Ka-band solid-state switching circuit

Claim 2

A solid-state switching circuit for use with a waveguide to be functioning in the Ka-band frequency range comprising: a waveguide body having a passageway therethrough for conducting wave energy, and including a first portion having height and width dimensions corresponding to said frequency range, a second portion having the same width dimension but having a reduced height dimension, and a third portion comprising a ramp extending between said first and second portions; solid-state, two-terminal component means of a certain height and having series resonant and parallel resonant parasitic states at said Ka-band range in response, respectively, to two conditions of external bias being disposed in shunt across said second portion of said waveguide body, the height dimension of said second portion of said waveguide being essentially the same as said certain height of said component means for maximum coupling between the wave energy and said component means; means for providing external DC bias to one terminal of said component; and external means engaging the other one of the terminals of said component for adjusting the impedance presented by said solidstate component to said wave energy.

Claim 3

The switching circuit according to claim 1 wherein said waveguide body comprises a metallic casting.

Claim 4

The switching circuit according to claim 1 wherein said solid-state component means comprises a ceramic packaged semiconductor diode.

Claim 5

The switching circuit according to claim 3 wherein said ceramic packaged semiconductor diode comprises a PIN diode.

Claim 6

The switching circuit according to claim 1 wherein the external DC bias providing mEans includes an opening in said waveguide body perpendicular to said width dimension, a one-quarter wavelength coaxial metallic bias rod disposed in said opening, insulated therefrom and engaging one terminal of said solid-state component.

Claim 7

The switching circuit according to claim 5 wherein the external means for adjusting the impedance presented by the solid-state component comprises a tuning screw threaded into said body.

Claim 8

The switching circuit according to claim 1 wherein said solid-state, two-terminal component means comprises at least one component.

Claim 9

The switching circuit according to claim 1 wherein said solid-state, two-terminal component means comprises three components.

Claim 10

A solid-state switching circuit for use with a waveguide to be functioning in the Ka-band frequency range comprising: a waveguide body casting having a passageway therethrough for conducting wave energy and including a first portion having height and width dimensions corresponding to said frequency range, a second portion having the same width dimension but having a reduced height dimension, and a third portion comprising a ramp extending between said first and second portions; a solid-state diode package including a ceramic tube, a first metallic cover bonded to one side of said tube and comprising one terminal, a metallic pedestal disposed on said first cover inside of said ceramic tube, a semiconductor diode having two sides and a junction disposed with one side on said metallic pedestal, a second metallic cover bonded to the other side of said tube and comprising a second terminal, metallic leads connecting the other side of said diode to said second metallic cover, the effective capacitance of the said package being determined by the height of the ceramic tube and the metallic pedestal, the effective inductance of the package being determined by said metallic leads, said semiconductor diode comprising effectively a resistance in parallel with the capacitance of said junction, said resistance having two values, a low value at forward bias of said junction and a high value at reverse bias of said junction, said parallel combination of resistance and junction capacitance being in series with the inductance of said leads to define one leg of a second parallel circuit, the other leg of which comprises the said effective capacitance of the package; at the frequency of said Ka-band and in the forward bias condition of said diode, the effective circuit of said package being a parallel resonant circuit comprising the effective capacitance of said package and the inductance of said leads, and at the frequency of said Ka-band and in the reverse bias condition of said diode, the effective circuit of said package being a series resonant circuit comprising the inductance of said leads and the capacitance of said junction; the overall height of said diode package being determined by the combining thickness of said first cover, said ceramic tube and said second cover; means for providing external DC bias to one terminal of the diode in said package; and external means engaging the other one of the terminals of the diode in said package for adjusting the impedance presented by said diode package to said wave energy.

Claim 11

A solid-state switching circuit for use with a waveguide to be functioning in the Ka-band frequency range comprising: a waveguide body casting having a passageway therethrough for conducting wave energy and including a first portion having height and width dimensions corresponding to said frequency range, a second portion having the same width dimension but having a reduced height dimension, and a third portion comprising a ramp extending between said first and second portions; a solid-state diode package including a ceramic tube, a first metallic cover bonded to one side of said tube and comprising one terminal, a metallic pedestal disposed on said first cover inside of said ceramic tube, a semiconductor diode having two sides and a junction disposed with one side on said metallic pedestal, a second metallic cover bonded to the other side of said tube and comprising a second terminal, metallic leads connecting the other side of said diode to said second metallic cover, the effective capacitance of the said package being determined by the height of the ceramic tube and the metallic pedestal, the effective inductance of the package being determined by said metallic leads, said semiconductor diode comprising effectively a resistance in parallel with the capacitance of said junction, said resistance having two values, a low value at forward bias of said junction and a high value at reverse bias of said junction, said parallel combination of resistance and junction capacitance being in series with the inductance of said leads to define one leg of a second parallel circuit, the other leg of which comprises the said effective capacitance of the package; at the frequency of said Ka-band and in the forward bias condition of said diode, the effective circuit of said package being a parallel resonant circuit comprising the effective capacitance of said package and the inductance of said leads, and at the frequency of said Ka-band and in the reverse bias condition of said diode, the effective circuit of said package being a series resonant circuit comprising the inductance of said leads and the capacitance of said junction; the overall height of said diode package being determined by the combining thickness of said first cover, said ceramic tube and said second cover; means for providing external DC bias to one terminal of the diode in said package; and external means engaging the other one of the terminals of the diode in said package for adjusting the impedance presented by said diode package to said wave energy.

Claim 12

The switching circuit according to claim 9 wherein the external DC bias providing means includes an opening in said waveguide body perpendicular to said width dimension, a one-quarter wavelength coaxial metallic bias rod disposed in said opening, insulated therefrom and engaging one terminal of said solid-state component.

Claim 13

The switching circuit according to claim 10 wherein the external means for adjusting the impedance presented by the solid-state component comprises a tuning screw threaded into said body.

Claim 14

The switching circuit according to claim 10 wherein more than one solid-state diode package is disposed in said waveguide, said packaged diodes being spaced apart by three-quarters of a wavelength.

Claim 15

The invenTion according to claim 10 wherein said DC bias rod includes a metallic stem of reduced diameter for holding the bias rod and a spring surrounding said stem for urging said bias rod against said diode package.