Configurable linear accelerator frequency control system and method
Some embodiments include a system comprising: an RF source configured to generate an RF signal; an RF frequency control circuit coupled to the RF source and configured to adjust a frequency of the RF signal; an accelerator structure configured to accelerate a particle beam in response to the RF signal; and control logic configured to: receive a plurality of settings over time for the RF source; adjust the RF signal in response to the settings; and adjust a setpoint of the RF frequency control circuit in response to the settings.
1. A system, comprising:
an RF source configured to generate an RF signal;
an RF frequency control circuit coupled to the RF source and configured to adjust a frequency of the RF signal;
an accelerator structure configured to accelerate a particle beam in response to the RF signal; and
control logic configured to:
receive a plurality of settings over time for the RF source;
maintain a history of settings including a number of most recent settings of the plurality of settings for the RF source;
adjust the RF signal in response to the plurality of settings; and
adjust a current setpoint of the RF frequency control circuit in response to a combination of at least two of the most recent settings from different times in the history;
wherein the plurality of settings are energy level settings for the RF source.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to initialize the most recent settings in the history of settings with a default setting for the RF source for each of the most recent settings.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to:
categorize the settings in the history into energy level categories;
select a category of the energy level categories having a greatest number of settings; and
adjust the current setpoint of the RF frequency control circuit in response to an energy level associated with the selected category.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to:
combine energy levels associated with the settings in the history into a combined energy level; and
adjust the current setpoint of the RF frequency control circuit in response to the combined energy level.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to:
combine energy levels associated with the settings in the history into a combined energy level using weights that increase versus energy level; and
adjust the current setpoint of the RF frequency control circuit in response to the combined energy level.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the history spans at time less than or equal to 0.2 seconds.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to:
receive an indication of an energy level for an upcoming RF pulse; and
add the indication of the energy level to the history.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to:
receive an indication of a pulse timing for an upcoming RF pulse of the RF signal; and
change timing of sampling of one or more feedback RF signals in the RF frequency control circuit based on the indication of the pulse timing.
9. A method, comprising:
operating an RF source to generate an RF signal in response to a plurality of energy level settings for the RF source over time;
maintaining a history of plurality of energy level settings including a number of most recent settings of the plurality of energy level settings for the RF source;
accelerating a particle beam in response to the RF signal; and
adjusting a current setpoint of the RF source in response to a combination of at least two of the most recent settings from different times in the history.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving an indication of a pulse timing for an upcoming RF pulse; and
changing timing of sampling of feedback RF signals in a frequency control circuit for the RF source based on the indication of the pulse timing.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising initializing the most recent settings in the history of the plurality of energy level settings with a default setting for each of the most recent settings.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
categorizing the energy level settings in the history according to energy level;
selecting a category of the energy level settings having a greatest number of the most recent energy level settings; and
adjusting the current setpoint of the RF source in response to the selected category.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
combining the plurality of energy level settings in the history into a combined energy level; and
adjusting the current setpoint of the RF source in response to the combined energy level.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
combining the plurality of energy level settings in the history into a combined energy level using weights that increase versus energy level; and
adjusting the current setpoint of the RF source in response to the combined energy level.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein maintaining the history of settings comprises maintaining the history spanning a time less than or equal to 0.2 seconds.
16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving an indication of an energy level for an upcoming RF pulse; and
adding the indication of the energy level to the history.
17. A system, comprising:
means for generating an RF signal in response to a plurality of energy level settings for the means for generating the RF signal over time;
means for maintaining a history of the plurality of energy level settings including a number of most recent settings of the plurality of energy level settings for the RF source;
means for accelerating a particle beam in response to the RF signal; and
means for adjusting a frequency of the RF signal; and
means for adjusting a current setpoint of the means for adjusting the frequency of the RF source in response to a combination of at least two of the most recent settings from different times in the history.