Wideband mechanically and electronically tuned negative resistance oscillator

Claim 2

A negative resistance oscillator comprising: a first cavity resonant at a predetermined frequency, said first cavity having predetermined lateral dimensions and two end walls spaced from each other by essentially one-half of a wave length at said frequency; one of said end walls being movable relative to the other for tuning of said first cavity; a second cavity disposed in said other end wall and having a floor and a side wall extending from said floor, the terminus of said side wall defining an opening communicating with said first cavity at said other end wall; a negative resistance diode having two ends and being disposed in said second cavity; means holding said diode in said second cavity with one of its ends against said floor; and a disk member connected to said diode at its other end, being disposed in said opening substantially planar with said other end wall, and defining a narrow gap with the terminus of said side wall for transmitting R.F. power from said diode to said first cavity; said second cavity having a volume smaller than said first cavity by a factor such that in combination with said diode in said second cavity the resonant frequency of the combined cavities is essentially the same as that of said first cavitY over a predetermined frequency range; said second cavity and said diode therein comprising essentially a lumped constant circuit.

Claim 3

The negative resistance oscillator according to claim 1 wherein said first cavity includes a further opening between said end walls, and an electrical means is mounted in said further opening for tuning said first cavity.

Claim 4

The negative resistance oscillator according to claim 2 wherein said electrical means comprises a voltage sensitive capacity diode.

Claim 5

The negative resistance oscillator according to claim 1 wherein said first cavity includes another opening between said end walls, and a power output member mounted in said other opening and extending into said first chamber.

Claim 6

The negative resistance oscillator according to claim 1 including means comprising a conducting member extending centrally through said movable wall for providing D.C. bias to said diode.

Claim 7

A negative resistance oscillator comprising: a first cavity resonant at a predetermined frequency, said first cavity having predetermined lateral dimensions and two end walls spaced from each other by essentially one-half wave length at said frequency, one of said end walls being movable relative to the other for tuning of said first cavity; a second cavity disposed in said other end wall and having a floor and side walls extending from said floor, the terminus of said side wall defining an opening communicating with said first cavity; a metallic cover for said opening, said cover having an edge defining a narrow gap with the terminus of said side wall for transmitting R.F. power from said second cavity to said first cavity; a negative resistance diode for generating R.F. power disposed in said second cavity, said diode having two ends; means holding one of the ends of said diode against said floor; and means connecting the other end of said diode to said cover; said second cavity having a volume smaller than said first cavity by a factor such that in combination with said diode in said second cavity the resonant frequency of the combined cavities is essentially the same as that of said first cavity over a predetermined frequency range; said second cavity and said diode therein comprising essentially a lumped constant circuit.

Claim 8

A negative resistance oscillator comprising: a first cavity resonant at a predetermined frequency, said first cavity having predetermined lateral dimensions and two end walls spaced from each other by essentially one-half wave length at said frequency, one of said end walls being movable relative to the other for tuning of said first cavity; a second cavity disposed in said other end wall and having a floor and side walls extending from said floor, the terminus of said side wall defining an opening communicating with said first cavity; a metallic cover for said opening, said cover having an edge defining a narrow gap with the terminus of said side wall for transmitting R.F. power from said second cavity to said first cavity; a negative resistance diode for generating R.F. power disposed in said second cavity, said diode having two ends; means holding one of the ends of said diode against said floor; and means connecting the other end of said diode to said cover; said second cavity having a volume smaller than said first cavity by a factor such that in combination with said diode in said second cavity the resonant frequency of the combined cavities is essentially the same as that of said first cavity over a predetermined frequency range; said second cavity and said diode therein comprising essentially a lumped constant circuit.

Claim 9

The negative resistance oscillator according to claim 6 wherein said second chamber is a circular chamber, and said cover is a circular disk whose thickness is less than a wave length by a factor of about one-twentieth of a wave length at said predetermined frequency.

Claim 10

The negative resistance oscillator according to claim 7 wherein said diode includes a casing having an enlarged circular disk at one end, and said enlarged circular disk comprises the cover of said second cavity.

Claim 11

The negative resistance oscillator according to claim 8 wherein the first cavity and second cavity are axially disposed relative to each other.

Claim 12

A negative resistance oscillator comprising: a first cavity resonant at a predetermined frequency, said first cavity having predetermined lateral dimensions and two end walls spaced from each other by essentially one-half wave length at said frequency; one of said end walls being movable relative to the other for tuning of said first cavity; a second cavity disposed in said other end wall and having a floor and side walls extending from said floor, the terminus of said side wall defining an opening communicating with said first cavity; a metallic cover for said opening, said cover having an edge defining a narrow gap with the terminus of said side wall for transmitting R.F. power from said second chamber to said first cavity; a negative resistance diode for generating R.F. power disposed in said second cavity, said diode having two ends; means holding one of the ends of said diode against said floor; and means connecting the other end of said diode to said cover; said second cavity hAving a volume smaller than said first cavity by a factor such that in combination with said diode in said second cavity the resonant frequency of the combined cavities is essentially the same as that of said first cavity over a predetermined frequency range; said second cavity and said diode therein comprising essentially a lumped constant circuit; means in said first cavity for electrically adjusting the resonant frequency thereof; and means for taking R.F. power out of said first cavity.

Claim 13

A negative resistance oscillator comprising: a first cavity resonant at a predetermined frequency, said first cavity having predetermined lateral dimensions and two end walls spaced from each other by essentially one-half wave length at said frequency; one of said end walls being movable relative to the other for tuning of said first cavity; a second cavity disposed in said other end wall and having a floor and side walls extending from said floor, the terminus of said side wall defining an opening communicating with said first cavity; a metallic cover for said opening, said cover having an edge defining a narrow gap with the terminus of said side wall for transmitting R.F. power from said second chamber to said first cavity; a negative resistance diode for generating R.F. power disposed in said second cavity, said diode having two ends; means holding one of the ends of said diode against said floor; and means connecting the other end of said diode to said cover; said second cavity hAving a volume smaller than said first cavity by a factor such that in combination with said diode in said second cavity the resonant frequency of the combined cavities is essentially the same as that of said first cavity over a predetermined frequency range; said second cavity and said diode therein comprising essentially a lumped constant circuit; means in said first cavity for electrically adjusting the resonant frequency thereof; and means for taking R.F. power out of said first cavity.