Circuit for operating an avalanche diode in the anomalous mode

Claim 2

Apparatus comprising: a two terminal negative resistance semiconductive device operative in the anomalous mode; means 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 energy at a desired frequency and at least a second harmonic of said desired frequency; and a circuit comprising a combination of multiple inductors and capacitors directly connected across said device terminals providing an impedance match to said device at said desired frequency and a substantially zero resistance and zero reactance at said second harmonic frequency, said circuit providing a substantially reactive termination to diode generated energy at all other harmonic frequencies.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said circuit is a low pass filter circuit having a constant k half section and a shunt m-derived half section.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said constant k half section is tuned to provide said impedance match to said device at said desired frequency and said shunt m-derived half section is tuned to provide said zero resistance and zero reactance at said second harmonic frequency.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reverse bias signal is a D.C. bias signal having a magnitude exceeding said predetermined threshold magnitude, whereby said device is triggered into oscillating in said anomalous mode at said desired frequency.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reverse bias signal is a combination of a D.C. bias signal having a magnitude less than said threshold magnitude and a microwave signal at said desired frequency, said signal combination having a magnitude exceeding said predetermined threshold magnitude, whereby said device is triggered into amplifying said microwave signal.

Claim 7

Apparatus comprising: a two terminal negative resistance semiconductive device operative in the anomalous mode; means 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 energy at a desired frequency and at least a second harmonic of said desired frequency; and a low pass filter circuit directly connected across said device terminals, said circuit having a first section tuned to provide an impedance match to said device at said desired frequency and a second section tuned independent of said first section to provide a substantially zero resistance and zero reactance at said second harmonic frequency, said circuit providing a substantially reactive termination to diode generated energy at all other harmonic frequencies.

Claim 8

Apparatus comprising: a two terminal negative resistance semiconductive device operative in the anomalous mode; means 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 energy at a desired frequency and at least a second harmonic of said desired frequency; and a low pass filter circuit directly connected across said device terminals, said circuit having a first section tuned to provide an impedance match to said device at said desired frequency and a second section tuned independent of said first section to provide a substantially zero resistance and zero reactance at said second harmonic frequency, said circuit providing a substantially reactive termination to diode generated energy at all other harmonic frequencies.