Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for igniting or disabling explosive devices through the generation of strong electrical fields and/or the discharge of electrical energy. In one embodiment, a remotely controlled vehicle is provided to remotely detonate or disable improvised explosive devices. The vehicle may contain a high-voltage power supply powering a Tesla coil. The secondary coil of the Tesla coil is attached to an electrode that is swept across an area where an explosive device may be present. The strong electric field around the electrode may induce current within an explosive device or wires connected thereto resulting in the explosive device being ignited or disabled. Discharges from the electrode may directly ignite explosive material or disable detonation control circuitry. The electrode may be located distal to the vehicle and the vehicle itself may be hardened to enhance survivability in the event of an explosion in proximity to the electrode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein that provide for ignition of explosive devices through electric discharge. In one embodiment, an electrostatic discharge is directionally propagated through air to conduct electric current to the explosive device. The electric current may ignite the explosive device via heat, via triggering of ignition circuitry, via induced electric current conduction to the explosive material therein and/or via direct electric conduction to the explosive material therein. Alternatively or additionally, a system is configured with a vehicle to distally position the propagated energy to the explosive device such that damage caused by the explosive device is reduced.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein that provide for ignition of explosive devices through electric and/or electromagnetic discharge. In one embodiment, an electrostatic discharge is directionally propagated through air to conduct electric current to the explosive device. The electric current may ignite the explosive device via heat, via triggering of ignition circuitry, via induced electric current conduction to the explosive material therein and/or via direct electric conduction to the explosive material therein. Alternatively, or in addition to, electromagnetic energy may be directionally propagated to the device through a waveguide. Such electromagnetic energy may be in the microwave region and may heat and/or induce electric current in the explosive device. In either instance, the directionally propagated energy may be time varying.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein that provide for ignition of explosive devices through electric and/or electromagnetic discharge. In one embodiment, an electrostatic discharge is directionally propagated through air to conduct electric current to the explosive device. The electric current may ignite the explosive device via heat, via triggering of ignition circuitry, via induced electric current conduction to the explosive material therein and/or via direct electric conduction to the explosive material therein. Alternatively, or in addition to, electromagnetic energy may be directionally propagated to the device through a waveguide. Such electromagnetic energy may be in the microwave region and may heat and/or induce electric current in the explosive device. In either instance, the directionally propagated energy may be time varying.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein generally provide for the controlled voltage of bipolar electrical energy through the selected operation of power stages. In one embodiment, a system that provides electrical energy includes a power supply and at least two power stages coupled to the power supply. The power stages are operable to selectively output electrical energy. By selecting the number of power stages which are turned on at a given time the total voltage of the electrical energy is controlled at that time. The system may further include one or more controllers coupled to the power stages to control selection of the power stages and thereby vary the output voltage.

Abstract: The systems and methods presented herein provide for readily configurable high voltage electrical energy generation. For example, a high voltage electrical energy generation system may include an AC power supply configured with an inductor to transfer AC electrical energy. In this regard, the system may also include a first receptor stage that includes an inductor for inductively coupling to the inductor of the AC power supply to receive the AC electrical energy. Similarly, a second receptor stage may inductively couple to the inductor of the AC power supply as well as to the inductor of the first receptor stage to receive the AC electrical energy, with each receptor being configured as a stackable plate. Each receptor stage may include a rectifier that converts the AC electrical energy to DC electrical energy. The rectifiers may be coupled together via a DC to DC connection provide a DC bias.

Abstract: One system described herein provides electrical energy by means of a Tesla coil that generates a strong electric field in the vicinity of an electrical target. An energy booster provides additional electrical energy to increase the probability of disabling and/or disrupting the electrical target. For example, an electrode may be configured with the Tesla coil to from the electric field of the electrical target. The electric field may cause a breakdown in the air about the Tesla coil that allows electric current to conduct to the electrical target. The Tesla coil may repetitively burst the electric field such that pulses of electric current are conducted to the electrical target.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein that provide for ignition of explosive devices through electric discharge. In one embodiment, an electrostatic discharge is directionally propagated through air to conduct electric current to the explosive device. The electric current may ignite the explosive device via heat, via triggering of ignition circuitry, via induced electric current conduction to the explosive material therein and/or via direct electric conduction to the explosive material therein. Alternatively or additionally, a system is configured with a vehicle to distally position the propagated energy to the explosive device such that damage caused by the explosive device is reduced.

Abstract: One system described herein provides electrical energy by means of a Tesla coil that generates a strong electric field in the vicinity of an electrical target. An energy booster provides additional electrical energy to increase the probability of disabling and/or disrupting the electrical target. For example, an electrode may be configured with the Tesla coil to from the electric field of the electrical target. The electric field may cause a breakdown in the air about the Tesla coil that allows electric current to conduct to the electrical target. The Tesla coil may repetitively burst the electric field such that pulses of electric current are conducted to the electrical target.

Abstract: One system described herein provides electrical energy by means of a Tesla coil that generates a strong electric field in the vicinity of an electrical target. An energy booster provides additional electrical energy to increase the probability of disabling and/or disrupting the electrical target. For example, an electrode may be configured with the Tesla coil to form the electric field of the electrical target. The electric field may cause a breakdown in the air about the Tesla coil that allows electric current to conduct to the electrical target. The Tesla coil may repetitively burst the electric field such that pulses of electric current are conducted to the electrical target.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein generally provide for the controlled voltage of bipolar electrical energy through the selected operation of power stages. In one embodiment, a system that provides electrical energy includes a power supply and at least two power stages coupled to the power supply. The power stages are operable to selectively output electrical energy. By selecting the number of power stages which are turned on at a given time the total voltage of the electrical energy is controlled at that time. The system may further include one or more controllers coupled to the power stages to control selection of the power stages and thereby vary the output voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein generally provide for the controlled voltage of electrical energy through the selected operation of power stages. In one embodiment, a system that provides electrical energy includes a power supply and at least two power stages coupled to the power supply. The power stages are operable to selectively output electrical energy. By selecting the number of power stages which are turned on at a given time the total voltage of the electrical energy is controlled at that time. The use of air core magnetic flux coupling provides a unique, easily insulated method to provide power to the voltage stages at different potentials relative to each other. The system may further include one or more controllers coupled to the power stages to control selection of the power stages and thereby vary the output voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for the control of electrical energy discharge from an electrode. In this regard, a sensor detects electrical energy discharged from the electrode and generates an electronic signal representative of a detected electrical energy discharge. Such a sensor may detect an electric field and/or light from the electrical energy discharge. The sensor may generate the electronic signal therefrom for subsequent processing. Accordingly, the system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor to determine a spurious discharge of the electrical energy discharge from the electrode. The controller processes the electronic signal to control at least one characteristic (e.g., voltage) of the electrical energy provided to the electrode. The controller may change a voltage of the electrical energy to the electrode in response to determining a spurious discharge of the electrical energy discharged from the electrode.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein generally provide for the controlled voltage of electrical energy through the selected operation of power stages. Generally, a system that provides electrical energy includes a power supply and up to 20 power stages coupled to the power supply such that the system may output up to 72 kV in 3.6 kV increments. By selecting the number of power stages which are turned on at a given time the total voltage of the electrical energy is controlled at that time. The use of air core magnetic flux coupling provides a unique, easily insulated method to provide power to the voltage stages at different potentials relative to each other. The system may further include one or more controllers coupled to the power stages to control selection of the power stages and thereby vary the output voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for the control of electrical energy discharge from an electrode. In this regard, a sensor detects electrical energy discharged from the electrode and generates an electronic signal representative of a detected electrical energy discharge. Such a sensor may detect an electric field and/or light from the electrical energy discharge. The sensor may generate the electronic signal therefrom for subsequent processing. Accordingly, the system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor to determine a spurious discharge of the electrical energy discharge from the electrode. The controller processes the electronic signal to control at least one characteristic (e.g., voltage) of the electrical energy provided to the electrode. The controller may change a voltage of the electrical energy to the electrode in response to determining a spurious discharge of the electrical energy discharged from the electrode.

Abstract: An electron beam as a curing technique with dynamic beam control technology in order to produce arbitrarily shaped parts. The result of this is equipment which can create prototypes and parts rapidly without additional tooling. The electron beam from a low divergence gun is accelerated towards uncured monomer in vacuum. Deflection of the beam combined with a grid which is used to turn the beam on and off, creates a two dimensional curing path with a depth of approximately five (5) thousandths of inch. Successive layers of this type, built up as monomer is added, creates a three dimensional pattern. The layers can either be of uniform thickness, or can be varied in thickness by varying the energy of the beam.

Abstract: Transmission and scatter detectors for an x-ray inspection system preferably employing a moving pencil beam comprise a solid plastic scintillating material having a front planar surface that is impinged by incident x-ray energy. The detectors also include light detectors that are cooperatively mounted to the plastic scintillating material to detect photons within the plastic scintillating material created in response to x-rays incident on the front planar surface. The detector may be a transmission detector or a scatter detector. The detectors of the present invention are relatively thin in comparison to prior art detectors, which allows shielding to be reduced. In addition, the detectors of the present invention have a greater efficiency of detection in comparison to the prior art detectors.

Abstract: High energy scanning apparatus including a high voltage electrostatic generator and particle accelerator. A variable-trajectory electron beam is converted to a photon beam and collimated by a stationary collimator having a plurality of photon-passing slits. The stationary collimator produces a plurality of photon beams linearly and angularly displaced relative to each other in two dimensions. The photon beams are detected, thereby producing a plurality of preselected images including stereoscopic images. Also disclosed is a method of using the apparatus.

Abstract: A high voltage generator/particle accelerator with nested electrostatic generators each of which is sufficiently isolated from its neighbors that insulators between them can efficiently isolate them from one another at respectively lower voltages. The advantages of the greater efficiency of the insulators at lower voltages can be utilized to reduce the bulk of the over-all device.

Abstract: A pulse forming network or capacitor load is charged to a precise voltage from an energy storing device with a circuit including a transformer having a primary connected in series with a switch and storage device and a secondary connected in series with the load and a monitor circuit. The monitor circuit develops an output signal indicative of the load voltage and current. In response to the output signal increasing to a predetermined value the switch is opened. The transformer, having a substantial leakage inductance, releases its stored energy when the switch is opened. The transformer stored energy is coupled to the load and to a capacitor connected to the primary. Charge stored in the capacitor after the load requirements have been satisfied is transferred back to the energy storage device.