Double pulse bias stabilization of a microwave oscillator using an avalanche diode operative in the anomalous mode

Claim 2

A microwave oscillator comprising: a two terminal, negative resistance active device capable of generating signal energy in response to a direct current bias signal having a magnitude exceeding a predetermined threshold value, a microwave circuit including said device arranged to operate as a resistive termination for said signal energy at a given frequency and a reactive termination for said signal energy at all other frequencies, means for applying to said circuit and said device a double pulse bias signal including a first pulse portion having a magnitude exceeding said predetermined threshold value at a first time to trigger said device into generating said signal energy followed by a second pulse portion at a second time having a magnitude exceeding the magnitude of said first pulse portion to continue the generation of said signal energy by said device but at an increased output power.

Claim 3

A microwave oscillator in accordance with claim 1, in which said microwave circuit is a microstrip transmission line circuit formed by a strip-like conductor on one surface of a dielectric substrate and a ground planar conductor on the opposite surface of said dielectric substrate, one of said device terminals being coupled to said strip-like conductor with the other device terminal being coupled to said ground planar conductor, the complex impedance of said device coupled to said microstrip transmission line being matched to the impedance of a terminating load at said given frequency by a low pass filter connected between said device and said terminating load, said low pass filter being a reactive termination for said signals at all other frequencies.

Claim 4

A microwave oscillator in accordance with claim 1, in which said means for applying said bias signal includes a bias circuit having an output end coupled to said microwave circuit, said bias circuit being designed to present a high impedance at microwave frequencies and a desired D.C. impedance for optimum signal generation by said device.

Claim 5

A microwave oscillator in accordance with claim 3, including means responsive to a first and a second pulse input to provide said double pulse bias signal at an input end of said bias circuit.

Claim 6

A microwave oscillator in accordance with claim 4, in which said responsive means includes first and second two terminal diodes having first terminals of like polarity connected to said input end of said bias circuit, said first pulse input being fed to the second terminal of said first diode and said second pulse input being fed to the second terminal of said second diode.

Claim 7

A microwave oscillator comprising: a two terminal avalanche diode included in a microwave circuit designed to promote the anomalous mode of diode operation in response to a double pulse direct current bias signal comprising a first direct current pulse portion having a magnitude exceeding a predetermined threshold value to trigger said diode into generating signal energy followed by a second direct current pulse portion having a magnitude exceeding said first pulse portion''s magnitude whereupon said oscillator continues to transmit said energy at an increased power output, means including a bias circuit for feeding first said first pulse portion at a first time and thereafter said second pulse portion at a later time to said microwave circuit, said bias circuit presenting a high impedance at microwave frequencies and a desired D.C. impedance for optimum diode performance, and means coupled to said oscillator between said bias circuit and said microwave circuit for deriving said energy from said oscillator.

Claim 8

A microwave oscillator comprising: a two terminal avalanche diode included in a microwave circuit designed to promote the anomalous mode of diode operation in response to a double pulse direct current bias signal comprising a first direct current pulse portion having a magnitude exceeding a predetermined threshold value to trigger said diode into generating signal energy followed by a second direct current pulse portion having a magnitude exceeding said first pulse portion''s magnitude whereupon said oscillator continues to transmit said energy at an increased power output, means including a bias circuit for feeding first said first pulse portion at a first time and thereafter said second pulse portion at a later time to said microwave circuit, said bias circuit presenting a high impedance at microwave frequencies and a desired D.C. impedance for optimum diode performance, and means coupled to said oscillator between said bias circuit and said microwave circuit for deriving said energy from said oscillator.