Methods for precise output voltage stability and temperature compensation of high voltage X-ray generators within the high-temperature environments of a borehole

1. A control mechanism for a high-voltage generator for supplying voltage and current to an electronic radiation source in high-temperature environments, said control mechanism comprising:

at least one voltage feedback loop for monitoring the output of the generator;

at least one environmental temperature monitor;

a control bus; and

at least one control processor used to modify a pulse train in order to maintain optimal input parameters based upon the environmental temperature.

2. The control mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is configured so as to modify a driving frequency of the high voltage generator to match a natural operating frequency of the high-voltage generator at temperatures of at least 85° C.

3. The control mechanism of claim 1 , where the mechanism is configured to modify a driving frequency of the high voltage generator to match a multiple of the natural operating frequency of the high-voltage generator at temperatures of at least 85° C.

4. The control mechanism of claim 1 , where the mechanism is configured to modify a driving frequency of the high voltage generator to match a harmonic frequency of the natural operating frequency of the high-voltage generator at temperatures of at least 85° C.

5. The control mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the electronic radiation source is an x-ray source.

6. The control mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the electronic radiation source is a pulsed neutron source.

7. The control mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a capacitor material disposed within the high-voltage generator comprising NP0 substrate.

8. The control mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a capacitor material disposed within the high-voltage generator comprising X7R substrate.

9. The control mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a capacitor material disposed within the high-voltage generator comprising X8R substrate.

10. The control mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a capacitor material disposed within the high-voltage generator comprising R2D substrate.

11. The control mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is configured to produce non-direct-current output potential waveforms.

12. The control mechanism of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the control processors acts as a master controller over at least one other controller within the system.

13. The control mechanism of claim 12 , wherein all controller processors are interconnected via an electronic communications bus.

14. The control mechanism of claim 1 , wherein at least one controller processor is configured to provide automated start-up and shutdown profiles for the electronic radiation source.

15. The control mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising driver electronics comprising a plurality of Field Effect Transistors.

16. A method of controlling a high-voltage generator that powers an electronic radiation source in high-temperature environments, the method comprising:

measuring an output voltage of the generator;

measuring a temperature within the generator's environment;

using a control mechanism to modify an associated driving frequency; and

using a control mechanism to modify an associated driving pulse-train such that optimal input parameters based upon the environmental temperature's effect on the electronic components of the generator are maintained.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising monitoring changes in environmental temperature so that changing properties of the electronic components of the generator are characterized and the generator's driving signals modified to maintain optimally efficient input parameters for a specific environmental temperature.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising configuring the control mechanism to modify the driving frequency of the high voltage generator to match the natural operating frequency of the high-voltage generator at temperatures of at least 85° C.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising configuring the control mechanism to modify the driving frequency of the high voltage generator to match a multiple of the natural operating frequency of the high-voltage generator at temperatures of at least 85° C.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising configuring the control mechanism to modify the driving frequency of the high voltage generator to match a harmonic frequency of the natural operating frequency of the high-voltage generator at temperatures of at least 85° C.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising powering an x-ray electronic radiation source.

22. The method of claim 16 , further comprising powering a pulsed neutron electronic radiation source.

23. The method of claim 16 , further comprising configuring the control mechanism to produce non-direct-current output potential waveforms.

24. The method of claim 16 , further comprising using at least one of the control processors to act as a master controller over at least one other controller within the system.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising interconnecting all controller processors via an electronic communications bus.

26. The method of claim 16 , further comprising configuring the controller processor to provide automated start-up and shutdown profiles for the electronic radiation source.