Microwave sampling device

Claim 2

In a microwave sampling device for sampling a microwave signal, the combination of: a waveguide having a cut off frequency greater than that of the microwave signal to be sampled, first and second diodes mounted in said waveguide in a balanced configuration, means for providing balanced coupling of a microwave signal to be sampled to said first and second diodes, a third Diode mounted in said waveguide spaced from said first and second diodes and across which sampling pulses are generated for coupling to said first and second diodes by propagation through said waveguide.

Claim 3

The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said waveguide is chosen so that the generation of a sampling pulse across said third diode will cause energy to be propagated via the waveguide to said first and second diodes for providing sampling of said microwave signal.

Claim 4

The invention in accordance with claim 2, wherein capacitors are incorporated in the waveguide mountings provided for said first and second diodes for detecting the microwave signal sampled thereby.

Claim 5

The invention in accordance with claim 2, wherein said means for providing balanced coupling of said microwave signal to said first and second diodes includes a transmission line passing through said waveguide and coupled between said first and second diodes.

Claim 6

A microwave sampling device for sampling a microwave signal, said device comprising: a waveguide having a longitudinal axis and a cut off frequency greater than the microwave signal to be sampled, a pair of sampling diodes mounted in said waveguide in a balanced configuration with respect to the waveguide longitudinal axis, transmission means for providing balanced coupling of a microwave signal to be sampled to said sampling diodes, means external to said waveguide for generating sampling pulses of predetermined width and repetition rate appropriate for sampling of said microwave signal, means for injecting said sampling pulses into said waveguide at a location longitudinally spaced from said sampling diodes for coupling to said sampling diodes via longitudinal propagation in said waveguide so as to cause sampling of said microwave signal by said sampling diodes in response to said sampling pulses, and output means coupled to said sampling diodes for providing an output signal in response to the sampling of said microwave signal provided by said sampling diodes.

Claim 7

A microwave sampling device for sampling a microwave signal, said device comprising: a waveguide having a longitudinal axis and a cut off frequency greater than the microwave signal to be sampled, a pair of sampling diodes mounted in said waveguide in a balanced configuration with respect to the waveguide longitudinal axis, transmission means for providing balanced coupling of a microwave signal to be sampled to said sampling diodes, means external to said waveguide for generating sampling pulses of predetermined width and repetition rate appropriate for sampling of said microwave signal, means for injecting said sampling pulses into said waveguide at a location longitudinally spaced from said sampling diodes for coupling to said sampling diodes via longitudinal propagation in said waveguide so as to cause sampling of said microwave signal by said sampling diodes in response to said sampling pulses, and output means coupled to said sampling diodes for providing an output signal in response to the sampling of said microwave signal provided by said sampling diodes.

Claim 8

The invention in accordance with claim 5, wherein said transmission means for providing balanced coupling of a microwave signal to said sampling diodes includes a transmission line passing through said waveguide.

Claim 9

The invention in accordance with claim 6, wherein said transmission line is coupled to a point between said diodes.

Claim 10

The invention in accordance with claim 7, wherein said transmission line receives said microwave signal at one end and is terminated by its characteristic impedance at its other end.

Claim 11

The invention in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means for injecting sampling pulses into said waveguide is chosen in conjunction with the frequency characteristics of said waveguide so that each sampling pulse injected into the waveguide causes energy to be longitudinally propagated in the waveguide to said sampling diodes for driving thereof between conductive and non-conductive states for a predetermined period of time appropriate for providing sampling of said microwave signal.

Claim 12

The invention in accordance with claim 9, wherein said means for injecting sampling pulses into said waveguide includes an injecting diode mounted in said waveguide adjacent said sampling diodes.

Claim 13

The invention in accordance with claim 10, wherein said means for injecting comprises a step recovery diode generation circuit in which said injecting diode serves as a step recovery diode across which the sampling pulses are generated.

Claim 14

The invention in accordance with claim 5, wherein said output means is constructed and arranged so that said output signal is representative of the coherence between the pulse repetition rate of said sampling pulses and the frequency of the microwave signal being sampled.

Claim 15

The invention in accordance with claim 5, wherein said output means includes sampling capacitors respectively coupled to said sampling diodes for detecting the microwave signal sampled thereby.

Claim 16

The iNvention in accordance with claim 13, wherein said sampling capacitors are respectively incorporated in the waveguide mountings provided for said sampling diodes.

Claim 19

The invention in accordance with claim 15, wherein said sampling diodes are driven between conductive and non-conductive states in response to each sampling pulse for a predetermined period which is relatively short as compared to the period of said microwave signal.

Claim 20

The invention in accordance with claim 16, wherein the step of generating an output signal is such that the generated output signal is representative of the coherency between the pulse repetition rate of the sampling pulses and the frequency of said microwave signal.