Radio frequency power load and associated method

• US 7,831,225 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Richeson, James J., Sims, William Herbert III, Chavers, Donald Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/828,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20090029669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 455/117, 455/120, 455/121, 455/127.1, 455/127.5, 330/289, 330/143
• US Class Current: 455/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/262 the dissipative medium being a liquid or being cooled by a liquid

Abstract

A radio frequency power load and associated method. A radio frequency power load apparatus includes a container and a fluid having an ion source therein, the fluid being contained in the container. Two conductors are immersed in the fluid. A radio frequency transmission system includes a radio frequency transmitter, a radio frequency amplifier connected to the transmitter and a radio frequency power load apparatus connected to the amplifier. The apparatus includes a fluid having an ion source therein, and two conductors immersed in the fluid. A method of dissipating power generated by a radio frequency transmission system includes the steps of: immersing two conductors of a radio frequency power load apparatus in a fluid having an ion source therein; and connecting the apparatus to an amplifier of the transmission system.

Claims

1. A radio frequency power load apparatus, comprising:

a container;

a fluid having an ion source therein, the fluid being contained in the container;

two conductors immersed in the fluid, wherein the conductors are in electrical contact with the fluid; and

an impedance matching circuit interconnected between the conductors and an amplifier of a radio frequency transmission system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid is water.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ion source is a salt.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container is made of a non-conducting material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a predetermined length of coax line connected to the impedance matching circuit to thereby achieve a desired capacitive load at a selected transmitted frequency.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an impedance of the apparatus is approximately fifty ohms.

7. A radio frequency transmission system, comprising:

a radio frequency transmitter;

a radio frequency amplifier connected to the transmitter; and

a radio frequency power load apparatus connected to the amplifier, the apparatus including a fluid having an ion source therein, and two conductors immersed in the fluid,

wherein the ion source provides electrical conductivity between the conductors.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the fluid is water.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the ion source is a salt.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the fluid is contained in a container made of a non-conducting material.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising an impedance matching circuit interconnected between the conductors and the amplifier.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a predetermined length of coax line connected to the impedance matching circuit to thereby achieve a desired capacitive load at a selected transmitted frequency.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein an impedance of the radio frequency power load apparatus is approximately fifty ohms.

14. A method of dissipating power generated by a radio frequency transmission system, the method comprising the steps of:

immersing two conductors of a radio frequency power load apparatus in a fluid having an ion source therein;

connecting the radio frequency power load apparatus to an amplifier of the transmission system; and

transmitting electrical current between the conductors and through the fluid.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing the fluid including water.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing the ion source including a salt.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of converting the power generated by the radio frequency transmission system into heat in the fluid.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of interconnecting an impedance matching circuit between the conductors and the amplifier.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of connecting a predetermined length of coax line to the impedance matching circuit to thereby achieve a desired capacitive load at a selected transmitted frequency.

20. A radio frequency power load apparatus, comprising:

a container;

a fluid having an ion source therein, the fluid being contained in the container;

two conductors immersed in the fluid;

an impedance matching circuit interconnected between the conductors and an amplifier of a radio frequency transmission system; and

a predetermined length of coax line connected to the impedance matching circuit to thereby achieve a desired capacitive load at a selected transmitted frequency.