Broadband apparatus using high efficiency avalanche diodes operative in the anomalous mode

Claim 2

Apparatus operative over a desired band of frequencies, said apparatus comprising: a two-terminal negative resistance semiconductive device having an operative anomalous mode, a transmission line having a center conductor and a ground conductor, said center conductor having first and second ends, means for connecting a first terminal of said device to said center conductor, means for connecting said first end of said center conductor to said ground conductor for maintaining a relatively high microwave voltage across said device terminals in the presence of a microwave signal having said desired band of frequencies, bias means connected in series with said device for applying a reverse bias signal exceeding a predetermined threshold magnitude across said device terminals, to cause said device to be triggered into said anomalous mode of operation and generating microwave signals including said desired band of frequencies thereby establishing a microwave voltage between said center conductor and ground conductor and said relatively high microwave voltage across said device terminals, filter means resonant over said desired band of frequencies, said filter means having first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said second end of said center conductor to reflect said microwave signals over said desired band of frequencies and said second filter terminal being connected to a signal absorbing means to absorb said microwave signals at all other frequencies harmonically related to said desired band of frequencies, and means electrically coupled to said first terminal of said device for coupling said microwave signals over said desired band of frequencies from said device to an output port.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including an input port for input microwave signals, wherein said reverse bias signal includes the sum of a D.C. reverse bias voltage having a magnitude less than said predetermined threshold magnitude plus the amplitude of said microwave input signal coupled to said input port, said microwave input signal containing said desired band of frequencies, and said sum of said D.C. bias voltage and said microwave input signal having a magnitude exceeding said predetermined threshold magnitude, whereby said device is triggered into amplifying said microwave input signal.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first end of said center conductor is at an electrical distance of substantially lambda /4 from said first device terminal, where lambda is the wavelength at a desired frequency of operation.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said filter means includes a two-terminal band-stop filter resonant over said desired band of frequencies.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal coupling means include an inductive coupling loop coupling electromagnetic energy generated by said semiconductive device to a terminal of a directive device resonant over said desired band of frequencies.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said directive device includes in combination a directional circulator having first, second and third terminals, said first circulator terminal being connected to said output port, said second circulator terminal being connected to a first terminal of a band-pass filter resonant over said desired band of frequencies and having a second band-pass filter terminal connected to said inductive coupling loop, and said third circulator port being an input port for microwave input signals over said desired band of frequencies.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reverse bias signal includes a reverse D.C. voltage having a magnitude exceeding said predetermined threshold magnitude, whereby said device is triggered into generating energy in said anomalous mode of operation.

Claim 9

A microwave amplifier operaTive over a desired band of frequencies, said amplifier comprising: a coaxial transmission line having a center conductor with first and second ends and a ground conductor, said center conductor being terminated at said first end by a microwave short circuit and at said second end by one terminal of a two-terminal band-stop filter resonant over a desired band of frequencies, a second terminal of said filter being connected to a microwave signal absorbing load, a two-terminal negative resistance semiconductive device operative in the anomalous mode in response to a reverse bias signal exceeding a predetermined threshold level, said device having a first terminal connected to said center conductor at a point substantially lambda /4 from said short circuit and substantially lambda /2 from said one terminal of said band-stop filter, where lambda is the wavelength at the center frequency of said desired band of frequencies, an inductive coupling loop having first and second ends, said first end being inductively coupled to said transmission line at a point of high magnetic current, a two-terminal band-pass filter, having first and second terminals said filter being resonant over said desired band of frequencies, and having said first filter terminal connected to said second inductive coupling loop end, means serially connected with said device for applying a D.C. reverse bias signal across said device terminals, said D.C. reverse bias signal having a magnitude less than said predetermined threshold magnitude, means connected to said second terminal of said band-pass filter for applying a microwave signal including said desired band of frequencies thereto for amplification at said device and for deriving said amplified signal for application to output means, said D.C. reverse bias signal and said microwave signal having a sum exceeding said predetermined threshold level causing said device to be triggered into operating in said anomalous mode.

Claim 10

A microwave amplifier operaTive over a desired band of frequencies, said amplifier comprising: a coaxial transmission line having a center conductor with first and second ends and a ground conductor, said center conductor being terminated at said first end by a microwave short circuit and at said second end by one terminal of a two-terminal band-stop filter resonant over a desired band of frequencies, a second terminal of said filter being connected to a microwave signal absorbing load, a two-terminal negative resistance semiconductive device operative in the anomalous mode in response to a reverse bias signal exceeding a predetermined threshold level, said device having a first terminal connected to said center conductor at a point substantially lambda /4 from said short circuit and substantially lambda /2 from said one terminal of said band-stop filter, where lambda is the wavelength at the center frequency of said desired band of frequencies, an inductive coupling loop having first and second ends, said first end being inductively coupled to said transmission line at a point of high magnetic current, a two-terminal band-pass filter, having first and second terminals said filter being resonant over said desired band of frequencies, and having said first filter terminal connected to said second inductive coupling loop end, means serially connected with said device for applying a D.C. reverse bias signal across said device terminals, said D.C. reverse bias signal having a magnitude less than said predetermined threshold magnitude, means connected to said second terminal of said band-pass filter for applying a microwave signal including said desired band of frequencies thereto for amplification at said device and for deriving said amplified signal for application to output means, said D.C. reverse bias signal and said microwave signal having a sum exceeding said predetermined threshold level causing said device to be triggered into operating in said anomalous mode.