Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a power modulator of pulse transformer type, and <CIT> discloses a pulse modulator.

A high voltage inductive adder as set forth in independent claim <NUM> is disclosed. In some embodiments, the high voltage inductive adder comprising a first adder circuit and a second adder circuit. The first adder circuit including a first source; a first switch electrically coupled with the first source; a first transformer core; and a first plurality of primary windings wound about the first transformer core and electrically coupled with the first switch. The second adder circuit including a second source; a second switch electrically coupled with the second source; a second transformer core; and a second plurality of primary windings wound about the second transformer core and electrically coupled with the second switch. The high voltage inductive adder comprising one or more secondary windings wound around both the first transformer core and the second transformer core and an output coupled with the plurality of secondary windings.

A high voltage inductive adder is disclosed. In some embodiments, the high voltage inductive adder comprising a plurality of voltage sources; a plurality of switches, each switch of the plurality of switches electrically coupled with a respective one of the plurality of voltage sources; a plurality of transformer cores; a plurality of primary windings, each primary winding of the plurality of primary windings are wound around a respective one of the plurality of transformer cores and each primary winding of the plurality of primary windings are electrically coupled with a respective one of the plurality of switches; and a secondary winding wound around the plurality of transformer cores.

In some embodiments, the high frequency inductive adder has a volume less than about <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, etc. and/or a mass less than about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc..

In some embodiments, the high frequency inductive adder produces an output signal at the output having a voltage greater than about <NUM> kV. In some embodiments, the output voltage can be as high as <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> MV, etc..

In some embodiments, the output signal has a rise time of less than about <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, etc..

In some embodiments, the output signal has a variable or varying pulse repetition frequency and/or a variable or varying voltage and/or variable or varying pulse width.

In some embodiments, the high voltage inductive adder drives a load with an impedance less than about <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, etc..

In some embodiments, the first plurality of primary windings and the second plurality of primary windings each comprise a conductive sheet.

Another high voltage inductive adder is disclosed as an example which is not covered by the claimed invention.

The high voltage inductive adder comprising a first adder circuit and a second adder circuit. The first adder circuit including a first source; and a first switch electrically coupled with the first source; a first transformer core having a torus shape with a first central aperture, the first transformer core electrically coupled with the first switch. The second adder circuit including a second source; a second switch electrically coupled with the second source; and a second transformer core having a torus shape with a second central aperture, the second transformer core electrically coupled with the second switch. The high voltage inductive adder comprising a secondary winding including: an inner rod disposed within the first central aperture and the second central aperture; and outer cylinder surrounding the first transformer core and the second transformer core. The high voltage inductive adder comprising an output coupled with the outer cylinder and the inner rod. The inner rod and the outer cylinder may be electrically coupled to form a secondary winding of the transformer circuit.

In some of the foregoing examples, the outer cylinder comprises a first cylinder surrounding the first transformer core and a second cylinder surrounding the second ring, the first cylinder and the second cylinder being electrically connected.

In the forgoing example, the inner rod comprises a metal such as, for example, aluminum and/or the outer cylinder comprises a metal such as, for example, brass.

In the forgoing example, the high frequency inductive adder produces an output signal at the output having a voltage greater than about <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> MV, etc..

In the forgoing example, the output signal has a rise time of less than about <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, etc..

In some embodiments, the high voltage inductive adder drives a load with an impedance less than about <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, etc. These illustrative embodiments and examples are mentioned not to limit or define the disclosure, but to provide examples to aid understanding thereof. Additional embodiments are discussed in the Detailed Description, and further description is provided there. Advantages offered by one or more of the various embodiments may be further understood by examining this specification or by practicing one or more embodiments presented.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure are better understood when the following Detailed Description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Some embodiments are directed toward a high voltage inductive adder that may include a plurality of source and switch circuits coupled with a plurality of transformers via a plurality of primary windings wound around a plurality of transformer cores. A single secondary winding (or a plurality of secondary windings) may be wound around each of the plurality of transformer cores. In some embodiments, the volume of the inductive adder is less than about <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, etc. and/or a mass less than about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. In some embodiments, the output signal of the inductive adder may have a flattop voltage greater than about <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> MV.

In some embodiments, an inductive adder may be a modular system with a plurality of stacked switching circuit boards. In some embodiments, an inductive adder may drive <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, etc. loads to voltages greater than about <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> MV or more with rise times of less than about <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, etc. In some embodiments, an inductive adder may produce variable pulse widths of up to <NUM> ns. In some embodiments, an inductive adder may operate at frequencies greater than about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. In some embodiments, an inductive adder may provide an output pulse with pulse widths of about <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, etc..

In some embodiments, an inductive adder may include a plurality of stack of PCBs, each of which may be charged in parallel. In some examples not covered by claim <NUM>, the center of the stack may include a single turn coaxial transformer, arranged such that the secondary output voltage of each PCB stack adds in series, meaning that the overall output voltage is proportional to the number of PCBs in the stack. In some examples not covered by claim <NUM>, the coaxial transfer may include a rod that goes through the center of the transformer. The rod, for example may be at high voltage, while a set of copper rings outside the diameter of the transformer core may complete the current path and/or create a sealed cavity which can be filled with oil. In some embodiments, the top (output) of the stack may connect directly to a <NUM>Ω coaxial cable, which may connect with the load. In some examples, the output may connect to a coaxial transmission line and/or a planar transmission line, for example, with impedances between about <NUM> ohms and <NUM> ohms.

In some examples, each PCB in the stack may contribute a voltage of <NUM> kV. Therefore, an inductive adder that includes <NUM> PCBs may produce an output signal of <NUM> kV; and two inductive adders stacked together may produce an output signal of <NUM> kV. Two inductive adders may be stacked in either series or parallel. Alternatively, each PCB in the stack may provide voltages from about <NUM> V to <NUM> kV. Any number of these PCBs may be stacked to create an inductive adder with higher voltages.

Each PCB and/or circuit in the stack may be designed and/or constructed to reduce stray inductance. For example, the PCB thickness may be reduced. As another example, the transformer core may include an upper portion placed above the circuit board and a lower portion placed below the circuit board. Each circuit on a PCB may, for example, include <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or more switches. These switches may include any type of semiconductor switch such as, for example, a Si, SiC, GaN, etc. switch. As set forth in claim <NUM>, each PCB has an inductance of less than about <NUM> nH, <NUM> nH, <NUM> nH, <NUM> nH, etc. as measured from the primary side of the circuit.

Each PCB and/or circuit in the stack may be designed and/or constructed to reduce stray capacitance. As an example not covered by claim <NUM>, a coaxial transformer may be used to reduce stray capacitance. As set forth in claim <NUM>, the secondary windings are grouped into four or eight clusters distributed radially around the transformer core. The stray capacitance, for example, of the transformer may be less than about <NUM> pF, <NUM> pF, <NUM> pF, <NUM> pf, <NUM> pf, <NUM> pF, <NUM> pF, <NUM> pF, <NUM> pf, etc. The stray capacitance may be the equivalent parasitic capacitance that would appear in parallel with the load, for example, as measured/viewed from the secondary side of the circuit.

As set forth in claim <NUM>, a high frequency inductive adder includes: a first source; a first switch electrically coupled with the first source; a first transformer core; a first plurality of primary windings wound about the first transformer core and electrically coupled with the first switch; a second source; a second switch electrically coupled with the second source; a second transformer core; a second plurality of primary windings wound about the second transformer core and electrically coupled with the second switch; one or more secondary windings wound around both the first transformer core and the second transformer core; and an output coupled with the second plurality of windings. In some embodiments, the high voltage inductive adder has a volume less than about <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, etc.; and/or has a mass less than about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc., and/or produces an output signal at the output having a voltage greater than about <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> MV, etc. In some embodiments, the output signal of the inductive adder may have a rise time of less than about <NUM> ns. In some embodiments, the output signal of the inductive adder may have a variable or varying pulse repetition frequency. In some embodiments, the output signal of the inductive adder may have a rise time of less than about <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, etc. In some embodiments, an inductive adder may provide an output pulse with pulse widths of about <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, etc. In some embodiments, the output signal of the inductive adder may have a variable or varying pulse width. In some embodiments, the output signal of the inductive adder may have a variable or varying output voltage.

In some embodiments, an inductive adder may drive a load of various impedance. For example, the inductive adder may drive a <NUM> ohm load. As another example, the inductive adder may drive a <NUM> ohm load. As another example, the inductive adder may drive a <NUM> ohm load. As another example, the inductive adder may drive a <NUM>,<NUM> ohm load. As another example, the inductive adder may drive a <NUM>,<NUM> ohm load. As another example, the inductive adder may drive a load of about <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, etc..

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of an example inductive adder <NUM> according to some embodiments useful for understanding the invention. An inductive adder <NUM> may include a plurality of stages that each include a source <NUM> and/or switch circuit <NUM> coupled with one or more transformers <NUM> via a primary winding. In some embodiments, the primary winding may include a plurality of single turn primary windings. A secondary winding may be wound around all (or at least more than one) of the plurality of transformers <NUM> of the plurality of circuits. The secondary winding may be coupled with a load <NUM>. Any number of circuits may be used. The output voltage and/or the output current, for example, may depend on the ratio of primary windings to secondary windings. The output voltage and/or the output current, for example, may depend on the number of stages (e.g., each stage may include at least a source <NUM>, a switch circuit <NUM> and/or a primary winding). In some embodiments, the drivers circuit <NUM> may include a single power supply or a plurality of power supplies. In some embodiments, the source <NUM> may include or effectively act as a capacitor. Any type of power supply may be used.

In some embodiments, each switch circuit <NUM> may include any solid state switching device that can switch high voltages such as, for example, a solid-state switch, an IGBT, an FET, a MOSFET, a SiC junction transistor, a GaN switch, or a similar device. Each switch circuit <NUM> may, for example, include a collector and an emitter (or, for example, a source and a drain). Various other components may be included with each switch circuit <NUM> in conjunction with each switch <NUM>. Each individual switch may include a plurality of switches in parallel, in series, or some combination thereof may be coupled with the transformer <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the combination of the source <NUM> and/or the switch circuit <NUM> may include a fast capacitor and/or an inductor.

When a switch circuit <NUM> is closed, energy from the associated source <NUM> may be discharged into the primary winding of the associated transformer <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the load <NUM> may include an ultraviolet light source. In some embodiments, the load <NUM> may include a high-power microwave source, a nonlinear transmission line, a strip line kicker, a semiconductor etch system, a medical device, a dielectric barrier discharge device, a low temperature plasma generation device, a low temperature plasma arc device, an aqueous-electrolyte resistor, a capacitor, a cable, etc., or some combination thereof.

Moreover, in some embodiments, the energy within the source <NUM> may not be substantially drained during each switch cycle, which may allow for a higher pulse repetition frequency. For example, in one switch cycle <NUM>% - <NUM>% of the energy stored within the source <NUM> may be drained. As another example, in one switch cycle <NUM>% - <NUM>% of the energy stored within the source <NUM> may be drained. As yet another example, in one switch cycle <NUM>% - <NUM>% of the energy stored within the source <NUM> may be drained. As yet another example, in one switch cycle <NUM>% - <NUM>% of the energy stored within the source <NUM> may be drained.

Each switch circuit <NUM> and the source <NUM> may be coupled with a transformer <NUM>. The transformer <NUM>, for example, may include capacitors, inductors, resistors, other devices, or some combination thereof. The transformer <NUM> may include a toroid shaped transformer core with a plurality of primary windings and one or more secondary windings wound around the transformer core. In some embodiments, there may be more primary windings than secondary windings. In some embodiments, there may be less primary windings than secondary windings.

In some embodiments, the transformer <NUM> may include a toroid shaped transformer core comprised of air, iron, ferrite, soft ferrite, MnZn, NiZn, hard ferrite, powder, nickel-iron alloys, amorphous metal, glassy metal, or some combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the transformer primary to secondary stray capacitance and/or the transformer secondary stray capacitance may be below about <NUM> pF, below about <NUM> pF, below about <NUM>,<NUM> pF, about <NUM> pF, etc., as viewed/measured on/from the primary side. In some embodiments, the sum of the secondary stray capacitance and the primary stray capacitance may be less than about <NUM> pF, <NUM> pF, <NUM> pF, <NUM> pF, <NUM> pF, <NUM> pF, etc., as viewed/measured on/from the secondary side of the circuit.

In some embodiments, the secondary stray inductance of the transformer and/or the primary stray inductance of the transformer, both as viewed/measured from the primary side, may have an inductance value, for example, of <NUM> nH, <NUM> nH, <NUM> nH, <NUM> nH, <NUM> nH, between about <NUM> nH and <NUM>,<NUM> nH, less than about <NUM> nH, less than about <NUM> nH, etc..

In some embodiments, an inductive adder may be designed with low stray capacitance. For example, the sum of all stray capacitance within the inductive adder and/or source circuit and/or switch circuit and/or transformer circuit may be below <NUM> pF. This may include, for example, transformer circuit stray capacitance, switch circuit stray capacitance, other stray capacitance, or some combination thereof. The stray capacitance may be the equivalent parasitic capacitance that would appear in parallel with the load, for example, as measured/viewed from the secondary side of the circuit.

The primary windings of the transformer <NUM> can include a plurality of single windings. For example, each of the primary windings may include a single wire that wraps around at least a substantial portion of the toroid shaped transformer core and terminate on either side of the transformer core. As another example, one end of the primary windings may terminate at the collector of the switch circuit <NUM> and another end of the primary windings may terminate at the source <NUM>. Any number of primary windings in series or in parallel may be used depending on the application. For example, about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. or more windings may be used for the primary winding.

The secondary winding may include a single wire wrapped around each of the transformers any number of times. For example, the secondary winding may include <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. windings. As another example, the secondary winding may include tubes, sheets, and/or metal rings. In some embodiments, the secondary winding may wrap around the transformer core and through portions of the circuit board (e.g., as shown in <FIG> and/or <FIG>). For example, the transformer core may be positioned on the circuit board with a plurality of slots in the circuit board arranged axially around the outside of the transformer core and an interior slot in the circuit board positioned in the center of the toroid shaped transformer core. The secondary winding may wrap around the toroid shaped transformer core and wrap through slots and the interior slot. The secondary winding may include high voltage wire.

In some embodiments, the output signal at the load <NUM> can have a pulse frequency that is proportional to a pulse frequency provided by each of the plurality of sources <NUM> either singularly or in combination. In some embodiments, the output signal at the load <NUM> can have a pulse width that is proportional to a pulse width provided by each of the plurality of sources <NUM> either singularly or in combination.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of another example inductive adder <NUM> according to some embodiments. The inductive adder <NUM> may include a plurality of voltage sources <NUM> and/or a plurality of switches <NUM>. The individual voltage sources may be fed by a single voltage source <NUM>. When each switch <NUM> is closed primary current, Iprimary, flows from the plurality of voltage sources <NUM> through a respective winding wound about a respective transformer <NUM> of a plurality of transformers. A secondary winding may be wound about one or more of the plurality of transformers and is coupled to a load <NUM>. The secondary current, Isecondary may flow from the secondary winding through the load <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a stacked inductive adder <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention. In this example, four driver and switch circuits <NUM> with four transformers <NUM> are stacked one on top of another. In this example, the various components of each driver and switch are placed on a single circuit board <NUM> along with a single transformer <NUM>. The driver and switch are coupled with the transformer via a plurality of windings distributed around the transformer. The secondary winding <NUM> wraps around the four transformers <NUM>. The inductive adder <NUM>, for example, may encompass a small volume inductive adder.

<FIG> illustrates a stacked inductive adder <NUM> according to an example userful for understanding the invention. In this example, the stacked inductive adder <NUM> an inductive adder <NUM> that includes six driver and switch circuits, and a secondary transformer <NUM>. In this example, the various components of each driver and switch are placed on a single circuit board along with a single transformer. The driver and switch are coupled with the transformer via a plurality of windings distributed around the transformer. The inductive adder <NUM>, for example, may be a small volume inductive adder.

The primary winding around each core of each inductive adder <NUM> may include a conductive sheet that comprises the primary winding of the transformer.

The inductive adder <NUM> may be coupled with a second transformer <NUM>. For example, the output of an inductive adder <NUM> (e.g., which may comprise inductive adder <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.) may be coupled with a secondary transformer <NUM>. The secondary transformer <NUM> may provide an output that has a higher output voltage than the voltage provided by the inductive adder <NUM>. In this example, the secondary transformer <NUM> includes a primary winding <NUM> wound around four transformer cores <NUM> and a secondary winding <NUM> wound around the four transformer cores <NUM>. While four transformer cores are shown, any number may be used. The four transformer cores <NUM>, for example, may comprise air, iron, ferrite, soft ferrite, MnZn, NiZn, hard ferrite, powder, nickel-iron alloys, amorphous metal, glassy metal, or some combination thereof. The primary winding <NUM>, for example, may comprise one or more conductive sheets wrapped around the transformer cores.

In some embodiments, a primary winding and/or a secondary winding may include single conductive sheet that is wrapped around at least a portion of the transformer core. A conductive sheet may wrap around the outside, top, and inside surfaces of a transformer core. Conductive traces and/or planes on and/or within the circuit board may complete the primary turn, and connect the primary turn to other circuit elements. In some embodiments, the conductive sheet may comprise a metal sheet. In some embodiments, the conductive sheet may comprise sections of pipe, tube, and/or other thin walled metal objects that have a certain geometry.

In some embodiments, a conductive sheet may terminate on one or more pads on the circuit board.

In some embodiments, a conductive sheet may terminate with two or more wires.

In some embodiments, a primary winding may include a conductive paint that has been painted on one or more outside surfaces of the transformer core. In some embodiments, the conductive sheet may include a metallic layer that has been deposited on the transformer core using a deposition technique such as thermal spray coating, vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, ion beam deposition, plasma and thermal spray deposition, etc. In some embodiments, the conductive sheet may comprise a conductive tape material that is wrapped around the transformer core. In some embodiments, the conductive sheet may comprise a conductor that has been electroplated on the transformer core. In some embodiments, a plurality of wires in parallel can be used in place of the conductive sheet.

In some embodiments, an insulator may be disposed or deposited between transformer core and the conductive sheet. The insulator, for example, may include a polymer, a polyimide, epoxy, etc..

<FIG> shows three graphs showing different output voltages from an example stacked inductive adder such as, for example, stacked inductive adder <NUM>. These examples show an inductive adder producing peak output voltages of <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, and <NUM> kV. In this example, the output voltage has a suitable pulse width. While this example only shows a suitable rise time of about <NUM> ns and pulse widths of <NUM>-<NUM> ns for the <NUM> kV example, a suitable pulse width can also be produced for the <NUM> kV and the <NUM> kV examples using the inductive adders described in accordance with embodiments of the invention. In addition, these examples show rise times of <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, and <NUM> ns respectively.

In this example, the inductive adder <NUM> may be reach an output voltage of <NUM> kV into resistive loads, for example, from <NUM> to <NUM> kΩ. In this example, rise-times from <NUM> to <NUM> ns were produced with output voltage from <NUM> kV to <NUM> kV.

Some embodiments include an inductive adder with a small volume. For example, <FIG> and <FIG> each illustrate an inductive adder (inductive adder <NUM> and inductive adder <NUM>) that have small volumes. A small volume inductive adder may include an inductive adder having a volume less than about <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, etc. and/or a mass less than about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc..

In some embodiments, an inductive adder (e.g., the inductive adder illustrated in <FIG> and/or <FIG>) may produce a pulse width of about <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns <NUM> ns, etc. In some embodiments, an inductive adder may produce a pulse width greater than about <NUM> ns. In some embodiments, an inductive adder may have a variable pulse width. For example, the inductive adder may produce a first pulse having a first pulse width and a second pulse with a second pulse width where the first pulse width and the second pulse width are different and/or the first pulse width and the second pulse width may have variable pulse widths.

In some embodiments, an inductive adder (e.g., the inductive adder shown in <FIG> and/or <FIG>) may drive <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, <NUM> ohms, etc. loads to voltages greater than about <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> MV or more with rise times of less than about <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, etc. In some embodiments, an inductive adder may produce variable pulse widths of up to <NUM> ns. In some embodiments, an inductive adder may operate at frequencies greater than about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. In some embodiments, an inductive adder may provide an output pulse with pulse widths of about <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, etc..

In some embodiments, an inductive adder may produce a flattop voltage with a timing jitter less than about <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, <NUM> ns, etc..

In some embodiments, an inductive adder may produce a flattop voltage greater than about <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, etc..

<FIG> illustrates a combined inductive adder <NUM> according to some examples useful for understanding the invention. In this example, a first inductive adder <NUM> and a second inductive adder <NUM> are combined with opposite polarities to produce the combined inductive adder <NUM> that can produce an output voltage that is the sum of the output voltages of the first inductive adder <NUM> and the second inductive adder <NUM>. The first inductive adder <NUM> and/or the second inductive adder <NUM> may include any number of switches and/or transformers. The capacitance and/or inductance of the first inductive adder <NUM> and/or the second inductive adder <NUM>, for example, may include any value discussed in here. In some embodiments, multiple inductive adders may be arranged in parallel to drive lower impedance loads, and/or to produce higher output voltages, and/or drive faster output rise times. In some embodiments, the first inductive adder <NUM> and/or the second inductive adder <NUM> may or may not be coupled with a transmission line.

In some embodiments, the first inductive adder <NUM> and the second inductive adder <NUM> may be grounded to produce opposite polarities. In some embodiments, the combined inductive adder <NUM> may include a central ground reference. <FIG> is a block diagram of an inductive adder <NUM> with a coaxial transformer <NUM> not covered by claim <NUM> but useful for understanding the invention.

The figure shows a cross section of the coaxial transformer <NUM>. The coaxial transformer <NUM> includes a plurality of ferrite cores <NUM> that are coupled with the source <NUM> and the switch <NUM> via one more primary winding wound around a ferrite core. The one or more primary winding may include a conductive sheet wrapped at least partially around the ferrite core. The coaxial transformer <NUM> also includes a secondary winding that comprises a conductive inner rod <NUM> and an outer cylinder <NUM>. The plurality of ferrite cores <NUM> may comprise a cylinder surrounding the inner rod <NUM>. The outer cylinder <NUM> wraps around both the inner rod <NUM> and the plurality of ferrite cores <NUM>.

The spacing between the inner rod <NUM> and the ferrite cores <NUM> may be less than about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. In some embodiments, the space between the inner rod <NUM> and the ferrite cores <NUM> may include a nonconductive material such as, for example, oil, epoxy, dielectric potting compounds, air, SF<NUM>, or any dielectric material. In some examples, the dimensions and/or spacing of the primary, secondary, and/or cores may be set such that the entire structure has a specific characteristic impedance, where the characteristic impedance selected may be (but not always) matched to the impedance of the output cable and/or load.

The spacing between the outer cylinder <NUM> and the ferrite cores <NUM> may be less than about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. In examples, the space between the outer cylinder <NUM> and the ferrite cores <NUM> may include a nonconductive material such as, for example, oil, epoxy, dielectric potting compounds, air, SF<NUM>, or any dielectric material.

The outer cylinder <NUM>, for example, may comprise a plurality of shorter outer rings coupled together to form the long outer cylinder. For example, each shorter outer ring may be coupled with a circuit board and press fit together to form the outer cylinder <NUM>. In some embodiments, the outer rings may comprise brass or any other metal.

In some examples, the inner rod <NUM> may comprise any conductive material such as, for example, aluminum, copper, brass, nickel, steel, iron, etc. In some embodiments, the outer cylinder <NUM> may comprise any conductive material such as, for example, aluminum, copper, nickel, steel, brass, iron, etc..

One of the many challenges faced by pulsing systems is size constraints. The technology used by typical pulsing systems limit the ability to acceptably scale the system to small volumes. <FIG> illustrates a side view of a single inductive adder with a coaxial transformer. <FIG> illustrates two views of an inductive adder according to some examples not covered by claim <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a side cutaway view of an inductive adder <NUM> according to some examples not covered by claim <NUM>.

The inductive adder <NUM> may include a coaxial transformer. The inductive adder <NUM> may, for example, include one or more outer chassis walls <NUM>. The inductive adder <NUM> may, for example, include a plurality of stacked circuit boards <NUM>. Each stacked circuit board <NUM> may, for example, include an aperture <NUM> through a central portion of the circuit board <NUM>. Each stacked circuit board <NUM> may, for example, include a switch <NUM> (e.g., switch <NUM>), a fast capacitor <NUM>, and/or energy storage capacitor <NUM>.

The coaxial transformer of the inductive adder <NUM> may comprise a plurality of toroid-shaped ferrite cores <NUM>. Each ferrite core <NUM> may have one or more primary windings wound around the ferrite core <NUM>. The primary windings may include a conductive sheet. The coaxial transformer may also include a secondary winding comprising a conductive inner rod <NUM> that extends through the apertures <NUM> in the circuit boards <NUM> and the outer cylinder <NUM>. The outer cylinder <NUM>, for example, may comprise a plurality of brass rings that can be press fit together. <FIG> illustrates two views of an inductive adder with a coaxial transformer.

<FIG> is a block diagram of two inductive adders <NUM>, <NUM> coupled together in parallel according to some embodiments. The two inductive transformers may provide a voltage to the load <NUM> that is the same as a single inductive transformer but provide about twice the current where each inductive adder provides a portion of the current. In this example, each inductive adder includes a plurality of source and switch circuits <NUM> and a plurality of transformer cores <NUM>.

Each respective transformer core <NUM> may be coupled with a switch circuit <NUM> via a primary winding. Each inductive adder includes a secondary winding <NUM> wound about a plurality of the transformer cores <NUM>.

The transformers illustrated in <FIG> can be replaced with a coaxial transformer such as, for example, the coaxial transformer illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a waveform produced from an inductive adder according to some embodiments. This waveform shows an inductive adder that produces a <NUM> kV waveform with a <NUM> ns pulse width with a rise time of about <NUM>-<NUM> ns.

Some embodiments of the invention may provide a high voltage inductive adder that produces high voltage pulses (e.g., greater than about <NUM> kV), with a suitable pulse width (e.g., greater than about <NUM> ns), and a sharp rise time (e.g., less than about <NUM> ns). In some embodiments, the high voltage inductive adder has a small volume (e.g., less than about <NUM><NUM>). The small volume (possibly in conjunction with the other pulse characteristics) of some embodiments is much more than mere window dressing. Instead, the small volume may allow a high voltage inductive adder, for example, to be used in aerial drones, small vehicles, airplanes, boats, desktop lab equipment, consumer devices, medical devices, etc..

In some embodiments, the output pulses from the inductive adder may have a pulse width and/or a pulse repetition frequency that is related to the time the one or more switches driving the primary winding are open. For example, the opening and/or closing of the one or more switches may dictate the pulse width and/or the pulse repetition frequency of the inductive adder. In some embodiments, the output pulse may have a pulse width that is proportional (e.g., directly proportional) to the time the time the one or more switches are closed. In some embodiments, the output pulse may have a pulse repetition frequency that is proportional to the frequency of the switches are switched on and/or off. In some embodiments, the output pulse may have a variable pulse width and/or variable pulse repetition frequency by varying the frequency and/or duration of opening and closing the switches.

The term "substantially" means within <NUM>% or <NUM>% of the value referred to or within manufacturing tolerances.

Various embodiments are disclosed. The various embodiments may be partially or completely combined to produce other embodiments.

In other instances, methods, apparatuses or systems that would be known by one of ordinary skill have not been described in detail so as not to obscure claimed subject matter.

The use of "adapted to" or "configured to" herein is meant as open and inclusive language that does not foreclose devices adapted to or configured to perform additional tasks or steps. Additionally, the use of "based on" is meant to be open and inclusive, in that a process, step, calculation, or other action "based on" one or more recited conditions or values may, in practice, be based on additional conditions or values beyond those recited. Headings, lists, and numbering included herein are for ease of explanation only and are not meant to be limiting.

Claim 1:
A high voltage inductive adder (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a first circuit (<NUM>) comprising:
a first printed circuit board (<NUM>), the first printed circuit board having an inductance less than about <NUM> nH;
a first source (105A, 205A) disposed on the first printed circuit board, the first source comprising an energy storage capacitor;
a first switch (110A, 210A) disposed on the first printed circuit board and electrically coupled with the first source;
a first transformer core (115A, 220A, <NUM>) disposed on the first printed circuit board; and
a first plurality of primary windings wound about the first transformer core and electrically coupled with the first switch;
a second circuit comprising:
a second printed circuit board (<NUM>) stacked on top of the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board having an inductance less than about <NUM> nH;
a second source (105B, 205B) disposed on the second printed circuit board;
a second switch (110B, 210B) disposed on the second printed circuit board and electrically coupled with the second source;
a second transformer core (115B, 220B, <NUM>) disposed on the second printed circuit board; and
a second plurality of primary windings wound about the second transformer core and electrically coupled with the second switch;
a secondary winding (<NUM>) wound around both the first transformer core and the second transformer core with a plurality of turns, wherein the turns are grouped in four or eight clusters distributed radially around the first transformer core and the second transformer core; and
an output coupled with the secondary winding (<NUM>);
wherein the stray inductance of the first circuit is less than about <NUM> nH as measured from the primary side of the circuit, and wherein the stray inductance of the second circuit is less than about <NUM> nH as measured from the primary side of the circuit.