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US 6,236,161 B1Granted
Crossed-field device
AssigneeCommunications & Power Industries, Inc.
InventorsMichael L. Tracy, Carl D. Morrill, Hunter L. McDowell
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AssigneeCommunications & Power Industries, Inc.
InventorsMichael L. Tracy, Carl D. Morrill, Hunter L. McDowell
Estimating the term…
A crossed-field device such as a crossed-field amplifier or magnetron has a generally peripheral cathode body portion and an anode which cooperates with a crossed magnetic field to maintain emitted electrons on cycloidal and amplify an rf input signal as it travels to an rf outlet. A control electrode positioned generally at a drift region away from the crossed-field amplification region interrupts the sustained electron emission to shut down the device between working cycles, and an auxiliary electrode positioned internally of the cathode diverts electrons into a gap proximally of the control electrode to reduce the control electrode energy requirements. The cathode is carried by a support structure, and the auxiliary electrode may be a rod axially extending in a counter-bore in the support structure. The auxiliary electrode is dc biased and may advantageously operate at anode potential, thereby obviating the need for any additional power source for the auxiliary electrode. Preferably the auxiliary electrode forms an inverted magnetron arrangement with the cathode counterbore and diverts electrons from the active region without creating unwanted rf output signal components.
A crossed-field device such as a crossed-field amplifier, said device including a peripheral cathode body portion having an emitter surface with a yield of electrons to enable sustained operation thereof and also having an anode portion spaced about said peripheral cathode portion such that an electric field is provided between said cathode portion and said anode portion in a gap along an interaction slow wave traveling region in which a magnetic crossed field cooperates to maintain emitted electrons on cycloidal pathways as the electrons travel between an inlet and an outlet of said crossed-field amplifier;
The crossed-field device of claim 2, wherein said peripheral cathode is defined by a cylinder, a major portion of the cathode extends about a perimeter of the cylinder between said inlet and said outlet to define an active amplification therebetween, and said control electrode extends along a minor portion of said perimeter between the outlet and the inlet to define a drift space therebetween, said control electrode being spaced across a gap from edges of said peripheral cathode.
A crossed field amplifier tube having an anode and a cathode positioned along a slow wave path to amplify an rf input signal applied thereto when placed in a crossed magnetic field, a control electrode for quelling electrons to stop emission thereof when no input signal is present, and an auxiliary electrode located relative to the cathode to operate in an inverted magnetron configuration to capture secondary electrons from the slow wave path and permit operation of the control electrode at reduced potential.
A crossed-field amplifier, comprising
A crossed-field amplifier, comprising
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.