Claims
- 1. A pulse signal generator apparatus comprising:
- transformer means for storing electrical energy, said transformer means having a circular plate structure which can be coupled to a voltage source; and
- light activated switching means which becomes conductive upon the application thereto of a predetermined type of light energy, said light activated switching means disposed along a surface surrounding said circular plate structure for switching an input electrical pulse of a predetermined peak voltage, injected at a circumferential edge of said circular plate structure onto a peripheral surface of said circular plate structure to produce an output electrical pulse having a substantially higher peak voltage than said predetermined peak voltage of said input electrical pulse, at a center of said circular plate structure of said transformer means.
- 2. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising coaxial transmission line means coupled to said transformer means for coupling said output pulse produced at said center of said circular plate structure of said transformer means to a load.
- 3. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising laser means for producing said predetermined type of light energy which illuminates said light activated switching means disposed along said surface surrounding said circular plate structure.
- 4. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said laser means for producing said predetermined type of light energy includes light generation means for producing a beam of light and upcollimating means for converting saiLd beam of light produced by said light generation means into an upcollimated beam of light energy which uniformly illuminates said light activated switching means disposed along said surface surrounding said circular plate structure.
- 5. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said laser means for producing said predetermined type of light energy further includes focusing lens means for focusing said upcollimated light beam into an annular-shaped light beam which uniformly illuminates said light activated switching means disposed along said surface. surrounding said circular plate structure.
- 6. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said laser means for producing said predetermined type of light energy includes light generation means for producing a beam of light and means for delivering said beam of light to a predetermined number of discrete points along said light activated switching means disposed along said surface surrounding said circular plate structure.
- 7. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light activated switching means includes a semiconductor device having said surface surrounding said circular plate structure.
- 8. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said semiconductor device is made from Si.
- 9. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said semiconductor device is made from GaAs.
- 10. A pulse signal generator apparatus comprising:
- transformer means for storing electrical energy, said transformer means having a circular plate structure including a pair of circular-shaped plates separated by a dielectric medium which can be coupled to a voltage source; and
- light activated switching means which becomes conductive upon the application thereto of a predetermined type of light energy, said light activated switching means being disposed along a surface surrounding one of said pair of circular-shaped plates for switching an input electrical pulse of a predetermined peak voltage, injected at a circumferential edge of said circular plate structure onto a peripheral surface of said circular plate structure to produce an output electrical pulse having a substantially higher peak voltage than said predetermined peak voltage of said input electrical pulse, at a center of said circular plate structure of said transformer means.
- 11. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a coaxial transmission line having a first conductor coupled to a center of a first one of said pair of circular-shaped plates of said transformer means and a second conductor coupled to a second one of said pair of circular-shaped plates, said coaxial transmission line operating to couple said output pulse produced at said center of said circular plate structure of said transformer means to a load.
- 12. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a laser for producing a short pulse of said predetermined type of light energy which illuminates said light activated switching means disposed along said surface surrounding said one of said pair of circular-shaped plates.
- 13. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said laser includes light generation means for producing a beam of light and upcollimating means for converting said beam of light produced by said light generation means into an upcollimated beam of light energy which uniformly illuminates said light activated switching means disposed along said surface surrounding said one of said pair of circular-shaped plates.
- 14. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said laser further includes focusing lens means for focusing said upcollimated light beam into an annular-shaped light beam which uniformly illuminates said light activated switching means disposed along said surface surrounding said one of said pair of circular-shaped plates.
- 15. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said laser includes light generation means for producing a beam of light and means for delivering said beam of light to a predetermined number of discrete points along said light activated switching means disposed along said surface surrounding said one of said pair of circular-shaped plates.
- 16. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said light activated switching means includes a semiconductor device which includes said surface surrounding said one of said pair of circular-shaped plates.
- 17. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said semiconductor device is made from Si.
- 18. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said semiconductor device is made from GaAs.
- 19. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having said surface which surrounds said one of said pair of circular-shaped plates, said one of said pair of circular-shaped plates also operating as an electrode of said light activated switching means.
- 20. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said semiconductor substrate includes a second surface located opposite to said surface, said second surface having disposed thereon an annular-shaped electrode.
- 21. The pulse signal generator apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said annular-shaped electrode includes a predetermined inner diameter which is larger than an outer diameter defined by said one of said pair of circular-shaped plates operating as said electrode, so as to define a gap therebetween which is illuminated by the said predetermined type of light energy.
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government of the United States of America without the payment to the inventors of any royalty thereon.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Auston, D.H., "Picosecond Optoelectronic Switching and Gating in Silicon",ppl. Phys. Lett. 26, pp. 101-103, 1975. |