Abstract: A capacitor warning circuit, and method of providing a warning are provided, the circuit comprising a capacitor capable of being charged to a charged state and a warning circuit coupled to the capacitor and adapted to provide an indication that the capacitor is in the charged state, wherein the warning circuit is powered by energy accumulated in the capacitor when the capacitor is in the charged state.

Abstract: An improvement in an electric armor system designed to prevent, among other things, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from penetrating the hull of a fighting vehicle. The system includes a self-clearing electrode that will make the system less vulnerable to non-plasma objects that might otherwise short out the active armor electrodes. It optionally further allows for the early initiation of current flow at the point of penetration making it even easier to defeat incoming threats by allowing more time to break-up an incoming plasma jet.

Abstract: An improvement in an electric armor system designed to prevent, among other things, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from penetrating the hull of a fighting vehicle. The system includes a self-clearing electrode that will make the system less vulnerable to non-plasma objects that might otherwise short out the active armor electrodes. It optionally further allows for the early initiation of current flow at the point of penetration making it even easier to defeat incoming threats by allowing more time to break-up an incoming plasma jet.

Abstract: A capacitor warning circuit, and method of providing a warning are provided, the circuit comprising a capacitor capable of being charged to a charged state and a warning circuit coupled to the capacitor and adapted to provide an indication that the capacitor is in the charged state, wherein the warning circuit is powered by energy accumulated in the capacitor when the capacitor is in the charged state.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide a capacitor system, comprising a capacitor, a switch, and an internal dump resistor coupled with the switch, such that the switch when activated couples the internal dump resistor with the capacitor to drain a charge from the capacitor.

Abstract: An improvement in an electric armor system designed to prevent, among other things, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from penetrating the hull of a fighting vehicle. The system includes a self-clearing electrode that will make the system less vulnerable to non-plasma objects that might otherwise short out the active armor electrodes. It optionally further allows for the early initiation of current flow at the point of penetration making it even easier to defeat incoming threats by allowing more time to break-up an incoming plasma jet.

Abstract: Capacitor based pulse forming networks and methods are provided which require fewer inductors are that pulsed more frequently to provide a smaller, lower mass, and lower inductance pulse forming network having better pulse shaping characteristics than conventional pulse forming networks. In one implementation, the invention can be characterized as a capacitor based pulse forming network comprising a plurality of inductors adapted to be coupled to a load, a plurality of capacitor units, and a plurality of switches. Each switch couples a respective capacitor unit to a respective inductor, wherein multiple capacitor units are coupled to each inductor by separate switches. The plurality of switches are adapted to non-simultaneously discharge at least some of the multiple capacitor units to provide non-simultaneous pulses through a given inductor to the load and not through other inductors. The non-simultaneous pulses form at least a portion of an output pulse waveform to the load.

Abstract: An electromagnetic gun and rotating pulsed network system that includes a gun barrel coupled to a gun mount coupled on a rotating platform on one deck of a naval ship. A pulse forming network which is cylindrical in shape provides pulsed energy to the electromagnetic gun and is rotatable within a cylindrical bulkhead located on a lower deck of the ship. The pulse forming network rotates in unison with the gun barrel on the same axis, allowing unbroken cables to couple the pulse forming network to the gun. The pulse forming network includes wedge-shaped capacitor modules that, when juxtaposed, collectively form a substantially cylindrical shape.

Abstract: Capacitor based pulse forming networks and related methods are provided which require fewer inductors are that pulsed more frequently to provide a smaller, lower mass, and lower inductance pulse forming network having better pulse shaping characteristics than conventional pulse forming networks. In one implementation, the invention can be characterized as a capacitor based pulse forming network comprising a plurality of inductors adapted to be coupled to a load, a plurality of capacitor units, and a plurality of switches. Each switch couples a respective capacitor unit to a respective inductor, wherein multiple capacitor units are coupled to each inductor by separate switches. The plurality of switches are adapted to non-simultaneously discharge the multiple capacitor units to provide non-simultaneous pulses through a given inductor to the load and not through other inductors. The non-simultaneous pulses form at least a portion of an output pulse waveform to the load.

Abstract: An electromagnetic gun and rotating pulsed network system that includes a gun barrel coupled to a gun mount coupled on a rotating platform on one deck of a naval ship. A pulse forming network which is generally cylindrical in shape provides pulsed energy to the electromagnetic gun and is rotatable within a cylindrical bulkhead located on a lower deck of the ship. The pulse forming network rotates in unison with the gun barrel on the same axis, allowing unbroken cables to couple the pulse forming network to the gun. The pulse forming network includes wedge-shaped capacitor modules that, when juxtaposed, collectively form a substantially annular shape having generally cylindrical inner and outer surfaces.

Abstract: An electromagnetic gun and rotating pulsed network system that includes a gun barrel coupled to a gun mount coupled on a rotating deck of a naval ship. A pulse forming network provides pulsed energy to the electromagnetic gun, and the pulse forming network is cylindrical in shape so as to be rotatable within a cylindrical bulkhead within the ship. The pulse forming network may rotate in unison with the gun barrel allowing cables to couple the pulse forming network and the cable barrel. The pulse forming network includes wedge shaped capacitors that, when positioned sided by side, collectively form a substantially circular shape.

Abstract: An electromagnetic gun and rotating pulsed network system that includes a gun barrel coupled to a gun mount coupled on a rotating deck of a navel ship. A pulse forming network provides pulsed energy to the electromagnetic gun, and the pulse forming network is cylindrical in shape so as to be rotatable within a cylindrical bulkhead within the ship. The pulse forming network may rotate in unison with the gun barrel allowing cables to couple the pulse forming network and the cable barrel. The pulse forming network includes wedge shaped capacitors that, when positioned sided by side, collectively form a substantially circular shape.

Abstract: A capacitor is made up of a housing; a first plurality of capacitors within the housing; a second plurality of capacitors within the housing; a first electrode coupled to a first terminal, with the first terminal being electrically contactable outside the housing; a second electrode coupled to a second terminal, with the second terminal being contactable outside the housing; a threshold circuit that compares performance of the first plurality of capacitors with performance of the second plurality of capacitors, detects an unbalance, and generates an output signal; and a signal output coupled to the threshold circuit, the signal output being accessible outside the housing.

Abstract: A capacitor is made up of a housing; a first plurality of capacitors within the housing; a second plurality of capacitors within the housing; a first electrode coupled to a first terminal, with the first terminal being electrically contactable outside the housing; a second electrode coupled to a second terminal, with the second terminal being contactable outside the housing; a threshold circuit that compares performance of the first plurality of capacitors with performance of the second plurality of capacitors, detects an unbalance, and generates an output signal; and a signal output coupled to the threshold circuit, the signal output being accessible outside the housing. In another embodiment the capacitor has a housing; a first electrode contactable from outside the housing, a second electrode contactable from outside the housing, and an unbalance detection output contactable from outside the housing, wherein an unbalance detection signal indicative of a degree of unbalance.

Abstract: A metallized capacitor has two layers of electrically insulating film wound as a roll, two metal electrodes vacuum deposited on respective ones of the two layers of film, and two end-sprays of electrically conductive material deposited on respective ends of the roll, each of the end-sprays being in electrical contact with one of the two vacuum-deposited metal electrodes. Each of the metal electrodes has a segmented metallization pattern having segments of relatively thick electrode material separated by periodic segments of relatively thin electrode material so as to define a repeating pattern of relatively thick and relatively thin segments along the length of the layer of electrically insulating film on which the metal electrode is deposited.

Abstract: The invention features a capacitive pulse forming network including at least one capacitor having a substantially linear discharge characteristic and at least another capacitor having a nonlinear discharge characteristic. The capacitive pulse forming network allows the duration and shape of pulses generated by the network to be accurately controlled.

Abstract: An electrical device includes an electrical element; a container housing the electrical element; a rigid electrical terminal extending through a hole in a wall of the container; a bridge between the wall and the element, the bridge having an opening offset from an axis lying normal to the wall at the hole and the opening being aligned with a portion of the terminal; and an electrical connection made between the element and the terminal via the bridge opening, the connection being configured so that bulging of the wall causes the connection to break. Preferably, the container is a capacitor, and the electrical connection between the element and the terminal includes multiple separation points.

Abstract: A device which enables a self-healing capacitor with more than one group of sections in series to undergo repetitive clearing without generating the resulting potential differences between the series sections which causes additional failures. In one embodiment, the device to conduct charge is a diode and resistor connected across each group of parallel sections so as to be nonconducting when the capacitor is charged but to become conducting when a clearing event occurs. An additional aspect of the device is a method for charging such a capacitor so that no section is overcharged.

Abstract: An electrical capacitor having two capacitively coupled electrode structures, each electrode structure having first and second generally planar conductive portions respectively having higher and lower current-carrying capacity, the electrode structures having configurations and relative orientations such that a line normal to the first conductive portion of one electrode structure does not intersect the first conductive portion of the other electrode structure.

Abstract: A capacitor is electrically disabled to limit internal pressure buildup by attaching its electrical terminals to a first wall portion that bulges in a predetermined direction under internal pressure, providing electrical connections between the terminals and the capacitive element, and associating with a second wall portion (that does not move in the predetermined direction under internal pressure) a disconnect means such that when the first wall portion bulges, the terminals exert a force in the predetermined direction on the connections, which are then severed by a resisting force exerted by the disconnect means.In another aspect, reconnection is prevented by having each electrical terminal connected by a conductor via a predefined pathway to the capacitive element, and providing means for blocking the pathway following disconnection.