Gas Laser Oscillator Discharge Start Judgment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas laser oscillators face issues with overshooting current and overcurrent when pulse voltage is superposed over step voltage, leading to a prolonged time required to shift from a standby to a working state due to the need to gradually increase command voltage for discharge judgment.
Innovation Solution
A gas laser oscillator design that increments power output command values in steps, with a short step time interval based on the power supply's response time, and includes a gas pressure adjusting part that reduces laser gas pressure during standby to facilitate quicker transitions between states, allowing for efficient start of discharge without excessive current flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pulse voltage is superposed over step voltage to judge discharge start, then discharge detection is enabled, but current overshoot and overcurrent occur in the power device
Solution Approach 1:
The command voltage is divided into multiple incremental steps rather than applied as a single pulse. The voltage increases gradually through discrete levels (e.g., 0V → 100V → 200V → 300V), allowing the system to monitor discharge status at each stage and prevent excessive current by avoiding large voltage jumps that cause overshoot.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary voltage application at lower levels before reaching the final operating voltage. By incrementally increasing voltage and checking for discharge at each step, the system prepares the circuit gradually, enabling discharge detection to occur before full voltage is applied, thus preventing harmful current overshoot.
2Reliability
If command voltage is gradually increased to prevent overcurrent, then current safety is maintained, but time required to shift from standby to working state increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage increment strategy is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adjusts the step size and timing based on real-time discharge detection results. When discharge is detected at an intermediate voltage level, the system can terminate the incremental process early, optimizing the transition time while maintaining current safety through adaptive control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors discharge status at each voltage step and uses this feedback to determine whether to continue incrementing voltage or to stop. This feedback mechanism allows the system to achieve safe and efficient voltage application by responding to actual discharge conditions rather than following a predetermined fixed schedule.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for a rapid shift from the standby to the working state, reducing power consumption and preventing overcurrent while maintaining working efficiency, by controlling the power output command and gas pressure to suppress current overshoot and ensure timely discharge initiation.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage detector detecting the discharge tube voltage
Implementation Method 2
a discharge start judging part judging if a discharge has been started in the discharge tube, based on a ratio of change of the discharge tube voltage detected by the voltage detector relative to the power output command value
Implementation Method 3
a power supply part applying to the discharge tube a discharge tube voltage corresponding to a power output command value
Data Source
AI summary
A gas laser oscillator including a discharge tube provided in a gas channel through which a laser gas circulates; an output command part outputting a power output command; a power supply part applying to the discharge tube a discharge tube voltage corresponding to a power output command value; a voltage detector detecting the discharge tube voltage; and a discharge start judging part judging if a discharge has been started in the discharge tube based on a ratio of change of the discharge tube voltage. The output command part increases the power output command value in steps by an increment obtained by dividing a power output command value corresponding to a discharge start voltage serving as a predetermined reference by a number of steps of 2 or more, at a step time interval determined by using as a reference the time required until the power supply part responds to the power output command.