MICROWAVE TRAVELING WAVE DEVICE WITH ELECTRONICALLY SWITCHED INTERACTION CHARACTERISTICS
First Claim
1. A traveling wave electron interaction device comprising:
- means for propagating electromagnetic wave energy along a path;
electrode means spaced from and substantially coextensive with said propagating means to define therebetween an interaction region;
means for providing an electron beam within said interaction region in energy exchanging relation with electromagnetic waves; and
electronically actuated selective control means disposed at a predetermined critical point intermediate to the ends of said path to provide at least two interaction regions with one active and the other inactive with said electron beam interacting in energy exchanging relationship with principally the active region when said control means are actuated.
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Abstract
A microwave traveling wave device is disclosed with means for selecting and controlling the optimum efficient interaction characteristics between the electron beam and periodic slow wave propagating circuit, particularly in the exchange of energy with the backward wave components of the beam. The device provides in an integral embodiment for pulsed or continuous wave as well as dual mode operation with high and low operating currents. Electronically actuated means to control the electrical and propagation characteristics are incorporated in combination with the electrode structures bounding the interaction region, means for electron beam interception, as well as means for controlling the phase shift of the electromagnetic energy waves on the periodic slow wave circuit. Tunable sideband spurious signals have been measurably reduced in microwave devices employing embodiments of the invention.
8 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A traveling wave electron interaction device comprising:
- means for propagating electromagnetic wave energy along a path;
electrode means spaced from and substantially coextensive with said propagating means to define therebetween an interaction region;
means for providing an electron beam within said interaction region in energy exchanging relation with electromagnetic waves; and
electronically actuated selective control means disposed at a predetermined critical point intermediate to the ends of said path to provide at least two interaction regions with one active and the other inactive with said electron beam interacting in energy exchanging relationship with principally the active region when said control means are actuated.
- means for propagating electromagnetic wave energy along a path;
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2. A traveling wave electron interaction device comprising:
- slow wave circuit means for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
electrode means spaced from and substantially coextensive with said circuit means to define therebetween an interaction region;
means for providing an electron beam within said region in energy exchanging relation with electromagnetic waves on said circuit; and
electronically actuated selective control means disposed at a predetermined critical point intermediate to the ends of said circuit to provide discrete active and inactive portions of said interaction region with said active region hAving a predetermined length oriented upstream with respect to the travel of said electron beam.
- slow wave circuit means for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
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3. A traveling wave electron interaction device comprising:
- a slow wave structure for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
a sole electrode spaced from and coextensive with said slow wave structure to define therebetween an interaction region;
an electron source disposed at one end of said interaction region for directing a beam of electrons within said region in energy exchanging relation with electromagnetic waves;
means for establishing mutually perpendicular electric and magnetic fields within said region;
electronically actuated selective control means disposed at the point of maximum beam saturation along said interaction region; and
said control means when actuated effectively rendering one fields of said interaction region inactive by substantially altering its electrical characteristics to substantially inhibit any further exchange of energy between said beam and propagated waves beyond this point.
- a slow wave structure for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
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4. A traveling electron interaction device comprising:
- a slow wave structure for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
a sole electrode spaced from and substantially coextensive with said slow wave structure to define therebetween an interaction region;
an electron source for directing a beam of electrons within said region to exchange energy with electromagnetic waves;
means for establishing mutually perpendicular electric and magnetic fields within said region;
electronically actuated selective control means disposed at a predetermined critical point along said slow wave structure to interrupt and vary the energy propagating characteristics; and
said control means when actuated electrically dividing said slow wave structure into an active portion adjacent to said electron source and an inactive portion both of predetermined lengths with interaction confined principally to energy exchange relationship with said active portion for pulsed wave operation with relatively high beam currents and continuous wave operation with low beam currents when said control means are deactivated with interaction confined to both portions.
- a slow wave structure for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
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5. A traveling wave device according to claim 4 wherein said slow wave structure comprises an interdigital delay line having a plurality of interleaved conductive elements.
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6. A traveling wave device according to claim 5 wherein said control means are coupled to at least one of said delay line elements.
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7. A traveling wave device according to claim 6 wherein said control means comprise semiconductor means actuated by electrical pulse signals.
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8. A traveling wave device according to claim 4 wherein said control means are disposed laterally from said slow wave structure at an intermediate point along said interaction region to couple and absorb energy to vary the energy propagating characteristics.
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9. A traveling wave device according to claim 8 wherein said slow wave structure comprises an interdigital delay line having a plurality of interleaved conductive elements and said control means comprise at least one other conductive element inductively coupled to said delay line, said inductively coupled element being connected to an electromagnetic energy absorbing material.
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10. A traveling wave device according to claim 9 wherein said control means comprise semiconductor means actuated by electrical pulse signals.
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11. A traveling wave electron interaction device comprising:
- a slow wave structure for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
electrode means spaced from and substantially coextensive with said slow wave structure to define therebetween an interaction region;
an electron source for directing a beam of electrons within said region to exchange energy with electromagnetic waves;
means for establishing mutually perpendicular electric and magnetic fields within said region;
selective control means disposed at a predetermined critical poiNt along said coextensive electrode means; and
said control means being adapted to provide an electrical potential sufficient to intercept a substantial portion of said electron beam and electrically divide said interaction region into active and inactive portions with said active region being closest to said electron source.
- a slow wave structure for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
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12. A traveling wave electron interaction device according to claim 11 wherein said control means are actuated by electrical signals inductively coupled from a source of voltage pulses.
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13. A traveling wave electron interaction device comprising:
- a slow wave structure for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
a sole electrode spaced from and substantially coextensive with said slow wave structure to define therebetween an interaction region;
said sole electrode being electrically divided into two segments;
an electron source for directing a beam of electrons within said region to exchange energy when the velocity of said electrons is in synchronous relationship with the phase of electromagnetic waves;
means for establishing mutually perpendicular electric and magnetic fields within said region; and
selectively actuated circuit means for biasing one of said sole electrode segments at an electric field potential to substantially alter the electron beam velocity at the point of maximum electron beam bunching and establish a nonsynchronous relationship in the remainder of the interaction region beyond this point whereby energy exchange is effectively restricted the the region bounded by the remaining sole electrode segment.
- a slow wave structure for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
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14. A traveling wave electron interaction device according to claim 13 wherein said selective actuating means comprise electrical signals inductively coupled from a source of voltage pulses.
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15. A traveling electron interaction device comprising:
- a slow wave structure for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
a sole electrode spaced from said slow wave structure and defining therebetween an interaction region;
an electron source for directing a beam of electrons within said region to exchange energy when the velocity of said electrons is in synchronous relationship with the phase of electromagnetic waves;
means for establishing mutually perpendicular electric and magnetic fields within said region;
electronically actuated selective control means disposed at the point of maximum beam saturation to substantial alter the slow wave structure propagating characteristics; and
said control means when actuated electrically dividing said slow wave structure into a active portion adjacent said electron source and an inactive portion downstream thereof to introduce substantially out-of-phase characteristics in waves propagating in said inactive portion and substantially confine the in-phase energy exchanging relationship principally to said active portion.
- a slow wave structure for propagating electromagnetic wave energy;
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16. A traveling wave electron interaction device according to claim 15 wherein said control means comprise a semiconductor actuated phase shifter.
Specification