Robust RF interface in a TWT
AssigneeWhittaker Corporation
InventorsFarzad Kialashaki, Reza J. Kialashaki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods provide a robust radio frequency (RF) interface for a helix-type traveling wave tube (TWT). As a vacuum device, the RF input to the TWT and the RF output from the TWT are sealed to maintain the vacuum. The disclosed robust RF interface techniques are advantageously less prone to breakage than conventional sealing techniques. In addition, configurations of the disclosed robust RF interface techniques can further exhibit relatively good impedance matches between a TWT and an associated antenna, which can reduce insertion losses and reflection losses, thereby advantageously increasing system RF output power.
Claims21
A traveling wave tube (TWT) for amplification of a radio frequency (RF) signal, the TWT comprising:
- an envelope for maintaining a hermetically-sealed environment, the envelope includes at least an electron gun and a collector;
- a helix-type slow-wave structure disposed within the envelope;
- a rigid coaxial cable having an inner conductor, a solid conductive sheath, and a dielectric disposed between at least a portion of the inner conductor and the solid conductive sheath, a first end of the inner conductor is electrically coupled to an end of the helix-type slow-wave structure in the envelope;
- and
- a hermetically-sealed RF connector coupled to a second end of the inner conductor and a corresponding end of the solid conductor sheath;
- the envelope that maintains a sealed environment, wherein an interior of the envelope houses at least the helix-type slow-wave structure, and wherein at least portions of the solid sheaths for the rigid coaxial cable is disposed outside the sealed environment of the envelope and are hermetically sealed to a surface of the envelope.
A traveling wave tube (TWT) for amplification of a radio frequency (RE) signal, the TWT comprising:
- a first rigid coaxial cable with a first end and a second end, the second end of the first rigid coaxial cable is coupled to a first hermetically-sealed RF connector so that the second end of the first rigid coaxial cable is hermetically-sealed;
- a second rigid coaxial cable with a first end and a second end, the second end of the second rigid coaxial cable is coupled to the second hermetically-sealed RE connector so that the second end of the second rigid coaxial cable is hermetically-sealed;
- a helix-type slow-wave structure with a first end and a second end, the first end is operatively coupled to an inner conductor of the first end of the first rigid coaxial cable, the second end is operatively coupled to an inner conductor of the first end of the second rigid coaxial cable;
- and
- an envelope that maintains a sealed environment, wherein an interior of the envelope houses at least the helix-type slow-wave structure, and wherein at least portions of sheaths for the first rigid coaxial cable and the second rigid coaxial cable are disposed outside the sealed environment of the envelope and are hermetically sealed to a surface of the envelope.
A method of forming a hermetically-sealed connection for traveling wave tube (TWT), the method comprising:
- providing an envelope for the TWT, where the envelope comprises a helix-type slow wave structure, an electron gun, and at least one collector;
- providing a rigid coaxial cable having a first end, a second end, an inner conductor, a sheath, and an insulator, where the second end is terminated by a hermetic RF connector;
- electrically connecting the inner conductor of the first end of the rigid coaxial cable to an end of the helix;
- and
- joining the sheath of the rigid coaxial cable to at least a portion of the envelope to form the hermetic seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.