Electronic power conditioner anode voltage control
AssigneeHughes Electronics Corporation
InventorsStephen Hulsey, James Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An anode control circuit for at least two traveling wave tubes powered by a common electronic power conditioner. The anode control circuit has separate anode drive circuits for the traveling wave tubes that are referenced to a voltage that is higher than the cathode voltage being supplied by the electronic power conditioner. A relay between the anode drive circuit and the anode of the traveling wave tube being driven opens or closes a path between the traveling wave tube and the cathode voltage supplied by the electronic power conditioner. The anode drive circuits are referenced to one of the collector voltages that is closest to the anode operating voltage and such that the anode voltage is more positive than the reference voltage.
Claims6
An anode voltage control circuit for an electronic power conditioner for supplying a plurality of collector voltages and a cathode voltage to at least two traveling wave tubes, said anode voltage control circuit comprising:
- a first anode drive circuit having a reference voltage that is more positive than said cathode voltage;
- a first relay coupled between said first anode drive circuit and an anode of one of said at least two traveling wave tubes;
- a second anode drive circuit having a reference voltage that is more positive than said cathode voltage;
- a second relay coupled between said second anode drive circuit and an anode of another of said at least two traveling wave tubes.
A method for operating at least two traveling wave tubes that are powered by a common electronic power conditioner supplying a cathode voltage and a plurality of collector voltages to said at least two traveling wave tubes, said method comprising the steps of:
- referencing a first anode drive circuit to a reference voltage that is higher than said cathode voltage;
- referencing a second anode drive circuit to a reference voltage that is higher than said cathode voltage;
- operating at least one traveling wave tube by opening a relay disposed between said anode drive circuit and an anode of said at least one traveling wave tube to be operated thereby creating a path between said cathode and said anode of said at least one traveling wave tube to be operated;
- whereby said anode voltage is made to be equal with said cathode potential thereby turning said at least one traveling wave tube off.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.