Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for sensing currents in a power converter. The system having two current sensing transformers each having two primary windings, a main transformer, and a plurality of switching elements. Each current sensing transformer uses one of its primary windings to sense rail current and the other primary winding to sense main transformer current.

Abstract: A dual pulse flashlamp-pumped laser system (50) having a power supply circuit (62) which not only charges two capacitors (C1, C2) which are successively discharged to produce two laser pulses, but also supplies a simmer current through the flashlamp (58) between the pulses. The first laser pulse follows a trigger pulse on a flashlamp trigger wire (60) which ionizes the flashlamp gas, permitting a first capacitor (C1) to discharge through the flashlamp (58). The simmer current maintains the flashlamp gas in an ionized state, so that a second trigger pulse is not needed. The second laser pulse follows an SCR-controlled discharge of the second capacitor (C2) through the flashlamp (58).

Abstract: An active energy control circuit and method employing pulsewidth modulation for use with diode pumped laser systems. The active energy control circuit and method employs optical energy feedback sensing and output control of the electrical pulsewidth to pump diodes of the laser system. This creates an active energy control loop for maintaining diode pumped laser output energy at a desired level over different pulse repetition frequencies, time, and environmental conditions. The diode pumped laser output energy is controlled by varying the pulsewidth of the output energy pulse while maintaining a current amplitude set point. By using a pulsewidth-modulation-based control system, the current applied to the pump diodes is regulated at an efficient set point below their damage level, and the pulsewidth is adjusted to maintain a desired output optical energy of the laser system.