Microwave tube modulator
AssigneeLTV Aerospace and Defense Company
InventorsDan Ehrenhalt, George R. Giles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a modulator having two amplifying stages for supplying high-voltage pulses to the primary winding of a transformer connected to a microwave transmitter tube. The first stage uses field-effect transistors connected in a common source configuration to amplify input pulses to drive the second stage, which uses field-effect transistors connected in a common gate configuration to drive the transformer. The circuit configuration provides a large voltage swing across the transformer primary and a short transistor switching time.
Claims24
A microwave tube modulator for amplifying an electrical input signal, said microwave tube modulator comprising:
- first amplifier means, having an input receiving the electrical input signal, an output, and a plurality of field-effect transistors connected in a common source configuration, for amplifying the electrical input signal to generate a first electrical output signal, said field-effect transistors each having at least a source, a gate, and a drain;
- second amplifier means, having an input electrically coupled to the output of said first amplifier means, an output, and a plurality of field-effect transistors connected in a common gate configuration, for amplifying said first electrical output signal generated by said first amplifier means to generate a second electrical output signal, said field-effect transistors each having at least a source, a gate, and a drain;
- a storage device for storing electrical energy;
- first coupling means for conducting electrical energy from said storage device to said first amplifier means and for coupling said first electrical output signal to the input of said second amplifier means;
- and
- second coupling means for coupling a feedback current representative of said first electrical output signal to said field-effect transistors in said first amplifier means to stabilize the gain of said first amplifier means.
A microwave tube modulator for amplifying an electrical input signal, said microwave tube modulator comprising:
- first amplifier means, having an input receiving the electrical input signal, an output, and a plurality of field-effect transistors connected in a common source configuration, for amplifying the electrical input signal to generate a first electrical output signal, said field-effect transistors each having at least a source, a gate, and a drain;
- a first electrical transformer for coupling the electrical input signal to the input of said first amplifier means;
- second amplifier means, having an input electrically coupled to the output of said first amplifier means, an output, and a plurality of field-effect transistors connected in a common gate configuration, for amplifying said first electrical output signal generated by said first amplifier means to generate a second electrical output signal, said field-effect transistors each having at least a source, a gate, and a drain;
- a storage device having at least one electrical capacitor for storing electrical energy;
- and
- a second electrical transformer for conducting electrical energy from said storage device to said first amplifier means, for coupling said first electrical output to the input of said second amplifier means, and for coupling a feedback current representative of said first electrical output signal to said field-effect transistors in said first amplifier means to stabilize the gain of said first amplifier means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.