High voltage solid-state rectifier system

Claim 2

A high voltage solid-state rectifier assembly, comprising: an array of multiple series-connected solid state diodes, said array being divided into groups of said series-connected diodes; a plurality of electrically conductive shield sections, each housing a respective group of said diodes, said shield sections being electrically isolated from one another and arranged end to end, each shield section being arranged to overlap the shield section adjacent thereto to provide radio frequency shielding for said array and to form a capacitance element between adjacent shield sections, the capacitive elements between successive shield sections forming a series capacitance chain along the length of said array; and a plurality of resistive elements, each connected between a respective group of said diodes and the shield section housing that group to provide a graded potential along said shield sections.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of buffer resistors connected in series with said diodes and a plurality of ac-compensation capacitors, each connected across a respective diode.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1 wherein each shield section is closed along its sides by an electrically conductive wall and open at its ends, one end of said wall including an electrically conductive projection therefrom which extends beyond the end of the next adjacent shield section to form said overlap.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 3 wherein each group of said diodes is supported on insulating support means mounted interiorly of the inner surface of the conductive wall of the shield section which houses that group of said diodes.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 3 wherein said conductive wall is four-sided and wherein said projection is also four-sided and overlaps an ajdacent shield section at all four sides to provide said capacitance element.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 5 wherein each group of diodes is subdivided into series-connected segments of series-connected diodes, each segment mounted on a respective modular printed circuit board, successive series-connected segments being arranged in a stepped spiral-like configuration inside the inner surface of the four-sided wall of the shield section which houses the diodes.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 6 wherein each modular board segment of diodes is arranged along the periphery of a multi-sided, regular geometrically configured structure, each segment stepping forward around the structure to form a stepped-spiral chain of modular boards surrounding an open center rEgion.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 6 wherein each segment of diodes includes plural series-connected diodes connected in series with buffer resistance means, each diode being shunted by a respective ac-compensating capacitor.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 6 further comprising a series of spark gaps, each connected across a respective pair of adjacent shield sections, for limiting peak transient voltages between successive diode groups.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 9 wherein said series spark gaps are mutually aligned to permit the ultra violet emission from the firing of one of said spark gaps to fire the other spark gaps in said series.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 10 further comprising: an inductor connected in series with said diode array for sensing over-voltage in said array; and a trigger spark gap connected across said inductor and arranged to fire in response to voltage transients in excess of a predetermined magnitude appearing across said inductor, said trigger spark gap being positioned in alignment with said series of spark gaps such that the ultra-violet light emitted upon firing of said trigger spark gap causes said series of spark gaps to fire.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 1 further comprising a series of spark gaps, each connected across a respective pair of adjacent shield sections, for limiting peak transient voltages between successive diode groups.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 12 wherein said series spark gaps are mutually aligned to permit the ultra violet emission from the firing of one of said spark gaps to fire the other spark gaps in said series.

Claim 15

The combination according to claim 13 further comprising: an inductor connected in series with said diode array for sensing over-voltage in said array; and a trigger spark gap connected across said inductor and arranged to fire in response to voltage transients in excess of a predetermined magnitude appearing across said inductor, said trigger spark gap being positioned in alignment with said series of spark gaps such that the ultra-violet light emitted upon firing of said trigger spark gap causes said series of spark gaps to fire.

Claim 16

A solid-state high voltage rectifier assembly for use as one stage of a multi-stage high voltage dc generator which operates in response to radio frequency source voltage in an environment subject to megavolt transient conditions, said rectifier assembly comprising: a string of series-connected solid-state diodes, said diodes being chosen such that the total peak inverse voltage rating of said string is at least three times the operational inverse voltage appearing across said string; ac compensation means connected across each diode in said string; a plurality of buffer resistors connected in series with said string; a series of spaced, open-ended, electrically-conductive, radio frequency shield sections arranged in overlapping end-to-end relation to provide a string of series connected capacitance elements, one capacitance element at each shield section overlap, each shield section enclosing a section of said diode string; a plurality of resistive connections, each connected between a respective shield section and the diode string section enclosed by that shield section to provide a graded dc potential along said series of shield sections; a series of spark gaps, each connected between a respective pair of adjacent shield sections; an inductance connected in series with said diode string; and a trigger spark gap connected across said inductance and set to fire in response to voltage transients of predetermined magnitude across said inductance, said series of spark gaps being positioned in line of sight with said trigger spark gap such that the light energy emitted upon the firing of said trigger spark gap stimulates firing of said series of spark gaps.

Claim 17

A solid-state high voltage rectifier assembly for use as one stage of a multi-stage high voltage dc generator which operates in response to radio frequency source voltage in an environment subject to megavolt transient conditions, said rectifier assembly comprising: a string of series-connected solid-state diodes, said diodes being chosen such that the total peak inverse voltage rating of said string is at least three times the operational inverse voltage appearing across said string; ac compensation means connected across each diode in said string; a plurality of buffer resistors connected in series with said string; a series of spaced, open-ended, electrically-conductive, radio frequency shield sections arranged in overlapping end-to-end relation to provide a string of series connected capacitance elements, one capacitance element at each shield section overlap, each shield section enclosing a section of said diode string; a plurality of resistive connections, each connected between a respective shield section and the diode string section enclosed by that shield section to provide a graded dc potential along said series of shield sections; a series of spark gaps, each connected between a respective pair of adjacent shield sections; an inductance connected in series with said diode string; and a trigger spark gap connected across said inductance and set to fire in response to voltage transients of predetermined magnitude across said inductance, said series of spark gaps being positioned in line of sight with said trigger spark gap such that the light energy emitted upon the firing of said trigger spark gap stimulates firing of said series of spark gaps.

Claim 18

The combination according to claim 15 wherein said series oF spark gaps are arranged in a straight line and in alignment with said trigger spark such that the light energy emitted by firing of any of said spark gaps stimulates firing of the other spark gaps.

Claim 19

The combination according to claim 16 wherein said shield sections are four-sided and wherein the section of the diode string housed in each section is arranged in a stepped spiral-like configuration inside the four-sided shield section, successive sections of said diode string being arranged in an overall stepped spiral-like configuration.

Claim 20

The combination according to claim 16 wherein said shield sections are regular multi-sided configurations having an inner wall along which a respective portion of said diode string extends in stepped spiral-like fashion.

Claim 21

In a high voltage circuit of the type which operates in a high voltage transient environment, protective apparatus comprising: a series of spark gaps connected between respective portions of said circuit for preventing build up of undesirably large voltages between said circuit portions; voltage sensing means connected in series with said circuit such that a relatively small voltage appears across said sensing means during normal circuit operation and such that voltage transients in said circuit are reflected across said sensing means; and a trigger spark gap connected across said voltage sensing means and set to fire in response to voltage transients across said sensing means in excess of a predetermined voltage, said trigger spark gap being positioned in line of sight of and in sufficiently close proximity to said series of spark gaps to permit light energy emitted upon firing said trigger spark gap to stimulate firing of said series of spark gaps.

Claim 22

In a high voltage circuit of the type which operates in a high voltage transient environment, protective apparatus comprising: a series of spark gaps connected between respective portions of said circuit for preventing build up of undesirably large voltages between said circuit portions; voltage sensing means connected in series with said circuit such that a relatively small voltage appears across said sensing means during normal circuit operation and such that voltage transients in said circuit are reflected across said sensing means; and a trigger spark gap connected across said voltage sensing means and set to fire in response to voltage transients across said sensing means in excess of a predetermined voltage, said trigger spark gap being positioned in line of sight of and in sufficiently close proximity to said series of spark gaps to permit light energy emitted upon firing said trigger spark gap to stimulate firing of said series of spark gaps.

Claim 23

The combination according to claim 19 wherein said trigger spark gap and said series of spark gaps are arranged in a straight line such that light energy emitted upon firing of any of said spark gaps stimulates firing of the other spark gaps.