WO2008129314A1 - Appareil de commande - Google Patents

Appareil de commande Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2008129314A1
WO2008129314A1 PCT/GB2008/050248 GB2008050248W WO2008129314A1 WO 2008129314 A1 WO2008129314 A1 WO 2008129314A1 GB 2008050248 W GB2008050248 W GB 2008050248W WO 2008129314 A1 WO2008129314 A1 WO 2008129314A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
control apparatus
capacitor
windings
discharge tube
series
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2008/050248
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jan Simonsen
Original Assignee
Cyden Limited
Simonsen, Hanne
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cyden Limited, Simonsen, Hanne filed Critical Cyden Limited
Publication of WO2008129314A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008129314A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/30—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by pulses, e.g. flash lamp
    • H05B41/34—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by pulses, e.g. flash lamp to provide a sequence of flashes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/09—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping
    • H01S3/097—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping by gas discharge of a gas laser
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/02—Details
    • H05B41/04—Starting switches
    • H05B41/042—Starting switches using semiconductor devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/26—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc
    • H05B41/28—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters
    • H05B41/288—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters with semiconductor devices and specially adapted for lamps without preheating electrodes, e.g. for high-intensity discharge lamps, high-pressure mercury or sodium lamps or low-pressure sodium lamps

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to control apparatus and more particularly, but not exclusively, to control apparatus comprising circuitry for controlling the operation of a discharge tube (also known as a discharge lamp).
  • the present invention further relates to use of such control apparatus in controlling optical output for cosmetic or therapeutic methods
  • Discharge tubes typically comprise an arrangement of electrodes in a gas, housed within an insulating, temperature resistant glass or ceramic envelope. Discharge tubes operate by ionising the gas with an applied voltage across the electrodes to create a conduction path within the gas between the electrodes. The electrical breakdown of the gas produces a plasma discharge with the result that upon passing a current through the plasma, an intense optical pulse is generated as the free electrons within the plasma combine with the ionised gas atoms.
  • the optical output produced by the discharge tube is commonly used to pump a laser medium, such as an organic dye crystal, to create a population inversion within the medium.
  • the laser pulse generated by the population inversion typically comprises a temporal linewidth which is less than that of the pulse produced by the discharge tube.
  • the laser pulse typically terminates before the pulse from the discharge tube.
  • FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings there is shown a graphical representation of the optical output of a discharge tube over time t, in which curve 10 shows the pulse from the discharge tube, while curve 1 1 shows the corresponding laser pulse.
  • curve 10 shows the pulse from the discharge tube
  • curve 1 1 shows the corresponding laser pulse.
  • pulse 10 represents by the shaded area 12
  • this portion 12 no longer contributes to the laser pulse 1 1 and so the energy associated with this part is dissipated as heat.
  • Discharge tubes are typically powered using circuitry such as that illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
  • a capacitor 13 is charged by a power supply 14 which rectifies an AC mains supply.
  • the power supply 14 and capacitor 13 are electrically connected to a discharge tube 15 by a first series of windings 16 arranged upon the core 17 of a transformer 18.
  • the discharge tube 15 does not produce any output in an initial state, in which there is no conductive path through the gas 19 between electrodes within the tube 15.
  • a trigger circuit 20 which comprises a second series of windings 21 on the transformer core 17, is used to induce a high voltage supply on the first series of windings 16 causing the gas 19 within the discharge tube 15 to break down. This breakdown creates a conduction path through the tube 15 allowing the capacitor 13 to discharge across the tube electrodes thereby producing an intense arc.
  • a semiconductor switch can be used to switch the current flow.
  • US6965203 discloses a method and circuitry for repetitively firing a discharge tube, and particularly a current interruption circuit comprising a semiconductor transistor, for switching off the discharge tube. In high current systems, however, semiconductor switches cannot tolerate the high current and are often damaged.
  • control apparatus for an electric discharge tube comprising a first circuit and at least one second circuit as will now be described.
  • the first circuit comprises at least one first capacitor and a discharge tube electrically connectable via a first series of windings arranged upon a core of a transformer.
  • the second circuit comprises at least one second capacitor and a second series of windings arranged upon the core; the arrangement is such that electric discharge of the at least one first capacitor and of the at least one second capacitor creates opposed magnetic fields within the core, causing the discharge arc of the discharge tube to terminate.
  • control apparatus further includes a trigger circuit including a third series of windings arranged on the core of the transformer, for creating a high voltage across the discharge tube, to ionise the gas within the tube.
  • trigger circuit includes less windings on the core than the first circuit has, so that a step up in voltage is obtained from the third to the first series of windings.
  • the high voltage results in very low impedance within the first series of windings, since the associated high current within the first series of windings creates a magnetic field which saturates the transformer core.
  • the at least one second circuit preferably reduces the magnetic flux within the core, thereby removing the core from magnetic saturation. This effectively increases the impedance of the first series of windings and thus restricts current flowing there through.
  • the transformer thus comprises a magnetic core which preferably alternates between respective states of high and low magnetic permeability.
  • the discharge tube generates an output pulse having a range of wavelengths at least in the visible spectrum.
  • the second circuit may include more windings on the core than the windings of the trigger circuit. This helps to ensure that the transformer core is brought out of magnetic saturation by the second circuit.
  • the first series of windings are preferably energised by the at least one first capacitor, and the second series of windings are preferably energised by the at least one second capacitor.
  • the trigger circuit preferably comprises at least one third capacitor for energising the third series of windings.
  • the at least one first capacitor is charged by a power supply which maintains a discharge plasma within the discharge tube, but is insufficient to start a discharge arc in the tube.
  • the second series of windings are wound upon the transformer core in an opposite direction to the first series of windings, in order to create the opposed magnetic field.
  • the at least one first capacitor and the at least one second capacitor are arranged such that the charged poles of the capacitors cause a current to flow in the respective windings in opposite directions with respect to each other to create the opposed magnetic fields.
  • the control apparatus preferably further includes a sensor for sensing the intensity of a laser output.
  • the sensor preferably causes the at least one second capacitor in the second circuit to discharge, to thereby terminate the arc discharge from the discharge tube.
  • a laser system comprising a discharge tube, in which the discharge tube is controlled by control apparatus according to the invention.
  • the present invention further comprises a method of providing a pulsed electrical output, the method comprising selectively discharging the first and second capacitors of apparatus according to the invention so as to create opposed magnetic fields within the core, and to cause the discharge of the discharge tube to terminate.
  • the present invention further comprises an optical cosmetic or therapeutic method of treatment, which comprises providing an electrical energy input to a discharge tube so as to produce an optical output pulse directed towards animal tissue, wherein the electrical energy input is provided by control apparatus according to the invention.
  • Figure 1 is, as indicated above, a graphical representation of the optical output of a discharge tube and laser
  • Figure 2 is, as indicated above, a circuit diagram of a conventional circuit used to power a discharge tube.
  • Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of exemplary control circuitry used according to the present invention.
  • control device 100 for selectively controlling the operation of a discharge tube 1 12, in pumping a laser system 400 for example.
  • the control device 100 comprises a first circuit 1 10, a second circuit 210 and a trigger circuit 310.
  • the first circuit 1 10 comprises a first capacitor 1 1 1 electrically connected to a discharge tube 1 12 via a first series of windings 1 13, arranged on a magnetic core 1 14 of a transformer 1 15.
  • the capacitor 1 1 1 is to be charged via a power supply unit (not shown).
  • the power supply unit creates a potential difference across the electrodes 1 16 of the discharge tube 1 12, which potential difference maintains a plasma discharge within the tube 1 12, which is evident as a weak glowing of the tube, but which is insufficient to produce an intense optical output in the form of an arc discharge.
  • the trigger circuit 310 includes a capacitor 31 1 to be charged via a power supply unit (not shown).
  • the capacitor is electrically connectable via a switch 313 to a third series of windings 312 arranged on the same core 1 14 as the first series of windings 1 13.
  • the second circuit 210 includes a capacitor 21 1 to be charged via a power supply (not shown), the capacitor being electrically connectable via a switch 213 to a second series of windings 212 also arranged upon the transformer core 1 14.
  • the tube 1 12 glows under the influence of the power supply unit (not shown) provided for the first circuit 1 10, due to the plasma discharge.
  • the switch 313 in the trigger circuit 310 is closed to cause the capacitor 31 1 to discharge through the third series of windings 312 on the transformer core 1 14. This discharge creates a current within the third series of windings 312 and therefore sets up a magnetic field within the transformer core 1 14.
  • This magnetic field induces a high voltage spike in the first series of windings 1 13, by virtue of there being more turns on core in the first circuit 1 10 than the trigger circuit 310, causing the gas 1 17 within the discharge tube 1 12 to ionise.
  • This ionisation creates a conduction path between the electrodes 1 16 within the tube 1 12, thereby enabling the capacitor 1 1 1 provided in the first circuit 1 10 to discharge across the tube 1 12 and produce an intense arc.
  • the circuit according to the invention overcomes this problem by incorporating a second circuit 210 as hereinbefore described.
  • the switch 213 in the second circuit 210 is closed, causing the capacitor 21 1 to discharge across the second series of windings 212.
  • the polarity of the capacitor 21 1 is reversed with respect to the capacitor 1 1 1 such that the magnetic field created by the capacitor 21 1 within the second series of windings 212 opposes the magnetic field created by the third series of windings 312 of the trigger circuit 310.
  • the second series of windings 212 may be wound around the transformer core 1 14 in the opposite sense to the first series of windings 1 13 to create opposed magnetic fields. This opposed flux reduces the resultant magnetic flux within the core 1 14 and so brings the core out of magnetic saturation.
  • the impedance of the first series of windings 1 13 increases, which reduces the current within the windings to a level which causes the arc discharge to terminate. In this manner, it is possible to selectively terminate a discharge arc.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention permits the termination of the arc discharge when desired, thereby enabling a re-charging voltage to be re-applied more quickly.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention further enables power wastage as heat to be minimised.
  • the use of the apparatus of the present invention can prolong the life of laser dye crystals, when a laser is pumped with a discharge tube, by switching the arc discharge off when the laser pulse terminates or falls below a preset value.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)
  • Generation Of Surge Voltage And Current (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un appareil de commande pour un tube à décharge électrique. L'appareil comprend un premier circuit et au moins un second circuit. Le premier circuit comporte au moins un premier condensateur et un tube à décharge électriquement connectable par une première série d'enroulements agencés sur un noyau d'un transformateur. Le second circuit comporte au moins un second condensateur et une seconde série d'enroulements agencés sur le noyau, de sorte que la décharge électrique du premier condensateur et du second condensateur crée des champs magnétiques opposés à l'intérieur du noyau, provoquant l'arrêt de la décharge du tube à décharge. L'appareil est utilisé pour générer une impulsion de sortie optique pour la cosmétique optique et des procédés de traitement thérapeutiques.
PCT/GB2008/050248 2007-04-20 2008-04-09 Appareil de commande WO2008129314A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DKPA200700580 2007-04-20
DKPA200700580 2007-04-20
GB0717323A GB2448561A (en) 2007-04-20 2007-09-06 Control circuit for discharge tube
GB0717323.0 2007-09-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008129314A1 true WO2008129314A1 (fr) 2008-10-30

Family

ID=38640330

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2008/050248 WO2008129314A1 (fr) 2007-04-20 2008-04-09 Appareil de commande

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2448561A (fr)
WO (1) WO2008129314A1 (fr)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4613841A (en) * 1983-11-30 1986-09-23 General Electric Company Integrated transformer and inductor
JPH0462796A (ja) * 1990-06-29 1992-02-27 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 高圧放電灯点灯装置
GB2294579A (en) * 1994-10-27 1996-05-01 Zeiss Stiftung Ignition circuit for gas laser discharge tube
WO1998033556A1 (fr) * 1997-01-31 1998-08-06 Diomed, Inc. Dispositifs de refroidissement peltier et procedes de traitement dermatologique
US20050168158A1 (en) * 2001-03-01 2005-08-04 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Flash lamp drive circuit
US6965203B2 (en) * 2003-09-17 2005-11-15 Synaptic Tan, Inc. Method and circuit for repetitively firing a flash lamp or the like

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3339108A (en) * 1965-01-28 1967-08-29 Gen Radio Co Capacitor charging and discharging circuitry
NL7404869A (fr) * 1973-04-13 1974-10-15

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4613841A (en) * 1983-11-30 1986-09-23 General Electric Company Integrated transformer and inductor
JPH0462796A (ja) * 1990-06-29 1992-02-27 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 高圧放電灯点灯装置
GB2294579A (en) * 1994-10-27 1996-05-01 Zeiss Stiftung Ignition circuit for gas laser discharge tube
WO1998033556A1 (fr) * 1997-01-31 1998-08-06 Diomed, Inc. Dispositifs de refroidissement peltier et procedes de traitement dermatologique
US20050168158A1 (en) * 2001-03-01 2005-08-04 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Flash lamp drive circuit
US6965203B2 (en) * 2003-09-17 2005-11-15 Synaptic Tan, Inc. Method and circuit for repetitively firing a flash lamp or the like

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
MARCO A DALLA COSTA ET AL: "Design and Implementation of a Microcontroller-Based High Power Factor Electronic Ballast to Supply Metal Halide Lamps", IEEE INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS, IECON 2006 - 32ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON, IEEE, PISCATAWAY, NJ, USA, 1 November 2006 (2006-11-01), pages 1944 - 1949, XP031077405, ISBN: 978-1-4244-0135-2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2448561A (en) 2008-10-22
GB0717323D0 (en) 2007-10-17

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