Millimeter wave source comprising an oscillator module and a variable-capacity module
AssigneeThomson-CSF
InventorsGerard Cachier, Jean Stevance
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A millimeter wave source, wherein an active diode, for example an avalanche diode, forming the emitter of the source is arranged opposite to a variable capacity diode, so as to have the source frequency-modulated by varying the biassing voltage of the variable capacity diode. In this source, each diode is mounted in a "module" comprising a thermally and electrically conductive support onto which a diode is in contact by one of its electrodes, the other electrode being in contact with a metallization deposited on a thick layer of dielectric material surrounding the diode. Owing to the capacitive coupling between the metallizations of both modules, the source can be frequency-modulated with a high efficiency.
Claims5
A millimeter wave source of the type comprising a first module formed by a first diode, a disc of solid dielectric surrounding the diode, a first electrode acting as support and a first metallization acting as biassing electrode, the source additionally comprising biassing means enabling the first diode to function as a diode having negative resistance at high frequencies, the source further comprising a second module formed by a second diode capable of functioning as a variable-capacity diode under predetermined biassing conditions, variable voltage means providing said biassing conditions to said second diode, a second metallization acting as a biassing electrode, said second diode facing said first the diode of the first module so as to form a capacitive coupling between said first and second metallizations, the source additionally comprising a conductive body acting as an electrical earth and as a mechanical support for both modules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.