Input impedance networks with power recovery
Input impedance networks and associated methods are disclosed. An input impedance network comprises a source-terminal-pair configured to couple to a power source, a recovered-power-terminal-pair configured to couple to a power sink, a transmission line coupled to the source-terminal-pair that comprises M sections, and N clamping circuits. Each of the N clamping circuits is configured to clamp at least one of voltage or current in one of the M sections, and a power recovery circuit is coupled to the N clamping circuits to enable recovered energy to be applied to the recovered-power-terminal-pair.
1. An input impedance network comprising:
a source-terminal-pair configured to couple to a power source;
a recovered-power-terminal-pair configured to couple to a power sink;
a transmission line coupled to the source-terminal-pair, the transmission line comprising M sections;
N clamping circuits, each of the N clamping circuits configured to clamp at least one of voltage or current in one of the M sections; and
a power recovery circuit coupled to the N clamping circuits, the power recovery circuit using energy recovered from the clamping circuits to apply power to the recovered-power-terminal-pair.
2. The input impedance network of claim 1 wherein the N clamping circuits are configured to clamp the at least one of voltage or current based upon a level of voltage or current at the source-terminal-pair.
3. The input impedance network of claim 1 further comprising a load-terminal-pair coupled to the transmission line.
4. The input impedance network of claim 3 comprising a short-circuited load-terminal-pair.
5. The input impedance network of claim 3 comprising an open-circuited load-terminal-pair.
6. The input impedance network of claim 3 , wherein the load-terminal-pair is configured to couple to a load.
7. A power system comprising:
a power source; and
an input impedance network coupled to the power source, wherein the input impedance network comprises:
a transmission line comprising M sections;
a distributed-clamping circuit configured to clamp at least one of voltage or current in N sections of the M sections; and
a power recovery circuit to apply power to a power sink using energy recovered from the distributed-clamping circuit.
8. The power system of claim 7 , wherein the power source comprises an isolation port of a circulator.
9. The power system of claim 7 , wherein the power source comprises a generator.
10. The power system of claim 9 , wherein the generator is configured to operate at frequencies less than 100 MHz.
11. The power system of claim 7 , wherein the power sink comprises the power system.
12. The power system of claim 11 , comprising:
an inverter coupled between the power recovery circuit and an AC input of the power system to convert recovered DC power to AC power that is applied to the AC input of the power system.
13. The power system of claim 11 , wherein the power recovery circuit is coupled to a DC bus of the power system to apply recovered DC power to the DC bus of the power system.
14. The power system of claim 11 , wherein the power sink comprises a dump resistor.
15. The power system of claim 7 , wherein the input impedance network comprises a transmission line that is at least a quarter wavelength long at a frequency of power applied by the power source.
16. The power system of claim 7 , wherein the distributed-clamping circuit is configured to clamp the N sections of the input impedance network to a voltage and current of the power source.
17. The power system of claim 7 , wherein the distributed-clamping circuit is configured to clamp the N sections of the input impedance network to fixed voltages and fixed currents.
18. The power system of claim 7 , comprising at least one of a voltage amplitude measurement circuit or a current amplitude measurement circuit to enable control of the distributed-clamping circuit.
19. The power system of claim 7 , comprising at least one of a directional coupler or VI sensor based measurement system to enable control of the distributed-clamping circuit.
20. A power system comprising:
a power source; and
an input impedance network coupled to the power source, wherein the input impedance network comprises:
means for providing a substantially constant impedance to the power source; and
a power recovery circuit coupled to the power source to apply power to a power sink using energy recovered from the means for providing a substantially constant impedance.
21. The power system of claim 20 , wherein the power source comprises an isolation port of a circulator.
22. The power system of claim 20 , wherein the power source comprises a generator.
23. The power system of claim 22 , wherein the generator is configured to operate at frequencies less than 100 MHz.
24. The power system of claim 20 , wherein the power sink comprises the power system.
25. The power system of claim 24 , comprising:
an inverter coupled between the power recovery circuit and an AC input of the power system to convert recovered DC power to AC power that is applied to the AC input of the power system.
26. The power system of claim 24 , wherein the power recovery circuit is coupled to a DC bus of the power system to apply recovered DC power to the DC bus of the power system.
27. The power system of claim 24 , wherein the power sink comprises a dump resistor.
28. The power system of claim 20 , wherein the input impedance network comprises a transmission line that is at least a quarter wavelength long at a frequency of power applied by the power source.
29. The power system of claim 20 , wherein the means for providing a substantially constant impedance comprises at least one of a voltage amplitude measurement circuit or a current amplitude measurement circuit.
30. The power system of claim 20 , comprising one of a directional coupler or VI sensor based measurement system to enable control of the means for providing a substantially constant impedance.