Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Miller
Kenneth E. Miller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20210013874Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a pre-pulse switching system. The pre-pulsing switching system may include: a power source configured to provide a voltage greater than 100 V; a pre-pulse switch coupled with the power source and configured to provide a pre-pulse having a pulse width of Tpp; and a main switch coupled with the power source and configured to provide a main pulse such that an output pulse comprises a single pulse with negligible ringing. The pre-pulse may be provided to a load by closing the pre-pulse switch while the main switch is open. The main pulse may be provided to the load by closing the main switch after a delay Tdelay after the pre-pulse switch has been opened.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, Ilia Slobodov, Julian F. Picard
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Publication number: 20200389126Abstract: A high frequency electromagnetic radiation generation device is disclosed that includes a high voltage input, a nonlinear transmission line, an antenna, and a pulse recirculating circuit. In some embodiments, the high voltage input may be configured to receive electrical pulses having a first peak voltage that is greater than 5 kV, and/or may be electrically coupled with the nonlinear transmission line. The antenna may be electrically coupled with the nonlinear transmission line and/or may radiate electromagnetic radiation at a frequency greater than 100 MHz about a voltage greater than 5 kV. The pulse recirculating may be electrically coupled with the high voltage input and the antenna. The pulse recirculating circuit may include a diode; a low pass filter; and a delay line. In some embodiments, unradiated energy from the antenna is directed through the pulse recirculating circuit to the nonlinear transmission line with a delay of less than 100 ns.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: James R. Prager, Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller
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Patent number: 10847346Abstract: Some embodiments include a high voltage, high frequency switching circuit. The switching circuit may include a high voltage switching power supply that produces pulses having a voltage greater than 1 kV and with frequencies greater than 10 kHz and an output. The switching circuit may also include a resistive output stage electrically coupled in parallel with the output and between the output stage and the high voltage switching power supply, the resistive output stage comprising at least one resistor that discharges a load coupled with the output. In some embodiments, the resistive output stage may be configured to discharge over about 1 kilowatt of average power during each pulse cycle. In some embodiments, the output can produce a high voltage pulse having a voltage greater than 1 kV and with frequencies greater than 10 kHz with a pulse fall time less than about 400 ns.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, John G. Carscadden, Ilia Slobodov
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Publication number: 20200328739Abstract: A nanosecond pulser may include a plurality of switch modules, a transformer, and an output. Each of the plurality of switch modules may include one or more solid state switches. The transformer may include a core, at least one primary winding wound around at least a portion of the core, each of the plurality of switch modules may be coupled with the primary windings, and a plurality of secondary windings wound at least partially around a portion of the core. The output may output electrical pulses having a peak voltage greater than about 1 kilovolt and having a pulse width of less than about 1000 nanoseconds. The output may output electrical pulses having a peak voltage greater than about 5 kilovolts, a peak power greater than about 100 kilowatts, a pulse width between 10 nanoseconds and 1000 nanoseconds, a rise time less than about 50 nanoseconds, or some combination thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2020Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Kenneth E. Miller, Timothy Ziemba
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Patent number: 10804886Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a pre-pulse switching system. The pre-pulsing switching system may include: a power source configured to provide a voltage greater than 100 V; a pre-pulse switch coupled with the power source and configured to provide a pre-pulse having a pulse width of Tpp; and a main switch coupled with the power source and configured to provide a main pulse such that an output pulse comprises a single pulse with negligible ringing. The pre-pulse may be provided to a load by closing the pre-pulse switch while the main switch is open. The main pulse may be provided to the load by closing the main switch after a delay Tdelay after the pre-pulse switch has been opened.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: EAGLE HARBOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, Ilia Slobodov, Julian F. Picard
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Patent number: 10790816Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a solid-state switch tube replacement for the radar system such as, for example, the SPY-1 radar system. Some embodiments provide for a technology for the precision switching that enables IGBT power modules to operate robustly in a series configuration and/or a parallel configuration to produce precision switching at high voltage (e.g., 20 kV and above) and high frequencies (e.g., 1 MHz and above).Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2015Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, John Carscadden, James Prager
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Patent number: 10777388Abstract: Some embodiments include a high voltage waveform generator comprising: a generator inductor; a high voltage nanosecond pulser having one or more solid state switches electrically and/or inductively coupled with the generator inductor, the high voltage nanosecond pulser configured to produce a pulse burst having a burst period, the pulse burst comprising a plurality of pulses having different pulse widths; and a load electrically and/or inductively coupled with the high voltage nanosecond pulser, the generator inductor, and the generator capacitor, the voltage across the load having an output pulse with a pulse width substantially equal to the burst period and the voltage across the load varying in a manner that is substantially proportional with the pulse widths of the plurality of pulses.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Timothy M Ziemba, Kenneth E Miller, John G Carscadden, James R Prager, Ilia Slobodov
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Patent number: 10734906Abstract: A pulse generator is disclosed that includes at least the following stages a driver stage, a transformer stage, a rectifier stage, and an output stage. The driver stage may include at least one solid state switch such as, for example, of one or more IGBTs and/or one or more MOSFETs. The driver stage may also have a stray inductance less than 1,000 nH. The transformer stage may be coupled with the driver stage and/or with a balance stage and may include one or more transformers. The rectifier stage may be coupled with the transformer stage and may have a stray inductance less than 1,000 nH. The output stage may be coupled with the rectifier stage. The output stage may output a signal pulse with a voltage greater than 2 kilovolts and a frequency greater than 5 kHz. In some embodiments, the output stage may be galvanically isolated from a reference potential.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth E. Miller, Timothy Ziemba, Ilia Slobodov, John G. Carscadden, James Prager
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Patent number: 10707864Abstract: A nanosecond pulser may include a plurality of switch modules, a transformer, and an output. Each of the plurality of switch modules may include one or more solid state switches. The transformer may include a core, at least one primary winding wound around at least a portion of the core, each of the plurality of switch modules may be coupled with the primary windings, and a plurality of secondary windings wound at least partially around a portion of the core. The output may output electrical pulses having a peak voltage greater than about 1 kilovolt and having a pulse width of less than about 1000 nanoseconds. The output may output electrical pulses having a peak voltage greater than about 5 kilovolts, a peak power greater than about 100 kilowatts, a pulse width between 10 nanoseconds and 1000 nanoseconds, a rise time less than about 50 nanoseconds, or some combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth E Miller, Timothy Ziemba
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Publication number: 20200168436Abstract: Some embodiments include a high voltage waveform generator comprising: a generator inductor; a high voltage nanosecond pulser having one or more solid state switches electrically and/or inductively coupled with the generator inductor, the high voltage nanosecond pulser configured to produce a pulse burst having a burst period, the pulse burst comprising a plurality of pulses having different pulse widths; and a load electrically and/or inductively coupled with the high voltage nanosecond pulser, the generator inductor, and the generator capacitor, the voltage across the load having an output pulse with a pulse width substantially equal to the burst period and the voltage across the load varying in a manner that is substantially proportional with the pulse widths of the plurality of pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: May 28, 2020Inventors: Timothy M Ziemba, Kenneth E Miller, John G Carscadden, James R Prager, Ilia Slobodov
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Patent number: 10666198Abstract: A high frequency electromagnetic radiation generation device is disclosed that includes a high voltage input, a nonlinear transmission line, an antenna, and a pulse recirculating circuit. In some embodiments, the high voltage input may be configured to receive electrical pulses having a first peak voltage that is greater than 5 kV, and/or may be electrically coupled with the nonlinear transmission line. The antenna may be electrically coupled with the nonlinear transmission line and/or may radiate electromagnetic radiation at a frequency greater than 100 MHz about a voltage greater than 5 kV. The pulse recirculating may be electrically coupled with the high voltage input and the antenna. The pulse recirculating circuit may include a diode; a low pass filter; and a delay line. In some embodiments, unradiated energy from the antenna is directed through the pulse recirculating circuit to the nonlinear transmission line with a delay of less than 100 ns.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2017Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: EAGLE HARBOR TECHNOLOGIES, INCInventors: James R. Prager, Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller
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Publication number: 20200162061Abstract: A nanosecond pulser is disclosed. In some embodiments, the nanosecond pulser may include one or more switch circuits including one or more solid state switches, a transformer, and an output. In some embodiments, the transformer may include a first transformer core, a first primary winding wound at least partially around a portion of the first transformer core, and a secondary winding wound at least partially around a portion of the first transformer core. In some embodiments, each of the one or more switch circuits are coupled with at least a portion of the first primary winding. In some embodiments, the output may be electrically coupled with the secondary winding and outputs electrical pulses having a peak voltage greater than about 1 kilovolt and a rise time of less than 150 nanoseconds or less than 50 nanoseconds.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2019Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: James R. Prager, Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, John G. Carscadden, Ilia Slobodov
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Publication number: 20200161091Abstract: A high voltage switch comprising: a high voltage power supply providing power greater than about 5 kV; a control voltage power source; a plurality of switch modules arranged in series with respect to each other each of the plurality of switch modules configured to switch power from the high voltage power supply, and an output configured to output a pulsed output signal having a voltage greater than the rating of any switch of the plurality of switch modules, a pulse width less than 2 ?s, and at a pulse frequency greater than 10 kHz.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2019Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, John G. Carscadden, Ilia Slobodov
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Patent number: 10607814Abstract: A high voltage switch comprising: a high voltage power supply providing power greater than about 5 kV; a control voltage power source; a plurality of switch modules arranged in series with respect to each other each of the plurality of switch modules configured to switch power from the high voltage power supply, and an output configured to output a pulsed output signal having a voltage greater than the rating of any switch of the plurality of switch modules, a pulse width less than 2 ?s, and at a pulse frequency greater than 10 kHz.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, John G. Carscadden, Ilia Slobodov
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Publication number: 20200083812Abstract: A pulse generator is disclosed that includes at least the following stages a driver stage, a transformer stage, a rectifier stage, and an output stage. The driver stage may include at least one solid state switch such as, for example, of one or more IGBTs and/or one or more MOSFETs. The driver stage may also have a stray inductance less than 1,000 nH. The transformer stage may be coupled with the driver stage and/or with a balance stage and may include one or more transformers. The rectifier stage may be coupled with the transformer stage and may have a stray inductance less than 1,000 nH. The output stage may be coupled with the rectifier stage. The output stage may output a signal pulse with a voltage greater than 2 kilovolts and a frequency greater than 5 kHz. In some embodiments, the output stage may be galvanically isolated from a reference potential.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Kenneth E. Miller, Timothy Ziemba, IIia Slobodov, John G. Carscadden, James Prager
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Publication number: 20200051786Abstract: A high voltage switch comprising: a high voltage power supply providing power greater than about 5 kV; a control voltage power source; a plurality of switch modules arranged in series with respect to each other each of the plurality of switch modules configured to switch power from the high voltage power supply, and an output configured to output a pulsed output signal having a voltage greater than the rating of any switch of the plurality of switch modules, a pulse width less than 2 ?s, and at a pulse frequency greater than 10 kHz.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2018Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, John G. Carscadden, Ilia Slobodov
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Publication number: 20200043702Abstract: Some embodiments include a high voltage, high frequency switching circuit. The switching circuit may include a high voltage switching power supply that produces pulses having a voltage greater than 1 kV and with frequencies greater than 10 kHz and an output. The switching circuit may also include a resistive output stage electrically coupled in parallel with the output and between the output stage and the high voltage switching power supply, the resistive output stage comprising at least one resistor that discharges a load coupled with the output. In some embodiments, the resistive output stage may be configured to discharge over about 1 kilowatt of average power during each pulse cycle. In some embodiments, the output can produce a high voltage pulse having a voltage greater than 1 kV and with frequencies greater than 10 kHz with a pulse fall time less than about 400 ns.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, John G. Carscadden, Ilia Slobodov
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Publication number: 20200014378Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide IGBT circuit modules with increased efficiencies. These efficiencies can be realized in a number of ways. In some embodiments, the gate resistance and/or voltage can be minimized. In some embodiments, the IGBT circuit module can be switched using an isolated receiver such as a fiber optic receiver. In some embodiments, a single driver can drive a single IGBT. And in some embodiments, a current bypass circuit can be included. Various other embodiments of the invention are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Timothy Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, John G. Carscadden, James Prager
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Patent number: 10483089Abstract: Some embodiments include a high voltage, high frequency switching circuit. The switching circuit may include a high voltage switching power supply that produces pulses having a voltage greater than 1 kV and with frequencies greater than 10 kHz and an output. The switching circuit may also include a resistive output stage electrically coupled in parallel with the output and between the output stage and the high voltage switching power supply, the resistive output stage comprising at least one resistor that discharges a load coupled with the output. In some embodiments, the resistive output stage may be configured to discharge over about 1 kilowatt of average power during each pulse cycle. In some embodiments, the output can produce a high voltage pulse having a voltage greater than 1 kV and with frequencies greater than 10 kHz with a pulse fall time less than about 400 ns.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, John G. Carscadden, Ilia Slobodov
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Patent number: 10460911Abstract: Some embodiments include a high voltage, high frequency switching circuit. The switching circuit may include a high voltage switching power supply that produces pulses having a voltage greater than 1 kV and with frequencies greater than 10 kHz and an output. The switching circuit may also include a resistive output stage electrically coupled in parallel with the output and between the output stage and the high voltage switching power supply, the resistive output stage comprising at least one resistor that discharges a load coupled with the output. In some embodiments, the resistive output stage may be configured to discharge over about 1 kilowatt of average power during each pulse cycle. In some embodiments, the output can produce a high voltage pulse having a voltage greater than 1 kV and with frequencies greater than 10 kHz with a pulse fall time less than about 400 ns.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2018Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, John G. Carscadden, Ilia Slobodov