NEGATIVE-RESISTANCE MULTIPLE-ELEMENT COMBINER

• US 3,582,813 A
• Filed: 06/19/1969
• Issued: 06/01/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marion E. Hines
• Original Assignee: Marion E. Hines
• Inventors: Hines, Marion E.
• Application Number:
  US04/834,812
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• US Class Current: 331/56
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 9/143 using more than one solid state device
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/10 with diodes parametric amplifiers H03F7/00

Abstract

This invention relates to microwave networks in which radio frequency energy from a multiplicity of sources may be combined into a single transmission line when these sources are of the same frequency and have the same phase. A significant feature of the invention is that energy will be absorbed when the multiple sources have different frequencies or if they have different phases at the same frequency. A particular application of the network is a power combiner for an oscillator or power amplifier when multiple negative-resistance devices are needed, providing a means for avoiding or suppressing undesired oscillations which may occur at multiple frequencies or in nonsynchronous phase relationships.

Claims

1. A high frequency electrical network for coupling a primary electromagnetic wave transmission path to a multiplicity of electron discharge devices comprising:

a. means providing a primary electromagnetic wave transmission line path;

b. means providing a second wave transmission line path coupled to said primary path symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis thereof;

c. means radially dividing said second path into sectors;

d. at least one electron discharge device in each sector coupled across said second path;

e. said dividing means comprising electromagnetic wave absorbing material disposed between said sectors for absorbing electromagnetic waves traveling from one of said sectors to another.

2. A high frequency electrical network as recited in claim 1 wherein the means providing a second wave transmission line path coupled to said first path extend transversely therefrom about the longitudinal axis thereof and is in the shape of a circular plane.

3. A high frequency electrical network as recited in claim 1 wherein the means providing a second wave transmission line path coupled to said first path and extending transversely therefrom about the longitudinal axis thereof has a variable impedance which varies from high to low in a radial direction from said axis.

4. A high frequency electrical network as recited in claim 1 wherein said sectors are equal and symmetrical.

5. A high frequency electrical network as recited in claim 1 wherein the electron discharge devices are equally spaced circumferentially about said axis.

6. A high frequency electrical network as recited in claim 1 wherein the means radially dividing said second path into sectors comprise slots forming radial zones extending radially from said axis, said slots having disposed therein electromagnetic wave absorbing material.

7. A high frequency electrical network as recited in claim 1 wherein said second wave transmission line path is formed of dielectric material with deposited metallic conductive sectors separated by zones of deposited resistive material.

8. A high frequency amplifier in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for separating the input wave from the amplified and reflected wave and wherein the electron discharge devices are negative-resistance elements.

9. A high frequency oscillator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electric discharge devices are negative-resistance elements.

10. An electric wave frequency converter as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for separating input and output frequencies, in which the electron discharge elements are nonlinear-impedance diodes.

11. A high frequency electrical network for coupling a primary electromagnetic wave transmission path to a multiplicity of electron discharge devices substantially equal and symmetrical, comprising:

a. means providing a primary electromagnetic wave transmission line path;

b. a section of variable impedance transmission line symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis of said primary electromagnetic wave transmission path means;

c. radial zones dividing said variable impedance transmission line into multiple radially extending sectors equally disposed about said axis;

d. first coupling means between said primary electromagnetic wave transmission line path means and said variable impedance transmission line electrically coupling said paths, said primary electromagnetic wave transmission path means and said first coupling means being centered upon and symmetrically disposed about said axis;

e. a multiplicity of electron discharge devices symmetrically and equally disposed about said axis along a circumferential line whose center is on said axis;

f. multiple secondary coupling means between said variable impedance transmission line and said electron discharge devices electrically coupling said electron discharge devices to said variable impedance transmission line, said secondary coupling means being symmetrically and equally disposed about said axis;

g. and high frequency electromagnetic wave energy-absorbing material disposed in said radial zones to selectively absorb high frequency electromagnetic waves traveling in said variable impedance transmission line, those electromagnetic waves which travel with uniform and symmetrical phase along radial vectors lying in said set of radially extending sectors not being absorbed whereas those electromagnetic waves traveling in other directions being attenuated.