Radio frequency generators, and related systems, methods, and devices

1. A radio frequency generator, comprising:

an analog signal generator configured to generate a pulsed analog signal responsive to a digital pulsed waveform defined by one or more commands;

a modulator configured to generate a pulsed radio frequency (RF) signal by modulating an RF carrier using the pulsed analog signal as a modulating signal;

an amplification stage configured to amplify the pulsed RF signal output by the modulator; and

a feedback control loop coupled to the amplification stage and configured to regulate a power level of each step of the pulsed RF signal.

2. The radio frequency generator of claim 1 , wherein the pulsed analog signal comprises a pulsed waveform, and the pulsed waveform comprises pulses having a multi-step waveform or and arbitrary waveform.

3. The radio frequency generator of claim 1 , further comprising an attenuator coupled between the modulator and the amplification stage and configured to attenuate a power level of the pulsed RF signal in response to an error signal generated via the feedback loop.

4. The radio frequency generator of claim 3 , wherein the attenuator comprises an automatic gain control (AGC) amplifier coupled between the modulator and a power amplifier of the amplification stage.

5. The radio frequency generator of claim 3 , further comprising a power sensor configured to sample the amplified pulsed RF signal to generate the samples of the amplified pulsed RF signal.

6. The radio frequency generator of claim 1 , wherein the modulator comprises a mixer configured to receive the RF carrier and the modulating signal.

7. The radio frequency generator of claim 1 , wherein the modulator comprises an automatic gain control (AGC) amplifier configured to receive the RF carrier and the modulating signal.

8. The radio frequency generator of claim 1 , wherein the analog signal generator comprises:

a digital shaper configured to receive the one or more commands and generate a digital continuous pulsed waveform based on the one or more commands; and

a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter configured to receive the digital continuous pulsed waveform and generate the pulsed analog signal.

9. A method of generating a pulsed radio frequency (RF) signal, comprising:

generating a digital continuous pulsed waveform based on the one or more commands;

generating the analog signal based on the digital continuous pulsed waveform;

modulating an RF carrier using the analog signal as a modulating signal;

amplifying a pulsed RF signal obtained responsive to the modulating; and

regulating a power level of each step of the pulsed RF signal.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein modulating comprises modulating the RF carrier via a mixer or an automatic gain control (AGC) amplifier.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving the one or more commands via an interface.

12. A method of generating a pulsed radio frequency (RF) signal, comprising:

generating an analog signal based on one or more commands;

modulating an RF carrier using the analog signal as a modulating signal;

amplifying a pulsed RF signal obtained responsive to the modulating; and

regulating a power level of each step of the pulsed RF signal by:

generating samples of the amplified pulsed RF signal;

generating an error signal based on a comparison of samples of the amplified pulsed RF signal to pre-defined set points; and

attenuating the pulsed RF signal responsive to the error signal.

13. A radio frequency generation system comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) generator including:

an analog signal generator is configured to:

generate a digital continuous pulsed waveform based on the one or more commands;

generate an analog signal based on the digital continuous pulsed waveform;

a modulator configured to output a pulsed radio frequency (RF) signal by modulating an RF carrier using the pulsed analog signal as a modulating signal;

a power amplifier configured to amplify the pulsed RF signal output by the modulator; and

a feedback control loop coupled to the power amplifier and configured to regulate a power level of each step of the pulsed RF signal.

14. The radio frequency generation system of claim 13 , further comprising a computer configured to provide the one or more commands to the RF generator.

15. The radio frequency generation system of claim 13 , wherein the analog signal generator comprises:

a digital shaper configured to generate a digital pulsing waveform based on the one or more commands; and

a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter configured to generate the pulsed analog signal responsive to the digital pulsing waveform.

16. The radio frequency generation system of claim 15 , wherein a pulsed waveform defined by the one or more commands comprises one or more pulses having an arbitrary waveform.

17. The radio frequency generations system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more commands comprise user-defined commands define a pulsed waveform having specific pulse characteristics using a syntax recognized by the RF generator.

18. The radio frequency generation system of claim 13 , wherein the feedback control loop is configured to:

compare samples of the amplified pulsed RF signal to set points;

generate an error signal based on the comparison; and

attenuate a power level of the pulsed RF signal in response to the error signal.

19. The radio frequency generation system of claim 13 , wherein the RF generator further comprises an attenuator configured to:

receive the pulsed RF signal from the modulator and an error signal from the feedback control loop; and

modify an attenuation applied to pulsed RF signal based on the error signal.