Patent ID: 11946726
Assignee: GENERAL ATOMICS
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC F  G | IPC F  G

Claim 14:
15. A method for synchronization of high power radio frequency sources comprising:
directing a pulse of photons at a target, wherein the pulse of photons is reflected by the target;
generating a first periodic clock signal;
receiving a first reflection of the pulse of photons at a first time, wherein the first time varies as a function of a first distance travelled by the first reflection;
measuring a first time difference between the first time and a first clock pulse of the first periodic clock signal, wherein the first clock pulse is the next first periodic clock signal pulse after the first time;
generating a first trigger signal at the first time difference after a second clock pulse of the first periodic clock signal, wherein the second clock pulse is after the first clock pulse, wherein the first high power radio frequency emission source is fired at the first time difference after the second clock pulse of the first periodic clock signal;
generating a first high power radio frequency emission in response to the-firing of the first high power emission source;
generating a second periodic clock signal, wherein the second periodic clock signal is synchronized with the first periodic clock signal;
receiving a second reflection of the pulse of photons at a second time, wherein the second time varies as a function of a second distance travelled by the second reflection;
measuring a second time difference between the second time and a third clock pulse of the second periodic clock signal, wherein the third clock pulse is the next second periodic clock signal pulse after the second time;
generating a second trigger signal at the second time difference after a fourth clock pulse of the second periodic clock signal, wherein the fourth clock pulse is after the third clock pulse and coincides with the second clock pulse of the first periodic clock signal, wherein the first high power radio frequency emission source is fired at the second time difference after the fourth clock pulse of the second periodic clock signal; and
generating a second high power radio frequency emission in response to the firing of the second high power radio frequency emission source, wherein the second trigger signal is configured to cause the second high power radio frequency emission to constructively interfere with the first high power radio frequency emission at the target.