High-power repeat-frequency solid-state switch controlled by combination of optical amplification and electrical amplification, and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-power switch technologies, such as gas-type switches and power semiconductor switches, struggle to achieve high voltage, large current, fast conduction speed, and accurate delay time simultaneously due to limitations in service life, self-breakdown probability, and restricted current capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A high-power repeat-frequency solid-state switch is developed, utilizing a combination of optical and electrical amplification, featuring a photoelectric semiconductor structure with multi-layer doping, an optical pulse unit, amplification device, and coupling device to generate photo-induced carriers for high-power amplification and conduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If gas-type switches are used to achieve high voltage and large current, then the conduction speed and charge transfer are improved, but the service life is limited and self-breakdown probability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces gas-type switches with a solid-state photoconductive semiconductor switch, substituting a mechanical/gas-based system with a solid-state semiconductor device. This eliminates the service life limitations and self-breakdown issues inherent in gas switches while maintaining high conduction speed through the photoconductive effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structure by combining photoconductive semiconductor materials with specific doping configurations (P-N-P-N structure) to create a device that achieves both high reliability and fast conduction. The multi-layer semiconductor structure integrates different material properties to overcome the limitations of single-material switches.
2Reliability
If power semiconductor switches like IGBT or MOSFET are used, then the service life and reliability are improved, but the current change rate and peak power are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using optical control instead of electrical control. The photoconductive switch responds to optical pulses with extremely fast carrier generation, achieving current change rates exceeding 400 kA/μs, which is significantly faster than conventional electrically-controlled semiconductor switches while maintaining solid-state reliability.
3Speed
If photoconductive semiconductor switches are used to achieve fast conduction, then the current change rate is improved, but the current magnitude is limited and pulse width is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control function into two independent parts: optical control for fast switching (current change rate) and electrical power delivery for high current magnitude. The optical pulse controls the switching action while separate power circuits provide the high current, allowing both fast response and high current magnitude to be achieved simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical field as an intermediary between the control signal and the power delivery. The optical pulse acts as a mediator that triggers the photoconductive effect, enabling the switch to transition to a low-impedance state that can then conduct very high currents without the optical signal itself needing to carry that power.
4Device complexity
If conventional semiconductor switches are used, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the ability to achieve high voltage, large current, fast conduction, and accurate delay simultaneously is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The photoconductive semiconductor switch provides multi-functionality by combining features previously requiring separate devices: it achieves high voltage blocking capability, fast conduction speed, high current magnitude, and precise delay control all in a single solid-state device. The optical control mechanism enables precise timing while the semiconductor structure provides high power handling.
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 solution enables high voltage, large current, fast conduction speed, and accurate delay time, with a wide range of applications, replacing traditional gas switches and semiconductor devices by achieving a current change rate exceeding 400 kA/μs and repetition frequency up to 10 KHz.
Implementation Method 1
the photoelectric effect material generates photo-induced carriers under the irradiation of the optical pulse signal
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a high-power repeat-frequency solid-state switch controlled by a combination of an optical amplification and an electrical amplification, and a method. The switch includes an optical pulse unit, an optical amplification device, an optical coupling device and a photoelectric semiconductor structure; the photoelectric semiconductor structure takes a photoelectric effect material as a base, and a multi-layer doping structure is manufactured on the photoelectric effect material; the optical pulse unit is configured to output an optical pulse signal to the optical amplification device; the optical amplification device is configured to amplify the optical pulse signal; the optical coupling device is configured to shape and diffuse the amplified optical pulse signal to form an array optical pulse signal; and irradiated by the optical pulse signal, the photoelectric effect material generates photo-induced carriers subjected to a photo-induced linear model amplification and/or a field-induced nonlinear model amplification in the multi-layer doping structure.