Patent ID: 8358521

Claim:
A high voltage bipolar electrical energy generator, including: a power supply that provides electrical energy; at least two positive power stages coupled to the power supply, wherein each positive power stage is operable to receive the electrical energy from the power supply to only provide a positive voltage increment to the high voltage bipolar waveform when engaged; at least two negative power stages coupled to the power supply, wherein each negative power stage is operable to receive the electrical energy from the power supply to only provide a negative voltage increment to the high voltage bipolar waveform when engaged; and a controller operable to engage half or less of the at least four power stages to provide their respective voltage increments to the high voltage bipolar waveform during operation of the high voltage bipolar electrical energy generator, wherein the power stages have outputs that are electrically and serially coupled to additively control voltage of the high voltage bipolar waveform, wherein the at least two positive power stages are turned off when the at least two negative power stages are engaged.