Patent ID: 7075247

Claim:
An apparatus for supplying AC power to a high voltage device comprising: a first, low voltage, local controller and switching circuit-driver subsystem, which is operative to generate first, low voltage, drive control signals for controlling the operation of a first driver circuit therein that generates first drive signals for a first switching circuit installed adjacent to a first end of said high voltage device, and the operation of a second driver circuit that generates second drive signals for a second switching circuit of a second switching circuit-driver subsystem installed adjacent to a second end of said high voltage device; a first low voltage connection path which is operative to couple said first, low voltage drive control signals generated by said first, low voltage, local controller and switching circuit-driver subsystem to said first driver circuit therein that generates said first drive signals for said first switching circuit, and to couple said first drive signals to said first switching circuit; a second low voltage connection path which is operative to transport said first, low voltage drive control signals from said first, low voltage local controller and switching circuit-driver subsystem to said second driver circuit of said second switching circuit-driver subsystem; a first step-up transformer having a primary winding coupled to an output of said first switching circuit, and a secondary winding coupled to a first terminal of said high voltage device, and being operative to couple a first AC voltage to said first terminal of said high voltage device; and a second step-up transformer having a primary winding coupled to an output of said second switching circuit, and a secondary winding coupled to a second terminal of said high voltage device, and being operative to couple a second AC voltage having the same frequency as, but opposite phase relative to said first AC voltage to said second terminal of said high voltage device.