Patent ID: 6198269
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A fast voltage ramp generator comprising a chain of transistors in avalanche switching mode connected collector to emitter in series, each said transistor being connected to have a low resistance path between its base and emitter, a voltage source connected across said chain between the collector of a transistor at one end of the chain and the emitter of a transistor at the other end of the chain and arranged to bias said transistors to avalanche switching mode, and a discrete transformer having a respective secondary connected to apply a switching pulse across the base-emitter junction of each of the transistors of the chain to initiate avalanche switching of the transistors of the chain to generate a fast ramp voltage across the load, said transformers having respective primaries which are connected in series, wherein each of said transformers comprises a ferrite bead having a plated through hole constituting the secondary of the transformer and an insulated conductor threaded through the hole constituting the primary.