Nonlinear Transmission Line for Fast-Rise High-Voltage Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Producing high voltage pulses with fast rise times is challenging, especially in a compact manner using standard electrical components, and achieving such pulses with variable widths and high repetition rates is difficult.
Innovation Solution
A nonlinear transmission line system comprising a power supply, a high frequency switch, a nonlinear transmission line, an antenna, and an energy recovery circuit with a diode and inductor, which sharpens the rise time of high voltage pulses and recovers unused energy, allowing for high voltage pulses with steep rise times and variable pulse widths at high repetition rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If standard electrical components are used to produce high voltage pulses, then the system is simple and compact, but the rise time is slow and cannot achieve fast rise times
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the pulse generation process into distinct functional modules: a power supply module providing high voltage, a nonlinear transmission line module for pulse shaping and rise time enhancement, and an energy recovery module. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently, achieving fast rise times through the specialized nonlinear transmission line design while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The nonlinear transmission line utilizes voltage-dependent parameter changes in nonlinear capacitors or inductors to achieve pulse sharpening. As the voltage changes during the pulse transition, the impedance of the nonlinear elements changes dynamically, creating the steep rise time characteristic without requiring overly complex active switching networks.
2Speed
If high voltage pulses with fast rise times are produced, then the pulse quality is improved, but the energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy recovery circuit captures the energy that would otherwise be dissipated in the load or lost during the pulse cycle. The circuit uses diodes and capacitors to redirect and store the residual energy from the nonlinear transmission line back to the power supply, significantly reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining the fast rise time performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy recovery mechanism provides a feedback path that feeds recovered energy back into the power supply system. This feedback loop allows the system to reuse energy that would otherwise be wasted, improving overall efficiency while maintaining the high-performance pulse characteristics.
3Adaptability or versatility
If high voltage pulses with variable widths and high repetition rates are produced, then the system versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic control of the nonlinear transmission line parameters to achieve variable pulse widths. By dynamically adjusting the operating point or configuration of the nonlinear elements, the system can produce pulses of different widths without requiring completely different circuit topologies, maintaining versatility while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The nonlinear transmission line structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides pulse sharpening for fast rise times, enables variable pulse width generation through parameter adjustment, and supports high repetition rates. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated circuits for each function, thereby controlling overall system complexity while achieving high versatility.
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
The system effectively produces high voltage pulses with faster rise times and maintains variable pulse widths and high repetition rates, improving the efficiency and compactness of pulse generation.
Implementation Method 1
The nonlinear transmission line can include a plurality of nonlinear inductors and capacitors
Implementation Method 2
The nonlinear transmission line can include a plurality of nonlinear inductors and capacitors
Implementation Method 3
an antenna electrically coupled with the nonlinear transmission line
Implementation Method 4
an energy recovery circuit comprising a diode and an inductor electrically coupled with the power supply and the antenna
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments include a nonlinear transmission line system comprising: a power supply providing voltages greater than 100 V; a high frequency switch electrically coupled with the power supply; a nonlinear transmission line electrically coupled with the switch; an antenna electrically coupled with the nonlinear transmission line; and an energy recovery circuit comprising a diode and an inductor electrically coupled with the power supply and the antenna.