Electron discharge device with integral voltage bridge and method of setting same

Claim 2

In an electron tube circuit a voltage bridge for setting a predetermined cathode-to-electrode voltage comprising: a first branch of first and second arms connected end to end between said cathode and said electrode; and a second branch of third and fourth arms connected end to end and between said cathode and said electrode; a resistance provided in said first arm; a selectively adjusted resistance provided in said second arm; a resistance provided in said third arm; a reference voltage device provided in said fourth arm; means for applying a voltage between said cathode and said electrode; and means for measuring current between said branches at the junction of said first and second arms and the junction of said third and fourth arms, said resistances in said first, second and third arms and said voltage device having values such that substantially no current is measured by said measuring means when said predetermined voltage is applied between said cathode and said electrode.

Claim 3

In an electron tube circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the resistance provided in said third arm includes a plurality of potentiometers in series, the tap of each potentiometer connected to an auxiliary electrode maintained by the potentiometer resistance in said third arm at a voltage intermediate the voltage applied between said cathode and said electrode.

Claim 4

A traveling-wave tube circuit comprising: a vacuum envelope; a beam generating assembly for generating and projecting a beam of electrons from one position within said envelope to another position therein and including a cathode; a collector assembly located at said other position for collecting said beam of electrons; a slow wave structure located Between said positions for providing interaction between said beam and a radio frequency wave propagating along said slow wave structure; and bridge network means for establishing a predetermined voltage between said cathode and said collector assembly including a first branch of first and second arms connected end to end between said cathode and said slow wave structure, a second branch of third and fourth arms connected end to end between said cathode and said slow wave structure, a resistance provided in said first arm, a selectively adjusted resistance provided in said second arm, a resistance provided in said third arm, a reference voltage device provided in said fourth arm, means for applying a voltage between said cathode and said slow wave structure; and means for measuring current between said branches at the junction of said first and second arms and the junction of said third and fourth arms, said resistance in said first, second and third arms and said reference voltage device having values such that substantially no current is measured by said measuring means when said predetermined voltage is applied between said cathode and said electrode.

Claim 5

A traveling-wave tube circuit comprising: a vacuum envelope; a beam generating assembly for generating and projecting a beam of electrons from one position within said envelope to another position therein and including a cathode; a collector assembly located at said other position for collecting said beam of electrons; a slow wave structure located Between said positions for providing interaction between said beam and a radio frequency wave propagating along said slow wave structure; and bridge network means for establishing a predetermined voltage between said cathode and said collector assembly including a first branch of first and second arms connected end to end between said cathode and said slow wave structure, a second branch of third and fourth arms connected end to end between said cathode and said slow wave structure, a resistance provided in said first arm, a selectively adjusted resistance provided in said second arm, a resistance provided in said third arm, a reference voltage device provided in said fourth arm, means for applying a voltage between said cathode and said slow wave structure; and means for measuring current between said branches at the junction of said first and second arms and the junction of said third and fourth arms, said resistance in said first, second and third arms and said reference voltage device having values such that substantially no current is measured by said measuring means when said predetermined voltage is applied between said cathode and said electrode.

Claim 6

A traveling-wave tube in accordance with claim 3 wherein said beam generating assembly includes a plurality of anode electrodes positioned between said cathode and said slow wave structure, and said resistance provided in said third arms includes a plurality of potentiometers, the center tap of each potentiometer connected to one of said anode electrodes for providing the desired voltage on each of said anode electrodes when the predetermined voltage is applied between said cathode and said slow wave structure.

Claim 7

A traveling-wave tube comprising in combination: a vacuum envelope; a beam generating assembly located at one position within said envelope and including a cathode and anode means for generating and projecting a beam of electrons to another position within said envelope; a collector assembly located at said other position within said envelope for collecting said beam of electrons; a slow wave structure located between said first and second positions for providing beam-wave interaction between said beam of electrons and an electromagnetic wave propagating along said slow wave structure; and voltage bridge means for establishing a predetermined voltage between said cathode and said slow wave structure including a first branch of first and second arms connected end to end between said cathode and said slow wave structure, a second branch of third and fourth arms connected end to end between said cathode and said slow wave structure, a high resistance provided in said first arm, a selectively adjusted low resistance provided in said second arm, a high resistance provided in said third arm, a low voltage Zener diode provided in said fourth arm, means for applying a high voltage between said cathode and said slow wave structure, a connection to said first branch at the junction of said first and second arms; and a connection to said second branch at the junction of said third and fourth arms for connecting a current measuring device between said connections, said resistances in said first and third arms having resistance values, said Zener diode having a voltage value, and said resistance in said second arm adjusted to a value with the predetermined voltage applied between said cathode and said slow wave structure so that no current flows through a current measuring device connected between said connections when said predetermined voltage exists between said cathode and said slow wave structure.

Claim 8

A traveling-wave tube comprising in combination: a vacuum envelope; a beam generating assembly located at one position within said envelope and including a cathode and anode means for generating and projecting a beam of electrons to another position within said envelope; a collector assembly located at said other position within said envelope for collecting said beam of electrons; a slow wave structure located between said first and second positions for providing beam-wave interaction between said beam of electrons and an electromagnetic wave propagating along said slow wave structure; and voltage bridge means for establishing a predetermined voltage between said cathode and said slow wave structure including a first branch of first and second arms connected end to end between said cathode and said slow wave structure, a second branch of third and fourth arms connected end to end between said cathode and said slow wave structure, a high resistance provided in said first arm, a selectively adjusted low resistance provided in said second arm, a high resistance provided in said third arm, a low voltage Zener diode provided in said fourth arm, means for applying a high voltage between said cathode and said slow wave structure, a connection to said first branch at the junction of said first and second arms; and a connection to said second branch at the junction of said third and fourth arms for connecting a current measuring device between said connections, said resistances in said first and third arms having resistance values, said Zener diode having a voltage value, and said resistance in said second arm adjusted to a value with the predetermined voltage applied between said cathode and said slow wave structure so that no current flows through a current measuring device connected between said connections when said predetermined voltage exists between said cathode and said slow wave structure.

Claim 9

The traveling-wave tube in accordance with claim 5 wherein said beam generating assembly includes: a plurality of anode electrodes progressively positioned between said cathode and said slow wave structure for establishing progressively increasing voltages from said cathode to said slow wave structure; And said resistance provided in said third arm includes a plurality of potentiometers, the center taps of said potentiometers connected to respectively positioned anode electrodes whereby proper setting of said voltage applying means such that no current flows in a measuring device connected between said connections establishes desired predetermined voltages to said anode electrodes.

Claim 12

The method in accordance with claim 7 including the step of subdividing the voltage in the one branch between said cathode and said bridge with connections to a progression of anode electrodes, and selecting the connections along said subdivided portion to apply desired potentials to said progression of anode electrodes when the predetermined voltage is applied between said cathode and said slow wave structure whereby adjustment of the voltage between the cathode and said slow wave structure until substantially no current flows in said bridge, adjusts the voltages applied to said anodes to the desired values.