Inductive output tube with multi-staged depressed collector having improved efficiency

• US 6,617,791 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Symons, Robert Spencer
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US10/158,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 315/4, 315/5, 315/5-2-, 315/15, 315/16, 315/403, 315/404
• US Class Current: 315/5.38
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2223/0275 Multistage collectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 23/087 Magnetic focusing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 25/04 Tubes having one or more resonators, without reflection of the electron stream, and in which the modulation produced in the modulator zone is mainly density modulation, e.g. Heaff tube

Abstract

An inductive output tube (IOT) of a multi-staged depressed collector provides improved efficiency by approximating a Brillouin electron beam flow. In one embodiment, an IOT is provided with an electron gun that generates an electron beam, a tube body, a multi-staged depressed collector for collecting the electron beam, and a magnetic solenoid. The electron beam travels through the tube body. The magnetic solenoid produces a magnetic flux that focuses the electron beam as it travels through the tube body. The magnetic flux includes a portion that threads through the electron gun. The IOT is adapted to reduce this portion of the magnetic flux in order to provide improvements in the efficiency of the IOT.

Claims

1. An amplifying apparatus, comprising:

an electron gun including a cathode, an anode spaced therefrom, and a grid disposed between said cathode and anode, said cathode providing an electron beam that passes through said grid and said anode, said grid being coupled to an input radio frequency signal that density modulates said electron beam;

a drift tube extended from and concentric with said electron gun and anode and surrounding said electron beam, said drift tube including a first portion and a second portion, a gap being defined between said first and second portions;

a first polepiece comprising a first centered hole through which said first drift tube portion passes, a first side of said first polepiece facing said cathode, and a second side of said first polepiece facing away from said cathode;

a second polepiece comprising a second centered hole through which said second drift tube portion passes, a first side of said second polepiece facing said cathode, and a second side of said second polepiece facing away from said cathode;

a first magnetic solenoid located between said first polepiece and said second polepiece and generating magnetic flux, said magnetic flux guiding said electron beam as it passes through said first and second drift tube portions and said gap, a portion of said magnetic flux threading through said cathode;

a second magnetic solenoid located on said first side of said first polepiece and producing a magnetic field that effectively cancels said portion of said magnetic flux threading through said cathode;

an output cavity connected with said first and second drift tube portions and enclosing said gap, said density modulated beam passing across said gap and coupling an amplified radio frequency signal into said output cavity; and

a collector extended from said second drift tube portion and said second polepiece, said electron beam passing into said collector after transit across said gap, said collector having a plurality of electrode stages comprising a first electrode stage and at least one remainder electrode stage, said first electrode stage being connected electrically with said second drift tube portion, said plurality of electrode stages being insulated from each other, said remainder electrode being connected to an electrical potential source having an electrical potential less than that of an electrical potential on said anode, an electrical potential on said first drift tube portion and an electrical potential on said second drift tube portion.

2. The amplifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first electrode stage is joined mechanically to said second drift tube portion.

3. The amplifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remainder electrode stage comprises a last electrode stage having an inner length and a minimum inner diameter and wherein said inner length is at least twice said minimum inner diameter.

4. The amplifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remainder electrode stage comprises at least two electrode stages that are connected together electrically, wherein said at least two electrode stages comprises a total inner length and a minimum inner diameter, and wherein said total inner length exceeds twice said minimum inner diameter.

5. The amplifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remainder electrode stage comprises a last electrode stage and a penultimate electrode stage and wherein said last electrode stage is connected to a potential slightly higher than that of said penultimate stage.

6. The amplifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remainder electrode stage comprises second, third, fourth, and fifth electrode stages and wherein said first electrode stage is mechanically and electrically joined to said second drift tube portion.

7. The amplifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second magnetic solenoid is adapted to guide said electron beam to approximate a Brillouin beam flow.

8. The amplifying apparatus of claim 7, wherein said distance between said anode and said cathode is selected to further allow said electron beam to approximate said Brillouin beam flow.

9. The amplifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cathode comprises an emitting surface for emitting said electron beam and wherein said grid comprises an electrically conductive material, said electrically conductive material comprising a plurality of closely spaced perforations opposing said emitting surface.

10. The amplifying apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of said perforations has a predetermined minimum dimension and wherein said predetermined minimum dimension is selected from the group consisting of a dimension of a width of an arc, a dimension of a width of a slot, a dimension of a diameter of a circle, or a dimension of a distance between opposite faces of a hexagon.

11. The amplifying apparatus of claim 9, wherein said grid perforations near an outside edge of said cathode have a first predetermined minimum dimension and said grid perforations near an axis of said cathode have a second predetermined minimum dimension and wherein said first predetermined minimum dimension is smaller than said second predetermined minimum dimension.

12. The amplifying apparatus of claim 9, wherein said grid perforations comprise a plurality of predetermined minimum dimensions and wherein said predetermined minimum dimensions decrease continuously with increasing distance from an axis of said cathode and said grid.

13. The amplifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said grid perforations are dimensioned to provide a higher current density near an axis of said electron beam for a given total current than would otherwise occur at a grid having perforations of uniform dimension.

14. The amplifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second magnetic solenoid comprises a magnetic coil.

15. The amplifying apparatus of claim 14, wherein said magnetic coil is a bucking coil.

16. The amplifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field produced by said second magnetic solenoid is opposite that of a magnetic field produced by said first magnetic solenoid.

18. The amplifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field produced by said second magnetic solenoid effectively cancels said portion of said magnetic flux line to less than approximately 10% of said flux line.

17. The amplifying apparatus of 16, wherein said magnetic field produced by said second magnetic solenoid is adjustable.

19. An amplifying apparatus, comprising:

an electron gun including a cathode, an anode spaced therefrom, and a grid disposed between said cathode and anode, said cathode providing an electron beam that passes through said grid and said anode, said grid being coupled to an input radio frequency signal that density modulates said electron beam;

a drift tube extended from and concentric with said electron gun and anode and surrounding said electron beam, said drift tube including a first portion and a second portion, a gap being defined between said first and second portions;

a first polepiece comprising a first centered hole through which said first drift tube portion passes, a first side of said first polepiece facing said cathode, and a second side of said first polepiece facing away from said cathode;

a second polepiece comprising a second centered hole through which said second drift tube portion passes, a first side of said second polepiece facing said cathode, and a second side of said second polepiece facing away from said cathode;

a first magnetic solenoid located between said first polepiece and said second polepiece and generating magnetic flux, said magnetic flux guiding said electron beam as it passes through said first and second drift tube portions and said gap, a portion of said magnetic flux threading through said cathode;

means for reducing said portion of said magnetic flux;

an output cavity connected with said first and second drift tube portions and enclosing said gap, said density modulated beam passing across said gap and coupling an amplified radio frequency signal into said output cavity; and

a collector extended from said second drift tube portion and said second polepiece, said electron beam passing into said collector after transit across said gap, said collector having a plurality of electrode stages comprising a first electrode stage and at least one remainder electrode stage, said first electrode stage being connected electrically with said second drift tube portion, said plurality of electrode stages being insulated from each other, said remainder electrode being connected to an electrical potential source having an electrical potential less than that of an electrical potential on said anode, an electrical potential on said first drift tube portion and an electrical potential on said second drift tube portion.

20. The amplifying apparatus of claim 19, wherein said reducing means comprises a hole extending through said first drift tube portion and wherein said hole is adapted to reduce said portion of said flux.

21. The amplifying apparatus of claim 20, wherein a diameter of said hole is dimensioned to reduce said portion of said flux to less than approximately 10% of said flux.

22. The amplifying apparatus of claim 19, wherein said reducing means comprises a second magnetic solenoid located on said first side of said first polepiece and producing a magnetic field that reduces said portion of said magnetic flux threading through said cathode.

23. The amplifying apparatus of claim 19, further comprises means for guiding said electron beam to approximate a Brillouin beam flow.

24. The amplifying apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first electrode stage is joined mechanically to said second drift tube portion.

25. An amplifying apparatus, comprising:

an electron gun including a cathode, an anode spaced therefrom, and a grid disposed between said cathode and anode, said cathode providing an electron beam that passes through said grid and said anode, said grid being coupled to an input radio frequency signal that density modulates said electron beam;

a drift tube extended from and concentric with said electron gun and anode and surrounding said electron beam, said drift tube including a first portion and a second portion, a gap being defined between said first and second portions;

a first polepiece comprising a first centered hole through which said first drift tube portion passes, a first side of said first polepiece facing said cathode, and a second side of said first polepiece facing away from said cathode;

a second polepiece comprising a second centered hole through which said second drift tube portion passes, a first side of said second polepiece facing said cathode, and a second side of said second polepiece facing away from said cathode;

a first magnetic solenoid located between said first polepiece and said second polepiece and generating magnetic flux, said magnetic flux guiding said electron beam as it passes through said first and second drift tube portions and said gap, a portion of said magnetic flux threading through said cathode;

means for focusing said electron beam to approximate a Brillouin beam flow;

an output cavity connected with said first and second drift tube portions and enclosing said gap, said density modulated beam passing across said gap and coupling an amplified radio frequency signal into said output cavity; and

a collector extended from said second drift tube portion and said second polepiece, said electron beam passing into said collector after transit across said gap, said collector having a plurality of electrode stages comprising a first electrode stage and at least one remainder electrode stage, said first electrode stage being connected electrically with said second drift tube portion, said plurality of electrode stages being insulated from each other, said remainder electrode being connected to an electrical potential source having an electrical potential less than that of an electrical potential on said anode, an electrical potential on said first drift tube portion and an electrical potential on said second drift tube portion.

26. The amplifying apparatus of claim 25, wherein said focusing means comprises a first magnetic solenoid located on said second side of said first polepiece and generating a magnetic flux, a portion of said magnetic flux threading through said cathode.

27. The amplifying apparatus of claim 26, wherein said focusing means further comprises means for reducing said portion of said magnetic flux.

28. The amplifying apparatus of claim 27, wherein said reducing means comprises a second magnetic solenoid located on said first side of said first polepiece and producing a magnetic field that reduces said portion of said magnetic flux threading through said cathode.