Traveling wave tube body current sensor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorVictor J. Modiano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The body current of a TWT (traveling wave tube) is measured by generating a voltage that is proportional to the difference between the cathode and collector currents of the TWT without materially affecting either by passing the cathode and collector currents through separate transformer windings, wound in opposition, on both a linear core transformer and a nonlinear core transformer with separate windings coupling each transformer to the other. A voltage pulse is introduced into another winding on the nonlinear transformer causing a current flow in the circuit coupling the two transformers, the voltage magnitude of which is proportional to the difference between the cathode and collector currents which is the body current.
Claims2
A traveling wave tube body current sensor for serially connecting between the cathode of the traveling wave tube and the cathode current power source and serially connecting between the collector of the traveling wave tube and the collector current power source, providing an output voltage proportional to the said body current, the said sensor comprising:
- a. a linear core transformer having a first winding and a second winding of substantially unity turns ratio wound in opposition, and a third winding;
- each winding having an input and an output connection;
- b. a nonlinear core transformer having a first winding and a second winding of substantially unity turns ratio wound in opposition, and a third winding, and a fourth winding, each winding having an input and an output connection;
- c. means for serially connecting the said first winding of the said linear core transformer with the said first winding of the said nonlinear core transformer and serially connecting the said serially connected first windings between the said cathode current source and the said cathode of the traveling wave tube;
- d. means for serially connecting the said second winding of the said linear core transformer with the said second winding of the said nonlinear core transformer and serially connecting the said serially connected second windings between the said collector current source and the said collector of the traveling wave tube;
- e. a pulse generator providing a constant pulse voltage;
- f. means including a first resistance for applying the said pulse voltage to the said third winding of the said nonlinear core transformer through the said first resistance;
- g. means for serially connecting the said third winding of the said linear core transformer with the said fourth winding of the said nonlinear core transformer;
- h. a second resistance connected across the said serially connected third and fourth windings;
- i. means for connecting the said first resistance to the said second resistance;
- and
- j. means for providing an output connection across the said connected first and the said second resistance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.