Patent ID: 8796882

Claim:
An apparatus for forming a predetermined current pulse through or a predetermined voltage pulse across a load, comprising: a battery coupled between a first node and ground; a regulator configured to regulate a continuous voltage across the load, wherein regulator comprises: a first switching device coupled between the first node and a second node; a first capacitive device coupled between the second node and ground; a second switching device coupled between the second node and a third node, wherein the continuous voltage is produced at the third node; a second capacitive device coupled between the third node and ground; a differential amplifier configured to generate a control signal based on a difference between the continuous voltage and a reference voltage; and a timing device configured to operate the first and second switching devices based on the control signal; and a charge-on-demand circuit configured to supply charge to the load simultaneously with the continuous voltage being applied across the load, the charge-on-demand circuit comprising: a plurality of sources to provide charge, wherein the charge sources respectively comprise capacitors or inductors; a plurality of switching elements adapted to couple the plurality of sources to the load, respectively; and a controller adapted to: simultaneously maintain open all of the switching elements and control the charge sources to energize the respective capacitors or inductors prior to the formation of the predetermined current pulse or the predetermined voltage pulse; and selectively close the switching elements to deliver the charge from the energized capacitors or inductors to the load during the formation of the predetermined current pulse or the predetermined voltage pulse.