuous first DC voltage into a pulse voltage.

[0063] Subsequently, the pulse voltage is fed into the input terminal (primary winding) of the high-frequency transformer 302. The core function of the high-frequency transformer 302 is to transform voltage based on the principle of electromagnetic induction. Due to its large turns ratio between the primary and secondary windings (i.e., a high step-up ratio), it can boost the low-amplitude pulse voltage at the input terminal into a first high-voltage pulse with an extremely high amplitude.

[0064] Finally, the first high-voltage pulse output by the high-frequency transformer 302 is directly applied to the electrode gap between the two metal electrodes 104104. Its voltage peak is designed to be much higher than the breakdown threshold of the electrode gap, so as to instantly ionize the gas medium (such as argon) in the gap, forming a conductive plasma channel, creating conditions for the subsequent high-current discharge of the third circuit 103103.

[0065] In a feasible implementation plan, such as Figure 4 As shown, the third circuit 103 includes a switching transistor 401 and a high-frequency transformer 402.

[0066] The switching transistor 401 is connected to the control unit 100.

[0067] The primary winding of the high-frequency transformer 402 is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit 101 via the switching tube 401, and the secondary winding of the high-frequency transformer 402 is connected to the electrode gap.

[0068] The switching transistor 401 is turned on in response to the third PWM pulse output by the control unit 100, so that the first DC voltage is applied to the primary winding of the high-frequency transformer 402, thereby generating the first current pulse on the electrode gap.

[0069] In one feasible implementation, the second circuit 102 and the third circuit 103 share a single high-frequency transformer, such as Figure 5 As shown, at this point, a single high-frequency transformer 500 is used instead of... Figure 3 The high-frequency transformer 302 in the illustrated embodiment and Figure 4 The high-frequency transformer 402 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0070] It can be seen that this integrated design achieves optimization of the circuit structure.

[0071] At this point, the second circuit 102102 and the third circuit 103103 each contain only their respective switching transistors 301 and 401. Switch 301 acts as a chopper for the high-voltage pulse, responsible for rapidly switching on and off to generate the pulse signal required for high-voltage breakdown; switch 401 acts as a controller for the main discharge, responsible for conducting after the ionization channel is formed to release a large current for ablation. These two switching transistors work together under the precise timing scheduling of the control unit 100100, applying electrical excitations of different characteristics to the shared high-frequency transformer 500 one after the other, ultimately generating a high-voltage pulse for breakdown and a large current pulse for ablation on the electrode gap, respectively, thus realizing the reuse of circuit elements and precise coordination of functions.

[0072] This shared design not only simplifies the circuit structure and reduces the number of components and costs, but more importantly, it ensures the consistency of the energy transfer path, laying a unified hardware foundation for subsequent precise impedance detection and energy control.

[0073] In a feasible implementation, an optimal embodiment is provided, such as Figure 6 As shown, the circuit includes: The control unit 100100 (marked as integrated circuit IC in the figure) is the core of the system and is responsible for generating and coordinating all PWM drive signals.

[0074] The first circuit 101101 contains two switching transistors (such as...). Figure 6 The IGBT switch shown and its matching optocoupler provide opto-isolation to achieve electrical isolation between the control circuit and the power circuit, ensuring the reliability of the drive signal and the system's anti-interference capability. It should be noted that the first circuit 101101 also includes an energy storage capacitor 601 (not circled in the diagram), used for stable energy storage.

[0075] In this embodiment, the switching transistor 301 of the second circuit 102102 and the switching transistor 401 of the third circuit 103103 are both connected to the same high-frequency transformer 500. This shared structure enables the high-frequency transformer 500 to sequentially generate the high-voltage pulse required for breakdown of the second circuit 102102 and provide the large current pulse required for ablation of the third circuit 103103, thereby achieving precise energy control of the metal electrode 104104.

[0076] Impedance detection unit 105105 is used to monitor electrical parameters during the discharge process in real time. Its circuit connection is configured to simultaneously acquire the current signal flowing through metal electrode 104104 and the voltage signal across metal electrode 104104, and calculate the real-time impedance accordingly. Specifically, the current is measured by a current detection element (such as an ammeter or sampling resistor) connected in series, and the voltage is measured by a voltage detection element (such as a voltmeter or voltage divider) connected in parallel across the gap.

[0077] The circuit also includes a reverse current protection diode group 602, which ensures unidirectional current transmission, effectively prevents reverse current surges, avoids damage to power devices, and maintains the stability and reliability of power transmission.

[0078] This embodiment optimizes component layout and signal scheduling, while ensuring functional integrity and significantly improving system integration and anti-interference capabilities.

[0079] Based on the same technical concept, this application also provides an adjustable spark aerosol method, applied to the adjustable spark aerosol circuit of the aforementioned embodiments, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the method includes: a cyclically executed charging operation 701, a breakdown operation 702, an ablation operation 703, and an adjustment operation 704.

[0080] The charging operation includes: outputting a first PWM pulse to drive the first circuit to convert the DC power from the DC power supply into a first DC voltage and store it.

[0081] The breakdown operation includes: outputting a second PWM pulse to drive a second circuit to convert the first DC voltage into a first high-voltage pulse and apply it to the electrode gap to break down the electrode gap and form an ionization channel.

[0082] The ablation operation includes: outputting a third PWM pulse to drive a third circuit to release the first DC voltage to the broken electrode gap in the form of a first current pulse, thereby ablating the electrode to generate a metal aerosol.

[0083] The adjustment operation involves: acquiring the real-time impedance detected by the impedance detection unit during the ablation stage; and adjusting the parameters of the first PWM pulse required for the charging operation and / or the third PWM pulse required for the ablation operation in subsequent cycles based on the real-time impedance.

[0084] To facilitate understanding of the above content, the following provides a detailed explanation of each operation: This method is executed by the control unit in the circuit, and its core lies in achieving adaptive adjustment of spark energy through cyclic iterative closed-loop control.

[0085] The charging operation is the energy preparation stage. The control unit outputs the first PWM pulse, which drives the first circuit to convert the external 12V to 24V DC input into a first DC voltage of 300V to 500V and charge the energy storage capacitor, thus completing the energy storage.

[0086] The breakdown operation is the stage for establishing a discharge channel. The control unit outputs a second PWM pulse, driving the second circuit to convert the first DC voltage of 300V to 500V into a high-voltage pulse with a peak value exceeding 1kV (e.g., 1500V or higher). This voltage is much higher than the breakdown threshold of the electrode gap, reliably ionizing the gap gas and forming a conductive channel.

[0087] The ablation process is the core stage for product formation. The control unit outputs a third PWM pulse, driving the third circuit to release a first DC voltage of 300V to 500V in the form of a high-current pulse with a peak value exceeding 100A to the broken-down gap. The instantaneous high temperature generated by this high-intensity current can instantly vaporize the electrode material, generating a metal aerosol.

[0088] Adjusting the operation is key to achieving intelligent control. The control unit acquires the real-time impedance detected during the ablation operation and adjusts the parameters for the next cycle based on this feedback signal. For example, when the impedance increases, the charging voltage can be increased from 350V to 380V by increasing the duty cycle of the first PWM pulse, and / or the discharge time can be extended from 50 microseconds to 80 microseconds by increasing the width of the third PWM pulse, thereby dynamically adapting to different operating conditions and ensuring the stability of aerosol generation.

[0089] By cyclically executing the above four operations and adjusting the feedback based on real-time impedance, this method can dynamically compensate for fluctuations in operating conditions caused by factors such as electrode wear and material changes, thereby ensuring the generation of stable and uniform metal aerosols throughout the entire working process.

[0090] In an optional implementation, based on the real-time impedance, adjusting the parameters of the first PWM pulse required for the charging operation and / or the third PWM pulse required for the ablation operation in subsequent cycles includes: In response to the real-time impedance being higher than the target threshold, the duty cycle of the first PWM pulse is increased to increase the first DC voltage; in response to the real-time impedance being lower than the target threshold, the duty cycle of the first PWM pulse is decreased to decrease the first DC voltage.

[0091] The control unit compares the real-time impedance value fed back by the impedance detection unit with a preset target threshold. This target threshold represents the optimal impedance range that produces the ideal ablation effect under the current operating conditions.

[0092] When the comparison results show that the real-time impedance is higher than the target threshold, the control unit determines that the current spark energy is insufficient to effectively ablate the enlarged electrode gap or more refractory materials. In response, the control unit executes an adjustment strategy: increasing the duty cycle of the first PWM pulse used in the charging operation of the next duty cycle. Increasing the duty cycle means injecting more energy into the energy storage capacitor per unit time, the direct effect of which is to increase the first DC voltage output of the first circuit (e.g., from 350V to 380V), thereby enhancing the intensity of subsequent sparks and compensating for the energy loss caused by the high impedance.

[0093] Conversely, when the real-time impedance is below the target threshold, it indicates that the spark energy may be too strong, posing a risk of excessive ablation. In this case, the control unit will adopt the opposite adjustment strategy: reducing the duty cycle of the first PWM pulse in the next cycle. This results in less energy being used to charge the energy storage capacitor, thereby reducing the first DC voltage (e.g., from 350V to 320V), bringing the spark energy back to an appropriate range, avoiding energy waste and protecting the electrodes.

[0094] Through this closed-loop control based on impedance feedback, the system can intelligently maintain the spark energy at the optimal level, ensuring the continuous stability and high efficiency of the aerosol generation process.

[0095] In an optional implementation, based on the real-time impedance, adjusting the parameters of the first PWM pulse required for the charging operation and / or the third PWM pulse required for the ablation operation in subsequent cycles includes: The width of the third PWM pulse is adjusted to adjust the discharge duration of the first current pulse on the electrode gap.

[0096] The aforementioned adjustments provide a precise control mechanism for the discharge time. This mechanism achieves fine-grained control of the ablation process by adjusting the width of the third PWM pulse.

[0097] The width of the third PWM pulse directly determines the conduction time of the main switch in the third circuit, thereby controlling the duration of the first current pulse across the electrode gap. When a change in real-time impedance is detected, the control unit adjusts the width of the third PWM pulse accordingly: increasing the pulse width and extending the discharge time to enhance the ablation effect; and decreasing the pulse width and shortening the discharge time to reduce the ablation intensity.

[0098] This pulse width modulation based on real-time impedance, combined with the adjustment of the duty cycle of the first PWM pulse, constitutes a complete two-dimensional control strategy. It controls both the intensity and duration of the discharge energy, thereby enabling more precise adaptation to different operating conditions and ensuring the stability and controllability of the aerosol generation process.

[0099] In an optional implementation, the method further includes the following initialization operation before starting the loop: Based on the material of the metal electrode, the corresponding initial first PWM pulse parameters and initial third PWM pulse parameters are retrieved from the pre-stored parameter database to execute the charging operation and ablation operation in the first cycle.

[0100] In other words, before the normal operating cycle begins, there is an intelligent initialization phase. The core of this phase is to automatically match parameters based on the characteristics of the electrode materials, ensuring that the system operates in a near-optimal state from the very beginning.

[0101] Specifically, the control unit has a pre-stored parameter database containing optimal initial operating parameters calibrated through numerous experiments for different metal electrode materials (such as copper, aluminum, and steel). When the user selects or installs a specific metal electrode, the system automatically retrieves the corresponding initial first PWM pulse parameters (mainly determining the initial charging voltage) and initial third PWM pulse parameters (mainly determining the initial discharge duration) from the database based on the electrode material information.

[0102] These initial parameters are directly used for the charging and ablation operations of the first working cycle, providing a stable and reliable starting point for the system. This initialization operation significantly improves the ease of use and efficiency of the device, avoids the process of figuring out parameters from scratch, and reduces problems such as excessive electrode wear or unstable aerosol quality caused by mismatched initial parameters, laying a good foundation for subsequent closed-loop fine-tuning based on real-time impedance.

[0103] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of an electronic device provided in this application embodiment includes: a processor 801, a storage medium 802, and a bus 803. The storage medium 802 stores machine-readable instructions executable by the processor 801. When the electronic device runs the adjustable spark aerosol method as described in the embodiment, the processor 801 communicates with the storage medium 802 via the bus 803, and the processor 801 executes the machine-readable instructions to perform the steps as described in the embodiment.

[0104] In this embodiment, the storage medium 802 may also execute other machine-readable instructions to perform other methods as described in the embodiment. For details on the specific execution steps and principles, please refer to the description of the embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0105] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that is executed by a processor to perform the steps as described in the embodiments.

[0106] In this embodiment, the computer program, when run by the processor, can also execute other machine-readable instructions to perform other methods as described in the embodiments. For details on the specific execution steps and principles, please refer to the description of the embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0107] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. The apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of modules is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. Furthermore, multiple modules or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Additionally, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some communication interface; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or modules may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0108] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as modules may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0109] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0110] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a processor-executable, non-volatile, computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0111] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An adjustable spark aerosol circuit, characterized in that, include: Control unit, first circuit, second circuit, third circuit, electrode gap between two metal electrodes, and impedance detection unit; The input terminal of the first circuit is connected to a DC power supply, and the output terminal is connected to the input terminals of the second and third circuits respectively. The control terminal receives the first PWM pulse from the control unit and is used to convert and store the DC power output by the DC power supply as a first DC voltage in response to the first PWM pulse. The control terminal of the second circuit receives the second PWM pulse from the control unit, and the energy terminal is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit. It is used to convert the first DC voltage into a first high voltage pulse and apply it to the electrode gap to break down the electrode gap and form an ionization channel. The voltage value of the first high-voltage pulse is higher than the breakdown voltage of the electrode gap; The control terminal of the third circuit receives the third PWM pulse from the control unit, and the energy terminal is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit. It is used to release the first DC voltage in the form of a first current pulse to the broken electrode gap to generate a spark to ablate the electrode and generate metal aerosol. The current value of the first current pulse reaches the intensity required to vaporize the metal electrode; The impedance detection unit is connected to both ends of the electrode gap and is used to collect the voltage and current signals applied when the third circuit is working, obtain the real-time impedance, and feed the real-time impedance back to the control unit; The control unit is used to adjust the parameters of the first PWM pulse and / or the third PWM pulse based on the real-time impedance, so as to adapt different spark energies and durations for different discharge states based on the real-time impedance.

2. The circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first circuit includes a push-pull boost circuit and a rectifier circuit connected in sequence; The push-pull boost circuit includes two switching transistors and a transformer, the transformer including two primary windings and one secondary winding; The first ends of the two primary windings are respectively connected to the two switching transistors; the second ends of the two primary windings are connected to a DC power supply. The two switching transistors are used to alternately turn on in response to the first PWM pulse, so that the current of the DC power supply flows alternately through one of the primary windings, thereby inducing a first AC voltage on the secondary winding. The rectifier circuit is connected to the secondary winding and is used to convert the first AC voltage into the first DC voltage and charge the energy storage capacitor.

3. The circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second circuit includes: a switching transistor and a high-frequency transformer; The switching transistor is connected to the control unit; The primary winding of the high-frequency transformer is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit via the switching transistor, and the secondary winding of the high-frequency transformer is connected to the electrode gap. The switching transistor is used to turn on and / or turn off in response to the second PWM pulse output by the control unit, chop the first DC voltage into a pulse, and apply it to the primary winding of the high-frequency transformer, thereby forming the first high-voltage pulse on the electrode gap.

4. The circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The third circuit includes a switching transistor and a high-frequency transformer; The switching transistor is connected to the control unit; The primary winding of the high-frequency transformer is connected to the output terminal of the first circuit via the switching transistor, and the secondary winding of the high-frequency transformer is connected to the electrode gap. The switching transistor is turned on in response to the third PWM pulse output by the control unit, so that the first DC voltage is applied to the primary winding of the high-frequency transformer, thereby generating the first current pulse on the electrode gap.

5. An adjustable spark aerosol method, characterized in that, The method, applied to a control unit of an adjustable spark aerosol circuit as described in any one of claims 1-4, includes cyclically performed charging, breakdown, ablation, and adjustment operations. The charging operation includes: outputting a first PWM pulse to drive the first circuit to convert the DC power from the DC power supply into a first DC voltage; The breakdown operation includes: outputting a second PWM pulse to drive the second circuit to convert the first DC voltage into a first high voltage pulse and apply it to the electrode gap to break down the electrode gap and form an ionization channel; The ablation operation includes: outputting a third PWM pulse to drive a third circuit to release the first DC voltage to the broken electrode gap in the form of a first current pulse, thereby ablating the electrode to generate metal aerosol; The adjustment operation involves: acquiring the real-time impedance detected by the impedance detection unit during the ablation stage; and adjusting the parameters of the first PWM pulse required for the charging operation and / or the third PWM pulse required for the ablation operation in subsequent cycles based on the real-time impedance.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, Based on the real-time impedance, adjusting the parameters of the first PWM pulse required for the charging operation and / or the third PWM pulse required for the ablation operation in subsequent cycles includes: In response to the real-time impedance being higher than the target threshold, the duty cycle of the first PWM pulse is increased to improve the first DC voltage; In response to the real-time impedance being lower than the target threshold, the duty cycle of the first PWM pulse is reduced to lower the first DC voltage.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, Based on the real-time impedance, adjusting the parameters of the first PWM pulse required for the charging operation and / or the third PWM pulse required for the ablation operation in subsequent cycles includes: The width of the third PWM pulse is adjusted to adjust the discharge duration of the first current pulse on the electrode gap.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, Before starting the loop, the method further includes the following initialization operations: Based on the material of the metal electrode, the corresponding initial first PWM pulse parameters and initial third PWM pulse parameters are retrieved from the pre-stored parameter database to execute the charging operation and ablation operation in the first cycle.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: The device includes a processor, a storage medium, and a bus, wherein the storage medium stores machine-readable instructions executable by the processor, and when the electronic device is in operation, the processor communicates with the storage medium via the bus, and the processor executes the machine-readable instructions to perform the steps of the adjustable spark aerosol method as described in any one of claims 5 to 8.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program that, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of the adjustable spark aerosol method as described in any one of claims 5 to 8.

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