A solid-state pulse generator based on multilayer ceramic capacitors and insulated gate bipolar transistors.

A solid-state pulse-forming network (PFN) module was designed using multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). In addition, an all-solid-state pulse generator was fabricated with a Blumlein line that consisted of two PFN single lines and an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switch array. This generator was integrated on printed circuit boards (PCBs). The stage capacitors of the PFN were composed of MLCCs connected in series and parallel. To obtain a compact structure, folded, copper-clad wires were used as interstage inductors. The copper-clad wires were structurally optimized to reduce coupling between adjacent interstage inductors. A relatively fast rising waveform edge was obtained using an IGBT gate-boosting circuit and magnetic switch technology. A square-wave pulse with a rise time of 27 ns, a voltage of 5 kV, a width of 120 ns, a maximum repetition rate of 100 Hz, and an evaluated lifetime of 10 pulses was obtained on a load of 6.6 Ω. With its compact size, fast rise time, and long lifetime, the fabricated pulse generator can be used as a component in linear transformer drivers or Marx generators.