US Patent Issued to Aerojet Rocketdyne on Nov. 11 for "Electric propulsion system including heaterless dispenser cathode" (California Inventor)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 11 -- United States Patent no. 12,467,627, issued on Nov. 11, was assigned to Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc. (Melbourne, Fla.).

"Electric propulsion system including heaterless dispenser cathode" was invented by Brian A. Koch (Sacramento, Calif.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A circuit for igniting and sustaining an electron discharge includes an ignitor circuit. The ignitor circuit includes a high voltage transformer and a switch connected in series between a primary of the transformer and a DC source return. The switch is configured to receive a driving signal. A reset circuit is connected in parallel to the primary of the high voltage transformer. A first rectifier is connec...